Reconnect 54 by ReConnect Magazine

The good living and community magazine for Exeter, Plymouth and across South Devon APR/MAY 18 ISSUE 54

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

our early years special

Pleas e tak e one

FREE !

Helping our children flourish

Nourishing families Looking at natural family health

giving the gift of life

outside in springtime

Building on our earliest relationships

Learning to thrive with nature

pages full of Devon community living in the South West’s freerange Spring issue - powered by the people!

Visit us online at www.reconnectonline.co.uk

Here at ENHC we offer a wide range of complementary therapies provided by experienced and highly professional practitioners. The centre, which has been established since 2001, is also renowned for its excellence in training courses. Conveniently situated in the city centre, we have full reception cover and beautiful spacious treatment rooms for therapists to hire or, for bigger workshops, courses and classes, we have a well appointed large training room. Please call on 01392 422555 for more details.

Return to physical and emotional wellbeing through ENERGY HEALING | HOLISTIC MASSAGE REMEDIAL/DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE YAMINI BAARS | 07949468040 yamini@soulwisdomtherapies.co.uk SoulWisdom Therapies soulwisdomtherapies.co.uk

Devon School of Reiki Offering Workshops & Courses for Children in Reiki & Mindfulness All levels of Usui/Holy Fire Reiki Training, clinic sessions & 1-2-1 training also available Contact: Samantha Goddard, Principal 07870 167701 info@devonschoolofreiki.co.uk

www.devonschoolofreiki.co.uk www.reikirascals.com

THE DEVON SCHOOL OF REFLEXOLOGY Award-winning Training in Professionalism and Excellence Spring/Autumn courses 2018 For more details:

www.devonreﬂexology.com

Email: devonreﬂexology@hotmail.com

01392 422555 Centre Manager: Ali Morrish Find out more about us on facebook Follow us on twitter @ExeterNaturalHC Exeter Natural Health Centre, Queens Walk, 83/84 Queen Street, Exeter, EX4 3RP

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help: • Insomnia • Stress and anxiety • Fears and phobias

• Stop smoking • Weight management • Compulsive behaviour

Free Initial Consultation Practitioner in Training solutions@amberhypnotherapy.co.uk 07955 317655 www.amberhypnotherapy.co.uk FB: Amber Hypnotherapy

Triratna Exeter Meditation and Buddhism Group Meet every Wednesday night at the Phoenix Room, Exeter Natural Health Centre! 7pm, all welcome.

e: info@enhc.org w: www.enhc.org 2

We meditate together, have a tea break, followed by exploration of a dharma theme and discussion

If you haven’t been before you are welcome to get in touch mokshini41@gmail.com. For more info and to see what’s on go to www.triratna.devon.org and our facebook page Exeter Triratna Meditation and Buddhism Group

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ASK ABOUT OUR START UP SCHEME FOR NEW PRACTITIONERS Starts at only £50 per month for unlimited ad hoc hours!

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MORE EXETER NATURAL HEALTH CENTRE PRACTITIONERS MO MORRISH RSHOM Homeopathic medicine www.thehomoeopathic practice.co.uk Authentic Ceremonies www.authenticceremonies.co.uk ANNA PARIS Ac.M.MBAC Traditional acupuncture, Toyohari 5 element & Manaka styles E: amparis1@btinternet.com SARAH HENDERSON Renew Massages Therapeutic Massage; Remedial Massage with integrated Myofascial Release and Hot Stones Massage APNT, CThA, BCMA www.renewmassages.co.uk SAMANTHA GODDARD Reiki, Massage, Sound Healing, Hopi Ear Candles, Mindfulness, Stress Advice T: 07870167701 E: sam@devonschoolofreiki.co.uk LESLEY HARPER Nutritional Therapy T. 07968 752032 E. info@lesleyharper.co.uk www.lesleyharper.co.uk

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Upfront

WELCOME...

IT'SWHAT WE'REABOUT

Broughttoyou by...

INTHISISSUE...

DEVON CONVERGENCE A new economy

EDITOR Scott Williams

LIFE CHANGING

Trike brings joy

TACKLE OCEAN PLASTIC EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Karen Williams

WELLBEING EDITOR Kate Philbin

Help for hospitality

GOING OUT

Places to go, people to see

ORGANIC GARDENING16

NOURISHING FOOD

Weaning them off sweet

Spring tips for longer days

APPLE BLOSSOM 22

INSPIRED BY NATURE 18

EARLY YEARS SPECIAL

Kids make constructions COUNSELLOR WRITER Leigh Smith

Vegan variety - page 17

MEDICINAL CANNABIS 19 Highlighting health

Keeping orchards healthy Positive parenting!

to our little people special April/May issue of Reconnect. Spring is here, though as I write this you wouldn’t know it. However, the onset of warmer, longer days means we’re bursting with all the usual features from our well loved corner of the Southwest, plus springtime news of festivals, mindfulness, wildlife, coastal walks, nutrition, and gardening. Also, just as it should be, overrun with hubbub of children playing. Spring is a great time for kids (and no, not because of those chocolate eggs). Getting to play outdoors encourages curiosity, develops their imagination, and fosters a love of nature. Occasionally a theme suggests itself to us, and with good living articles about weaning and family nutrition, kids being inspired by nature, a new children’s centre, sensitive parenting, babywearing, animal empathy, hypnobirthing, child yoga, mindfulness and mental health, we just had to acknowledge that this issue has children everywhere. Whether you have kids or not, we hope you enjoy this our spring issue. x

Scott

COVERSTORY... The good living and community magazine for Exeter, Plymouth and across South Devon APR/MAY 18 ISSUE 54

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

EMPOWERING KIDS

our early years special

Please take one

FREE !

Helping our children flourish

Mindfulness for children

TRUST THE FUTURE 29 Early years education

GARDENING EXPERT Joa Grower

WELLBEING PAGES Reviewing your diet - page 24

FOOD WRITER Jane Hutton

WEBSITE EDITORS www.doetsdesign.com

TECHNICAL AIDE Zelah Williams

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Nourishing families Looking at natural family health

Our holistic health guide

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news&views Make a difference, become a PEC Pal

40 healthy years

POPPADUMS health foods at Dawlish is celebrating its 40th Birthday. The shop opened in 1978, with a second shop opening in Teignmouth 20 years later. It’s still in the same family and they have a lovely team of ladies that work with them. They sell a large range of loose herbs, spices, nuts and fruits, gluten free and vegan foods, plus an Ecover refill station, a large range of supplement’s and body care. They are holding a free raffle and doing tastings and giving out samples the week ending March 30.

Totnes dragons

ON May 10 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. Last year raised over £10k for 5 local enterprise projects. Register your interest by emailing info@reconomycentre.org

Folk royalty

DARTMOOR based Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman are taking to the road in support of their new fifth album Personae and playing Exeter Phoenix on May 3.

Autism day

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

PLYMOUTH Energy Community are looking for friends in the community, passionate about energy and social justice, to participate in their PEC Pals programme. You’ll receive 20 hours FREE comprehensive training over 8 weeks, plus on-going support, in return for your time and a simple personal pledge to help tackle fuel poverty & carbon emissions. You can either start in April, July or October, spaces limited to 15 each intake. Call Clare on 01752 477117 to register your interest or see www.plymouthenergycommunity.com/ get-involved/pecpal for more information.

Devon’s new economy convergence

N March individuals and organisations working to build thriving and sustainable local economy across the South West braved the weather to take part in the 4th annual Devon New Economy Convergence in Plymouth, Britain’s first Social Enterprise City. The annual one-day event brought together a movement for economic change for more inclusion, fairness, ecological sustainability and resilience. Attendees were seeking to build a thriving local economy. Speakers included Tony Greenham from the RSA and South West Mutual who gave an inspiring presentation about his work as the Founding Director of South West Mutual, soon to be the first ever customer- owned high street bank dedicated to Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset. Also speaking via video link was Fernanda Balata, who talked about the work currently being done for coastal communities

in the UK through The Blue New Deal, a framework to help coastal communities make the most of their resources leading to economic development. The event also offered participants an opportunity to learn and collaborate, develop more effective strategies to bring about real economic change in Devon. Residents and businesses showed they were keen to explore new ways to both understand and tackle the economy through community led initiatives, and foster a new type of economy - which has human flourishing and environmental regeneration at its centre.

Celebrating a decade of Pride

XETER Pride will be bringing an explosion of colour, positivity and pride on May 12 when one of the South West's biggest LGBT+ communities in the region celebrates their 10th anniversary. Alan Quick, co-founder of Exeter Pride, said: "While we are celebrating this year, we are keen to recognise and to educate on themes of LGBT history, LGBT contributions to culture, and awareness of on-going LGBT struggles in the UK and further afield." They are currently seeking volunteers, stall holders and partners or sponsors. To volunteer get in touch with Adam, email: chair@exeterpride.co.uk . Stall applications are open now and should be made to: info@exeterpride. co.uk . For further details follow on Twitter @ exeterpride or Facebook.com/exeterpride.

Hookworms for Sea Change

SEA Change, the music festival that in just two years has become hugely popular with Reconnect readers, has announced the first eclectic names appearing across various venues in Totnes on August 24-25. Performing on this the event’s third year will be Hookworms, Gwenno, Josh T. Pearson, James Holden & The Animal Spirits, Lost Horizons, The Weather Station, Andrew Weatherall, Daniel Blumberg, Snapped Ankles, The Surfing Magazines, Hater, Hatis Noit, Virginia Wing, Sweet Baboo, Red River Dialect, Charles Watson, Penelope Isles, Boy Azooga, Group Listening and Earth Recordings Present ‘The Ballad of Shirley Collins’.

Delivering Devon’s books

EVON’s Home Library Service delivers books and audio books to homes through their free service provided by the Royal Voluntary Service on behalf of Devon libraries, which takes books to those who cannot reach the library due to ill health, mobility issues or caring responsibilities. The service is trying to reach those who are isolated and who may not have heard about them. Cathy Saunders, Service Manager, told us: “Despite delivering books to over 300 readers I remain convinced there are people who are lonely and isolated and could use our service yet don’t know about it. We deliver to those who through ill health, mobility issues, or caring responsibilities cannot get to the library; this may be a temporary arrangement or more long term. I have visited libraries where I have met someone who uses the service, however due to their illness feel fit enough some days to visit whereas on others they would struggle. It may be they cannot carry books back or can order on line but cannot collect them. We can provide that service. The service is completely free, there are no fines incurred and no cost to ordering books. Provision can be of large print, normal print, audio books or CDs if it is music you prefer.” Cathy is also looking for volunteers to co-ordinate the services at Totnes, Dartmouth, Ivybridge, Seaton and Tiverton. She added: “If you could use the service, know someone who could use it or wish to know more about volunteering feel free to contact me.” If you would like to use the Home Library Service or to volunteer, contact Cathy on 07786635163 or email CornwallDevonHub@ royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk.

Unfolding artwork exhibited in Kingsbridge HARBOUR House Gallery in Kingsbridge hosts an open art exhibition exploring the world of plants from March 28 to April 14 featuring a wide range of responses by local artists to the theme ‘The Energy of Plants’. That’s followed with ‘Celebrating Life’ from April 19 – 25, an exhibition of paintings in oils, acrylics and watercolours, and works in inks, photography, pastels and metals by the Hocking Hill Group of West Country artists. From April 27 to May 3 a diverse and innovative group of contemporary and art quilters called Contemporary Quilters West exhibit Unfolding Stories. The group create art quilts through

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the use of cloth, paint, dye, stitch and more. They each strive to move beyond current trends in textile art and can sometimes be controversial with their work, aiming to provoke strong responses from those who come to view their art. Their third biennial exhibition will consist of completely new work from 20 of their members, several of whom are internationally renowned award winners. Chair of the group, Stephanie Crawford, said: “CQ West came together as a group five years ago, with the aim of supporting and encouraging each other in our individual working practice. We have a wide variety of artistic skills in

contemporary quilting and textiles but have a common ground in that stitch forms a part of our work.” There’s a chance to meet many of the artists during the opening viewing on April 27. Other forthcoming exhibitions include Hermaid (May 5 – 13) where Devon Maid, a group of four artists, present a response to the sea through painting and photography. Artist Down Under (May 15 – 20) featuring Janette Jagger’s landscape paintings, and Passion for Colour (May 22 – June 20) featuring contemporary paintings by Ian Carr and F G Davis.

NEWS&views Learn to bee

FRIENDS of the Bees have two events at Furzeleigh Farm, at Ashburton. Balanced beekeeping for beginners (April 13-15) offers a weekend of beekeeping for beginners and people wanting to convert to more natural methods or extend their skills. Balanced beekeeping for improvers (May 11-13) follows for beekeepers with some experience and wanting to learn and practice more advanced skills including queen rearing. Contact 07914922554 to book.

Pop art exhibition

SEALE-Hayne is hosting a Pop Art exhibition in the Gallery until May 13. The exhibition features work by some of the world’s most renowned pop artists including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Sir Peter Blake.

Adopting vulnerable children FAMILIES for Children Trust, the specialist adoption agency and charitable trust based in the South West, place vulnerable children from all over the UK with new adoptive families in Reconnectland. They have a growing number of older children, sibling groups and children with disabilities waiting to be adopted and are looking for more adopters to come forward. Their upcoming information sessions in South Devon, where people can learn about becoming an adopter with support for life are on April 4 and May 2, both happening from 10am to midday at Higher Mill, Buckfast Abbey, Buckfastleigh. TQ11 0EE.

Run a marathon at your own pace in May

Acoustic duo

ADAM Bulley & Chas Mackenzie appear at St Leonards’s Church, Sheepstor on April 6 under the new Carn to Cove / Villages in Action umbrella. Doors will open at 7pm. Tickets at £9 per adult, £7 per child, are available from 01822 853186 or 01822 854057.

RNLI car boot

BRIXHAM Marina multistorey car park hosts Brixham Hoppers’ car boot & boat jumble sale on April 7 from 10.30am in aid of The RNLI, with free RNLI lifejacket checks. Free entry.

ANNAHS, the Dame Hannah Rogers Charity, is launching their own Mission Marathon this May. You choose where, when, the frequency and how you want to complete your marathon and then log each milestone with them using our online form. Once complete, you will be sent your very own Mission Marathon medal and certificate. Hannahs Mission Marathon is a chance for people of all ages and abilities to complete a marathon (26.2 miles) but in their own time and at their own pace. It could be a walk, a run, a swim, walking backwards, rowing, paddling, in a wheelchair, on their

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hands, whatever and however they want to challenge themselves and over their own chosen time period. Whether it is four hours, four days or four weeks each person can decide their own pace and place. Hannahs Head of Fundraising Hayley Dann said: “Running a traditional marathon is beyond many people’s reach. We’re excited to launch our first ever accessible marathon challenge event and encourage as many people as possible to take part this May. No matter what your age or ability, the Hannahs Mission Marathon will be a fantastic opportunity to get active, have fun and raise money for our incredible charity that supports children and adults with disabilities.” Anyone keen to take on the Hannahs Mission Marathon challenge should register online at http://www.discoverhannahs.org/ mission-marathon to receive a fundraising pack and free headband. Registration costs just £10 per adult and £5 per child. l Hannahs are also organising an Easter Family Fun Day at Seale-Hayne on Easter Monday (April 2).

Raft of names for Cornish festival

AN early smattering of artists, bands, wordsmiths, chefs, poets and uncategorisable characters have been announced for Cornwall’s Port Eliot Festival, happening in St Germans from July 26-29. These include Gwenno, Hannah Peel, Andrew Weatherall & Justin Robertson, Nabihah Iqbal, Teleman, Arthur Smith, Shappi Khorsandi, Tom Wrigglesworth, Kernow King, Brett Anderson, Brian Patten, Viv Albertine, Hollie McNish, Billy Bragg, Teri Hatcher, and Caspar Walsh. Debuting this year are the Fashion Foundation, and Wildlings Wood. Expect also flying trapeze shows, astronomy walks and talks, wild swimming, axe throwing, a circus school, film, workshops, well-being, stand-up paddleboarding, and much more. See www. porteliotfestival.com for details.

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

news&views 150 years

EXETER’S RAMM (Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery) will celebrate their 150th anniversary this year with a carnival of the animals in Exeter City Centre, a new children’s book and a commemorative beer. When the museum opened, it was known as the Albert Memorial Museum, School of Art and Science and Free Library. To celebrate 150 years, RAMM is recreating some of the events that took place at the time, and has added some new ones. The celebrations begin with the Carnival of the Animals on Saturday April 21.

Award winning glass artist relocates to South Devon

HE award-winning fused glass artist Steve Robinson has relocated, bringing his instantly recognisable and collectable works to a new studio and gallery in South Devon. For many years Steve was based on the Welsh coast at St David’s in Pembrokeshire, but has recently moved his business and family to the Totnes area where the pioneer in the use of glass enamels has opened a new studio and gallery.

studio from where he is running glass fusing classes and workshops throughout the year to share his skills, and bookings are already being taken.

His new base is at Coombe Park Craft Studios, situated in the village of Ashprington just outside Totnes. Steve has a spacious

For more details see www.steverobinsonglass. com and www.twitter.com/stevetheglass or visit the studios at Ashprington TQ9 7DY.

Alongside the Studio is a Gallery area, which is open to visitors all year round. Here Steve’s latest pieces will be available to purchase, or customers can make an appointment to discuss a commission.

World music

THE first wave of acts have been announced for WOMAD, taking place near Malmesbury on July 26-29, including Amadou & Mariam, Django Django, Camille, Sharon Shannon, Ken Boothe and many more. Expect over 200 free workshops, talks, physics, spa, and fabulous food from all over the world.

Mayflower art

BRITISH painter Rose Wylie will be the subject of ‘History Painting’, a new multi-site exhibition at Plymouth Arts Centre and The Gallery at Plymouth College of Art, featuring a cycle of new work about the Mayflower voyages. The exhibition is open to members of the public until May 30.

Mill and bake

GROWN in Totnes host a milling and baking day on April 21 at their Totnes mill. There’s lunch next door at The Kitchen Table, with dishes featuring with Devon grown grains.

Community

MAY 4-7 is Community Business Weekend celebrating the 7,000 community businesses in local hands across England. See communitybusiness weekend.org

County show

HANNAHS will be the Official Show Charity for the Devon County Show at Exeter Westpoint (May 17-19).

Charity music

OXJAM Torbay Music Festival has confirmed it will take place on October 20 this year.

Paignton’s UK first PAIGNTON Zoo’s horticulturalists have successfully harvested seeds from one of the most amazing plants in the world – the giant, pungent, Sumatran Titan arum. They’re the first UK zoo ever to harvest Titan seeds from fruit following flowers up to 3 metres wide. They’re now sharing the precious seeds with other zoos and botanical collections around Europe.

Saltash fair

THE annual Saltash May Fair will take place on May 5, celebrating the community, businesses and organisations of the town with a full day of non-stop entertainment.

Exeter Phoenix unveils new green measures

IN 2015 Exeter Phoenix made history by opening Studio 74, the first solar-powered cinema in the South West. The venue recently added further solar panels thanks to the Naturesave Trust and the Postcode Local Trust to create a solar-powered auditorium and installed LED lighting throughout the building thanks to a loan from Exeter Community Energy. Exeter Phoenix’s Fundraising and Development Manager, Laura Cameron Long, said: “As a venue and a charity, we are proud to be committed to green measures that help us create a sustainable future for the arts. These measures also help to reduce our costs so we can keep providing our community with the best the contemporary arts has to offer. The support from Exeter Community Energy, the Naturesave Trust and the Postcode Local Trust has enabled us to make a real difference and we are delighted to be able to continue our goal of creating a resilient future for our community.” The new Photo-Voltaic system consists of 54 panels and will produce nearly 18kW of power. The LED system will lower Exeter Phoenix’s energy use by 38.12 tonnes of CO2 per year. “We are keen to be an example to other arts organisations in our commitment to green living” Laura added. “These two exciting projects take us one step closer to fulfilling this.” Visit exeterphoenix.org.uk to find out about events, activities and film screenings happening this spring and for more information on how you can help support future developments.

Seeking community ideas

XETER City Futures have launched ‘#EveryonesExeter’; a crowdfunding movement on Spacehive to enable local communities to play a part in making Exeter a more sustainable city, and a better place to live for future generations. #EveryonesExeter can be used by anyone with project ideas that address city challenges around congestion and energy, and seek support and funding. Exeter City Futures will provide support, additional funding, mentoring and expertise for local people and community groups who want to build crowdfunded projects. The platform is now live and ready for projects to added. If you’re a resident, student, educator, or community group with projects that could improve congestion and energy use within your community, they want to hear from you. See the Spacehive movement page: https://www. spacehive.com/movement/exeter-city-futures l To find out more about Exeter City Futures please visit: www.exetercityfutures.com

A small and joyful gathering BUDDHAFIELD Festival is an intimate and joyful gathering of around 3,000 people, celebrating community and connection with the land. Song, dance, arts and crafts, yoga, meditation, and play blend together without drink or drugs to create a loving and life-affirming space. There will be Buddhist teaching, workshops and ritual, under sun and stars. The Festival is family-friendly and open to everyone, however you practice. Buddhafield Festival takes place from July 18-22. See www.buddhfield.com/festival

Wild swim Soundcamp 2018

OUNDART Radio are to hold the fourth Soundcamp 2018 on Dartington Hall Estate, on May 4-6. The series of outdoor listening events begin on International Dawn Chorus Day. The ticket price includes camping for

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Friday and Saturday nights, and vegan food throughout the weekend. l Soundart Radio are also offering free introductory radio studio sessions, from 11am - 1pm on April 8, June 3, and July 1. See soundartradio. org.uk

NAKED wild swimmer Kay Arwen has set up a blogsite kayarwen.co.uk that revolves around her passion, wild swimming, and mixes with her other passion spiritual self development/self awareness. The intention of her ‘diary’ is to inspire others to believe in their own power and to go for their dreams. It’s worth reading over a coffee and embodies the beauty of South Devon and our rivers – especially Kay’s favourite, the Dart.

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NEWS&views Wellbeing centre gets a makeover

LYMOUTH’S Waterloo Wellbeing Centre has been open and providing counselling and psychological therapy since 2009 so it has been well overdue for a make over. This spring, the practice rooms at the Waterloo Wellbeing Centre is getting a new lease of life. Director Julie Jeffs said: “We have teamed up with the good people at Shekinah mission who have agreed to be our work force and will be arriving soon with their brushes, paint and expertise. “At the same time as this, I have been also been having a make over online and my website www.plymouthpracticerooms.co.uk has just been launched which will cover the practice rooms at both the Waterloo Wellbeing Centre and the Crownhill Fort.

Gallery & Tea Rooms 28 The Strand, Dawlish, EX7 9PS. - We will be closed May 11-27 -

Anyone interested in becoming an associate counsellor within the organisation or just booking a room for their private practice please get in touch through the website or call 01752 560002.

Back Inn from the brink

THE Rame Peninsula Trust are hoping to bring The Old Ship, one of Cawsand’s oldest pubs, back from the ashes. The derelict eyesore was destroyed by fire in 2013. They plan to bring it back to life under new community ownership as a community pub/café/childrens area/ heritage centre/visitor centre and four flats for long-term, affordable local rent. The Trust are seeking letters of support, cash donations and individual investment. A community share raise is due to launch in March and will only be live for 6 weeks. There is more information here: www.thepeninsulatrust.org.uk/the-old-shipinn-cawsand

www.thesea.co

Life changing trike for Exeter boy

HARITY Children Today have awarded funding for an adapted trike for 11-yearold Jimmy, who lives in Exeter. The trike will be life-changing for Jimmy who loved cycling before he suffered a severe brain haemorrhage over three years ago. After intensive rehabilitation over the past couple of years, including numerous operations, physiotherapy and speech therapy, Jimmy can now walk short distances but still has no use of his right hand and arm so riding a bike ever again looked very unlikely. Jimmy’s family saw how happy he was after having a trial go on a Child Brain Injury Trust adjusted recumbent trike and together with friends rallied together to raise money for one. His mum Jenni then reached out to the charity Children Today to see if they would be able to provide a grant which, combined with the contributions from friends and family, would cover the cost of the trike. Jenni said: “When Children Today told us that they would award Jimmy the funding we needed for the trike we just couldn’t believe it! Jimmy was the first child in the UK to get the KMX Koyote folding trike and it really has made a huge difference

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to him and our whole family.” Adaptations on the special trike mean that Jimmy can control the brakes and the steering all with his left hand, as well as an adjustable head rest to help him sit on it safely and securely. The trike has also had much more of an impact than just making exercise more accessible for him; his trike is so unusual it’s really helping his social interaction and he’s a lot better at communicating and his confidence grows every week. Children Today provides funding for specialised equipment for those with disabilities under the age of 25 across the UK and is reliant on voluntary donations to keep providing grants. If you know a child that needs funding for a specialised piece of equipment or would like to donate please visit www.childrentoday.org.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

news&views Plastic free Devon BEN BRYANT from Devon Community Recycling Network talks about the plastic free revolution.

A siren call for a teenage adventure ROBIN Bowman of WildWise has, for the last seven years, offered teens a perfect chance to escape to nature, based on the Hunger Games books and films which tell the story of 16 year old Katniss Everdeen living in a post apocalyptic nation and surviving thanks to the bushcraft and wilderness skills she learnt from her father. Robin said: “Since the first Hunger Games book and film came out we have run 8 Hunger Games camps, 2 Catching Fire camps and 3 Mockingjay camps. These camps are my Trojan horse of Nature Connection - the hook we use to get 11-17 year olds out into the woods. A vibrant community of 11 and 12 year olds and teens has grown up now around these camps with many kids returning each year. Kids I met as 12 year olds are now 18 but keep on coming. Last summer we had another exciting Mockingjay camp with all the returning Tributes/Teenagers forming one giant Rebel army and attempting to overthrow the Capitol and track down President Snow (Robin). “Of course what this meant was that the teenagers lived out in the wild woods for 4 days and had a deep immersion in nature connection. For them it was an amazing time building their own teenage Rebel base and mapping the whole

Capitol (woodland) out, finding our hidden food stores, arsenals etc. Together they had to form a strategy, elect leaders, scouts, spies, double agents etc to infiltrate and eventually overthrow the Capitol. The Capitol was run by all the adults and staff including President Snow, his personal body guards and his band of Peacekeepers. A totally unique and exciting camp for the teens which brought out many of their hidden skills, inner qualities and abilities and required them to work and communicate together as a team. One lad, Arlo, even made body armour out of the tree deer guards he found (see the photo).” Robin and his team run two 5 day camps based on and inspired entirely by the Hunger Games, giving the teens an authentic deep nature connective experience. Teenagers spend the camp practising nature awareness skills, such as sneaking and ambushing each other, and camouflage, as well as wilderness and bushcraft skills such as fire making, shelter building, edible and medicinal food use. WildWise are running two camps this summer holidays based on the Hunger Games: Aug 21-25, and Aug 27-31. See www. wildwisehungergames.co.uk

HE awareness jolt provided by Blue Planet 2 has been quite something to behold. Since the screening of the final episode on December 10 ‘The Attenborough Affect’ has truly kicked in across the whole country with even supermarkets clamouring to make pledges to reduce plastic. The government was making the right noises in response and seems to be on the right lines with a 25 year environment plan, but the time frame, really, by 2043? Of course we need legislation and now. The call to action has already been met by a great number of communities across Devon, many of which have already signed up to the Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) ‘Plastic Free Coastlines’ campaign: https://www.sas.org. uk/plasticfreecoastlines This popular campaign provides a smart and achievable 5 point action plan (engage 1. councils, 2. local businesses, 3. community groups, 4. rallies/beach cleans, 5. form steering group) to encourage behavioural change to help people ditch single use plastics (SUPS), find alternatives and win certification for their town. Support is provided from local SAS Reps who provide cleaning kits. This campaign provides a clear approach and really helps kick start the journey towards reducing plastic waste, crucially, and raising awareness.

SAS’s Plastic Free Coastlines Community Toolkit has a handy individual action plan So far the following Devon towns have signed up: Appledore, Ashburton, Bovey Tracey, Braunton, Bideford, Croyde, Dartmouth, Exeter, Great Torrington, Ivybridge, Plymouth, Sidmouth, Teignmouth, Torridge, Totnes, Westward Ho! Undoubtedly more will follow. A handy ten point list is provided showing how you can take action. Local councils have been quick to join the movement by forwarding motions to commit to replacing SUPs from council procurement to help their

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areas rid the oceans of more plastics, including Plymouth, Exeter, Torbay, South Hams, Teignbridge. There is even talk of a South West Marine Plastics Initiative and a joined up action from all local authorities. Other areas are tackling the marine ocean plastics crisis differently by adopting other campaigns such as Kids Against Plastic http://clearplasticuk.net who are supporting a Plastic Clever approach, which has been taken up in Salcombe and also along the Dart Estuary by south Devon AONB. It’s certainly exciting times for community action and there is so much work to do. The key is the focus on zero waste and the onus on waste reduction, as it’s clear we need to reduce plastic use on a global scale; can we say no to single use plastics or take a reusable option instead? Although most Devon councils collect bottles and rigid plastic containers, some do not yet collect pots tubs and trays from residents. With China refusing to take our recyclables from March 2018, the recycling industry has put real pressure on UK government to act, and enable us recycle more on this island. So we have finally woken up to the marine ocean plastics crisis and the extent of the problem. The estimation that up to 79% of the plastic waste ever created has ended up in our environment (WRAP 2018) is startling. By acting now with a joined up approach and using a range of approaches, we can make the change; we have to. Part of the solution will be technological and finding alternative materials for packaging. We must value the plastic we already have and use it responsibly and start to incentivise recycling by introducing bottle deposit return schemes as recently proposed for Scotland and the rest of the UK. Such schemes have achieved rates of over 90% recovery of bottles in other European countries. In contrast, only 57% of bottles reach UK household recycling collections as things stand. The solutions are available and we need action. Maybe we can start to generate a waste picking culture where packaging and plastic and not only reduced but also valued. l Contact info@dcrn.org.uk to find out about your local campaign and please lend support in your community. Find / Like/ Share us on facebook at Devon Community Recycling & Composting Networks.

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shoreline Documenting the lives of those at sea PLYMOUTH based photographer Tony Fitzsimmons concludes his tales of life as a documentary photographer and photojournalist. He leaves us to set sail for the Falkands....

here was definitely a mixture of elation and sadness as I boarded the Govenek of Ladram, the final vessel of the Waterdance commission. Over the course of the year I had met a great many hard grafting and seemingly environmentallyresilient men, able to operate in conditions and surroundings that myself (and I’m very sure many others) would fold and break days into the job. The crew of this Newlyn netter was no different to the rest and I had the great pleasure and company of Shaun Edwards, Waterdance’s very own Newlyn Shore Manager to take the helm, allowing skipper Phil Mitchell to enjoy a well deserved week break. This final trip gave me a unique glimpse into pre-Brexit goings on, as we were denied in Irish waters by three French vessel when it came to releasing our nets. How this same situation will play out in years to come is beyond my comprehension currently, though I would love to be at the forefront in documenting what could be a very interesting series of events and potential conflicting views and situations. Because of the actions of the French, we were forced further west, maybe 100 miles south of Ireland and away from the Govenek’s usual rich hunting ground of Turbot fishing at Labadie Bank. Later in the week, with our nets in position, Shaun had the task of doing the same, only this time explaining to a Spanish vessel and Capitan, that we were working the waters here. Perhaps it was simply a case of first come first serve, though in time I expect that will change greatly. I had a great week onboard the Govenek, capturing the crew at work through a series of intimate shots, with a couple of days of rough weather thrown in to give me a varied look at the ever usual working week at sea. To end the week on a high, we were even boarded by the Le Roisin, a stunning Irish Offshore Patrol Vessel (with of course, everything checking out and coming back completely fine). With the editing now over and the Waterdance series successfully completed, I began weeks of promotion though a variety of social media platforms. I received so much great feedback, with one Tweet in particular going straight to my head, praising my work as the best photography of the UK’s fishing industry ever. I felt that

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comment was going to be hard to top as the size of my head continued to grow. Winding down, I fully expected to begin working with one of the Offshore companies I had been keeping in touch with, yet out of the blue, following a conversation and digital print sale from a British chap now working out in Australia with the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council), I was approached with an incredible offer to document Patagonian Toothfish operations out in the Falklands, onboard the CFL Hunter, a 60 meter recently launched Longliner. It was a place my late father knew

HERE in Devon we have an extensive coastal based independent hospitality industry. These businesses have the opportunity to make a HUGE difference when it comes to ocean plastic – and they can act NOW! Many say they don’t have the time or expertise to identify the best alternatives to single-use plastic, or the money to create marketing materials that promote their positive actions to their customers and here’s where Less Plastic can help. If you are reading this, work in hospitality, and would like to use less plastic see the Less Plastic in Hospitality Training & Marketing Pack at lessplastic.co.uk/product/training-

marketing-pack-hospitality-businessesuse-less-plastic. It’s specially designed to help you. Significantly reducing plastic use is the most effective way to tackle the ocean plastic crisis, and the pack identifies the 6 most impactful ways hospitality businesses can cut their plastic use, as well as promote their great work to the growing numbers of plastic-conscious customers. The unexpected benefit of using less plastic for business is saving money – by reducing or eliminating disposable items and paying less to have business waste taken away – a WINWIN scenario for businesses and the oceans! Email hello@lessplastic.co.uk for more information.

very well, having spent some time there as a Royal Marine Commando. With a chance to walk in his footsteps so to speak, I accepted the commission immediately, before mopping up

the coffee I had spilt during my fit of excitement. l You can view my Life at Sea series so far at www. tonyfitzsimmons.com

Barnfield Hill Therapy Rooms New therapy rooms for rent Light and airy rooms with own waiting room. Flexible rental, ad hoc or half day blocks available for counsellors and therapists. From £4 per hour. Central Exeter location Contact: Julie McNichol

Tony will return with more of his travels in a future issue of Reconnect.

01392 256711 4 Barnfield Hill, Exeter, EX1 1SR

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

news&views Grinagog returns AFTER an impressive festival debut last year, Torquay’s Grinagog Festival ,with a no mud guarantee, returns for 3 days from April 20-22. Early-bird tickets have now sold out for the festival named after an old Devonshire term for “someone who is perpetually smiling”. The line-up of live music acts and DJs includes Big Narstie, Macka B, Craig Charles, Channel One Sound System With Mikey Dread, A Skillz, Dizraeli & Downlow, The Correspondents, Terry Francis, Henge, John Shuttleworth, Mr Nice, Jim Causley, The Drystones, Samuel Wulf, New York Brass Band, Pathaan, New York Brass Band, Subgiant, Cut Capers, The Simmertones, Bizarre Rituals, Youth (Killing Joke), The Egg, and many more across multiple stages at two-key venues - Torre Abbey and the Riviera Centre. See www.grinagogfestival.com for more information.

Medical students develop their performance talents IF YOU’RE an avid follower of ‘Casualty’, ‘Holby City’ or ‘Doctors’, the combination of the words ‘drama’, ‘medicine’ and ‘doctor’ might conjure up images of your favourite hospital soap. But for medical students at Plymouth University Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry, not all the drama takes place on the wards or in the emergency room. In fact, the school’s innovative medical humanities programme includes an improvised drama module in which students are encouraged to explore their acting and performance talents as a means of improving their communications skills, developing creative problem solving abilities and increasing their levels of self-confidence. The medical humanities programme, which aims to augment the science of medicine with the interpersonal

A green future with hemp

Think Tank has stated that hemp can be the answer to many of today’s problems. We caught up again with Guy Coxall from Dartmoor, Director of the CBD Company Molytor and the Chairman of HempTank to find out more. HempTank is the UK’s Think Tank for hemp education and policy development and they are working with the hemp industry and the public to discuss future policy development. Hemp is by far the most versatile plant we have. If we utilise

skills doctors need to communicate with patients and fellow health professionals, is given a high priority at PUPSMD. In October the school will be hosting its first ever international conference on the subject. Actor and facilitator Jeff Sleeman, who teaches the drama module at PUPSMD, has recently returned from a visit to New Zealand where he met with academics from the Auckland University medical school who run a similar programme. Said Jeff: ”The medical humanities programme at PUPSMD is highly innovative and we have a very dedicated team who are keen to share their experiences with other medical schools. The visit to Auckland was a great opportunity to make some useful connections and I’m hoping that the conference in October will be an opportunity to continue the conversations and

it, we can replace wood paper, GM cotton, petrochemical plastics, concrete and other toxic materials which are destroying our environment and our health. Hemp can restore our health, the soil, the environment and the economy. HempTank are to launch a crowd funding campaign to fund a hemp education project. “With your support, we will design and construct a portable hemp maze which will educate the public on the history, uses and the benefits to all of us with a future hemp industry. We will tour the UK, including Exeter

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develop some collaborative projects with the tutors there.” For information about the conference or Jeff’s medical humanities work, contact him via his website www. jeffsleeman.com

Jeff Sleeman with Dr Daranee Boon, who teaches a poetry course as part of the PUPSMD programme.

and Plymouth, and each event will include not only the hemp maze but also talks, live music, demonstrations and some other surprises. This tour will increase awareness and open up new markets and opportunities in this field. With the support of the public, we are in a strong position to change outdated policies for the good of everyone.” For more information and to donate, visit HempTanks’s website: www.hemptank.co.uk or to get involved, follow them on Facebook: ‘HempTank’

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NEWS&views The Reconnect herb walk

south westerlies...

TORBAY herbalist Dawn Ireland of Green Wyse explains a little about medicinal uses of common seeds or herbs, taking us on a virtual Reconnect herb walk.

Finally it’s the time of the year where Scott can turn his attention to being outside. This issue he explains why, and also airs his pet peeve about ethical products.

HIS is my favourite time of year as far as growing and harvesting medicinal plants, everything is abundant and vibrant and plants are at their best.

The heart is an arrow

HIS time of year is welcomed particularly eagerly by me because it signals the start of the outdoor season, in a sport I love. If I’m not here at Reconnect Towers putting together this illustrious publication I can usually be found on the archery range, for I shoot arrows. From October to March we spend our days shooting short distances (around 20 yards) indoors, but when April arrives we finally get to practice and compete outdoors at a range of up to 100 yards. Finally, that time is here. Originally my daughter and I took up the sport as a father and daughter bonding activity, eventually other things occupied her attention, whereas I persisted with it and now compete at quite a high level with a longbow. I’ve been in the men’s team of three archers at county level that represent both Devon and Cornwall since 2011, and been invited to compete at The Masters competition for the last four years. My proficiency at it means I have access to regular coaching, and train quite hard. We’re schooled in athlete psychology, and I’ve become quite skilled at the art of repetition. I take an interest in various health and fitness regimes, though tend not to follow any particular regime. Potential improvements in my archery however, I do take an interest in. A chance conversation with Masterbeat’s Rob Hemmings revealed he was an exponent of a technique that uses an electronic synchroniser device for heart coherence training, and it’s popular amongst other sports like golf because of the calm control it offers. After a county competition in Plymouth I met with Rob and he explained the system which enables me to attune my breathing to my heartbeat and achieve heart coherence. I put the small battery powered device on my finger and simply breathed in time with the beeps of my heart. Both my heartbeat and my breathing rapidly became more rhythmic and regular. I’ve had the system a couple of weeks now. I’m implementing it so that when doing archery, I can keep my breathing to the rhythm of my heartbeat, slowing both down, and take my shot on the out breath, when the heartbeat is the slowest. I’ve not found it a particularly quick solution to get in tune with, but I have had glimpses of what I could achieve with it already. There’s an inner quiet point after the out breath that is a point of stillness between heartbeats. The piece of kit is really easy to use and it’s not surprising that zero point breathing has become the biggest biometric indicator for overall fitness, as it has measurable results. Rob believes that we’re living in an epidemic of heartbeat chaos where people aren’t attuned to their own

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heartbeat. Personally I find respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), or heart rate variability in synch with respiration, fascinating. It’s a method, I read, of improving the parasympathetic nervous system, offering self induced relaxation, and it definitely has a physiological impact. I’ve not yet managed to integrate it into my archery successfully but it’s something I’m working towards. Rob says that the device can also help with panic or anxiety attacks, emotional management, addiction/ disorders, allergies, depression, and can help to prevent heart conditions. I’ll let you know whether it improves my outdoor season. In other news, I’ve got to get something off my chest; I’ve found myself increasingly irked by ethical companies which get taken over. I have two examples, Pukka and Ecover, that have happened recently. I feel strongly that they should put on their packaging ‘under new ownership’. I’m particularly annoyed about Ecover, who were taken over by the American company, S C Johnson in September 2017. They produce products such as Pledge, Mr Muscle, Toilet Duck, and Glade air fresheners. Even if they’ve not changed a thing about the product, the formula or where it’s sourced (the conglomerate owners will have you believe that’s all that matters here), I think it’s about the ethics of the new owners. I prefer to buy my products from companies with a clean green public record. I don’t want to buy what I think is my usual ethical green brand only to discover the parent company has had issues with paying their taxes, their toxic chemicals policy, their animal welfare record, their workforce’s rights, and who they make their political donations to. To me it’s their ethics that matter. I have the same issues with Unilever buying the Bristol-based ethical tea brand Pukka Herbs. I know the company had a clear philosophical and cultural stand point. I really can’t say that about Unilever. I have discussed this with someone who has a friend who works for Pukka and it seems Pukka still has amazing, passionate folk on the team upholding their original ethics despite the parent company. But still, they were bought out last September and there’s nothing to make that obvious. I feel there’s something misleading about not putting it on the packaging of products which are bought by conscious shoppers because of their once green credentials. Anyway I’m off to loose (or should that be lose?) a few arrows. Before I go, I was saddened to hear that environmental, political activist and personal hero George Monbiot has cancer, I wish him well.

Achillea millefolium - Yarrow Often overlooked, this feathery leafed common grassland plant is one of the most useful medicinally. When it grows in grass that is kept mowed, you don’t see the flowers, just small leaves, but allowed to grow, the flower stem can grow to around knee height. Flowers are usually white, sometimes with a pink tinge, and you can get cultivars for the garden in a range of colours. Externally this plant has a long tradition of use to stop bleeding of wounds. With astringent properties, it has even been used to staunch nosebleeds. To use in the most basic way you can crush a few leaves to obtain the green sap and apply to small wounds or cuts. The tannins and aromatic constituents are antiseptic, and have a mildly drying and tightening action on the tissues, promoting drying and healing. Otherwise you can use a herb tea as a wash. Interestingly, internal use of this plant has the opposing action of relaxing and opening the blood vessels, which makes it a very useful addition to herbal medicines used for high blood pressure, alongside other suitable herbs. Flowers or leaves can be used, fresh or dried. Fresh leaves made into a tea are exceptionally effective for cases of cystitis, or bladder inflammation. For this take a handful of fresh leaves, and/or flowers, chop finely and steep for ten minutes in boiling water. When making a medicinal tea as

opposed to one for pleasure only, it’s a good idea to cover the cup with a saucer whilst steeping to retain as much of the volatile oils as possible. Sambucus nigra - Elderflower The frothy cream coloured flowers are beloved by bees and other insects as they produce large amounts of pollen. A favourite herb for sinusitis and any upper respiratory inflammation whether due to viruses, or allergies, a tea is an excellent addition to a general cold relief mix with its antiinflammatory action reducing heat, swelling and congestion. Fresh or dried flowers can be used, and they can also be used to make tinctures. Fill a jar with the flowers, shaking off any tiny pollen beetles first. Cover with vodka or cider vinegar, closing the lid tightly. Leave for 2 - 4 weeks, shaking the jar daily and making sure the flowers are kept below the fluid to avoid them going mouldy. Strain off and discard the spent flowers. Keep the fluid in a bottle out of the light and use two or three teaspoons daily, diluted in water as needed. A word of warning about drying the flowers: they give off a rather pungent odour as they dry. I tend to forget quite how strong this smell is. As a cat owner I have been known to arrive home and notice with dismay the strong smell of cat wee, believing one of my cats to be the culprit, only to then realise that the strings of drying elderflowers are actually the cause. Luckily after they are fully dry, this odour goes away. As always, harvest mindfully, leaving some behind, be sure of your identification, and when in doubt consult a professional for diagnosis. Happy harvesting! www.torbayherbalist.co.uk

Scott Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

NEWS&views Studio 45 seeks new sponsors An ancient moment of reconnection

TUDIO 45 are celebrating their first six months. Creative Director Richenda Macgregor has been busy ensuring the Dartington based studio keeps up with demand and puts on courses to alleviate the ever-growing waiting list. The new round of their courses goes live on May 21. The last round sold out within the week, so if you want to learn how to make pots, put the date for bookings in your diary! As well as offering membership, a full range of classes, workshops and research into more ecological practices, Studio 45 also run an apprenticeship scheme. Their current apprentice Raphy Seck is already an accomplished potter and has completed an apprentice ship with Penny Simpson. Apprentices need a lot of practice to perfect the process. Richenda explained: “Just as you would never pick up a guitar and think you could play beautifully right from the start, expect your first 1000 pots to be wobbly at best. Don’t get me wrong, I love wobbly and the art of Wabi Sabi (the beauty of the imperfect) but if you are embarking on pottery as a career, you have to be able to make pieces that look consistently similar.” Raphy has just finished her first ‘live’ commission to make mugs for Schumacher College. Shape, size, heat retention were all important aspects to consider, as well as being dishwasher safe and tough as they get handled a lot. “It is a beautiful thing to watch the subtle changes and elegance that emerges when you repeat the same shape over and over again, the fluidity and sure-ness that develops. The Potter’s hand and clay becoming one in an act of communication and meditation. Seriously, it is good for the soul! And in all honesty it is tough, tough to make a living, tough to compete, tough on the body, there are no instant solutions. Our new generation of potters need our help and support.” Studio 45 is an incubating space for those willing to tread this precarious path. They are looking for sponsors to help them develop this programme and other ‘live’ commissions so if you are interested do get in touch. Contact info@studio45.uk.com and www. studio45.com.

’M standing in Scoriton in Devon, looking across a snow covered landscape, taking in the view of the white hill falling away below me. We are at last properly snowed in. I’ve been waiting three years for a real snowfall like this. A woman walks up and looks out across the hill with me. Her child is next to her holding a battered sled. There is something familiar in their energy and aliveness. They are very present and open. The following morning I realised what the familiar feeling of connection was: there is a place in us all that welcomes a wild disruptor. Something to break the routine of our compulsive doing. Something to fend off the unease of being still, silent or present. The scale of snow fall across the country enabled us to stop for a moment and connect to something ancient. As I watched the flakes glide in drifts outside our window, I felt relief. Being snowed in meant nowhere to go, nothing to do. Only rest, walk, eat, keep warm and connect. With each inch that settled I felt more at ease. Concerned phone calls came. Warm, loving texts from friends and family were exchanged. We reached out to help out. There is a place in all of us that yearns for this kind of wild, elemental disruptor. A power that reaches beyond the safety of

CASPAR WALSH author, poet and journalist and founder of Words from the Earth muses on the recent blizzards. His book The Mindful Man – Words from the Earth is launched this Spring.

our home and the cosiness of our cars. Something that seeks to find a good reason to check in to see if our neighbours are doing okay, if they have enough food, warmth, contact. In the absence being able or willing to voluntarily switch it all off, we wait for the forces of nature to help us remember what it’s like when we are forced to stop. A wilder power that helps us step into the silence. A shift in the norm following the storm, a breaking through of our invisible, protective shields of being busy. There was a time when the sharp, raw teeth of winter didn’t hold the awe and beauty it does today. It was something to be endured and lived through until spring came. And in that rawness we learned to work together and be together to survive. There is a different kind of survival sought today. With most of us having our basic needs met, we have the luxury to look at the power of nature without being decimated by it; most of us anyway. Most of us are safe enough in the eye of a storm to take time to reflect and connect to what it is that bound us together so tightly for so many millennia. The Devon snow stopped falling all too quick and melted all too soon. As it faded from white to early spring green I was left wondering how much of that magical, ancient connection with strangers can remain?

Events at Embercombe Programmes and events that connect and inspire... “Together we will meet the challenges we’re facing and I’m there, I’m in.” - Kanada Gorla (Lead Facilitator)

Spring Programmes in 2018 The Journey

11th-16th Mar, 6th-11th May & 5th-10th Aug 2018 A 5-day leadership and personal development course uncovering your deepest love, your greatest gifts and your true responsibilities. www.embercombe.org/the-journey

Catalyst

8th-13th Apr, 1 st-6th Jul & 2nd-7th Sep 2018

“A life affirming, soul-strengthening exploration of what it means to be truly alive.” Pheobe With nature-based and indigenous wisdom is at its heart, Embercombe facilitates programmes that inspire the courageous leader in us all to pledge to creating a better world.

www.embercombe.org  facebook.com/embercombe  @embercombe Embercombe - Nr Exeter - EX6 7QQ Charity Number: 1116793

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A 5-day course for 18-25 year olds which helps you to develop authentic leadership and change-making skills, and gain a clearer understanding of who you really are, your gifts and where you are going. www.embercombe.org/catalyst

The Decent

2nd-8th Sep 2018

For those who have participated in The Journey the ceremony of The Descent provides a deepening of the tap root. Living close to the earth and off-grid, we follow the steps of those who walked this wild land years ago, connecting to something sacred and necessary, now as ever. www.embercombe.org/the-descent

Email: info@embercombe.org Or call: 01647 252983 www.reconnectonline.co.uk

Goingout

April/may 2018

OUR BIGGUIDETO BIG LOCAL EVENTS ART EXHIBITIONS

GEORGE SHAW: MY BACK TO NATURE Until Apr 8, 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.

SOUTH WEST ACADEMY SPRING EXHIBITION Until Apr 14, Brownston Gallery, Modbury GARETH WILLIAMS & GORDON HILL ART EXHIBITION Until Apr 16, Studio 36, Exeter THE ENERGY OF PLANTS Until Apr 14, Harbour House, Kingsbridge APRIL ARTIST PREVIEW Apr 7, Artizan Gallery Cafe, Torquay APRIL EXHIBITION Apr 7-27, Artizan Gallery Cafe, Torquay SOUTHWEST HOME & GARDEN SHOW 2018 Apr 14-15, Westpoint, Exeter CELEBRATING LIFE Apr 19-25, Harbour House, Kingsbridge UNFOLDING STORIES 3 Apr 27-May 3, Harbour House, Kingsbridge MAY EXHIBITION Apr 30-May 28, Artizan Gallery Cafe, Torquay MAY ARTIST PREVIEW May 4, Artizan Gallery Cafe, Torquay HERMAID May 5, Harbour House, Kingsbridge THE COFFEE SACK SERIES - F G DAVIS May 5-18, Words and Picture Gallery, Teignmouth ARTIST DOWN UNDER May 15-20, Harbour House, Kingsbridge PASSION FOR COLOUR May 22 -Jun 3, Harbour House, Kingsbridge

CHILDREN/FAMILY

MARSHALL FROM PAW PATROL AT CREALY Apr 9-13, Crealy Adventure Park, Exeter

ALICE IN WONDERLAND FAMILY SHOW Apr 13-15, Ivybridge Theatre Company, Ivybridge CREALY’S CRACKING EASTER Until Apr 15, Crealy Adventure Park, Exeter

Apr 2, House of Marbles, Bovey Tracey CREALY’S CRACKING EASTER

KIDS TV WEEK AT CREALY May 26-Jun 3, Crealy Adventure Park, Exeter

SING PLYMOUTH

BUBBLICIOUS Apr 28 & May 19, The Soapbox Children’s Theatre, Plymouth.

ROSSINI & PUCCINI CONCERT

THE TALE OF COCKATRICE WITH MUMBLE CRUST THEATRE May 12, The Soapbox Children’s Theatre, Plymouth.

EASTER MORWELLHAM BUNNY HUNT Apr 1-2, Morwellham Quay, Tavistock

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TELEMANN AND HIS FRIENDS IN PARIS Apr 28, St Mary’s Church, Totnes

Mar 30-Apr 15 Crealy Adventure Park, Exeter.

CHOIRS

STORY STOMPS May 25, The Soapbox Children’s Theatre, Plymouth. MOTHERS DAY Mar 11, Morwellham Quay, Tavistock.

EMG SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S APRIL CONCERT Apr 28, Cathedral, Exeter

EASTER BRASS RUBBING TRAIL

THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY May 6, Corn Exchange, Exeter

DINO-SAW May 16-26, The Soapbox Children’s Theatre, Plymouth

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

SING EXETER Every Tuesday, St Sidwell’s Community Centre, Exeter Every Thursday, Pomphlett Methodist Centre, Plymouth

LESLEY HATFIELD VIOLIN & HUW WATKINS PIANO Apr 20, NADSA Concerts, Newton Abbot IRYNA ILNYTSKA AND EKATERINA SHETLIFFE PRESENT A SOPRANO & PIANO RECITAL April 20, St John’s Church, Totnes NOTES OF NOSTALGIA - BOURNEMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Apr 26, Cathedral, Exeter

ROBERT TEMPLE

Apr 7, Phoenix, Exeter BEEKEEPING FOR BEGINNERS Apr 13-15, Furzeleigh Farm, Ashburton GRINAGOG FESTIVAL Apr 20-22, Torquay TOBY’S GARDEN FESTIVAL Apr 27-28 Powderham Castle, Kenton. ELIZABETHAN MARKET OPENING CEREMONY May 1, Elizabethan Market, Totnes PAIGNTON BIKE FESTIVAL

ED BYRNE

10TH ART & CRAFT EXHIBITION

SHALDON SINGERS SPRING CONCERT May 19, St Peter’s Church, Shaldon

TOM ALLEN

MURRAY LACHLAN YOUNG Apr 4, Parish Church, Kingskerswell

Apr 20, Rougemont Castle, Exeter

Apr 26, Corn Exchange, Exeter

HOLIOFEST

May 4-6, Seafront, Paignton

BEDROOM FARCE Apr 3-7, Barnfield Theatre, Exeter

MUSIC IN THE CASTLE - MERIDIES PIANO TRIO

FOIL ARMS AND HOG: OINK

Apr 5, Cookworthy Museum, Kingsbridge

Apr 30, Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay

COMEDY

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Apr 22, The Flavel, Dartmouth

FAMILY DAY

QUARTET 19: PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE May 05, Ariel Centre, Totnes

ISCA ENSEMBLE CHORAL AND ORCHESTRAL CONCERT. May 26, Cathedral, Exeter

Apr 21, South Devon Choir, Torquay

RICHARD HERRING

EVENTS/FESTIVALS

ANDREW O’NEILL Apr 8, Phoenix, Exeter EXETER COMEDY CLUB Apr 6, Corn Exchange, Exeter MARK STEEL Apr 15, Corn Exchange, Exeter ROBIN INCE Apr 18, Phoenix, Exeter DALISO CHAPONDA: WHAT THE AFRICAN SAID Apr 20, Corn Exchange, Exeter

May 5, Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay May 5, Corn Exchange, Exeter SUNNY ORMONDE May 7, The Flavel, Dartmouth ELEANOR CONWAY May 10, Phoenix, Exeter HENNING WEHN May 17, The Flavel, Dartmouth THE DARTMOUTH PLAYERS May 25-26, The Flavel, Dartmouth RICH HALL May 26, Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay

DANCE

LIVE CONNECTION DANCE Apr 7 & May 12, Studio 6, Dartington CLUB CARIO May 13, Corn Exchange, Exeter IRISH SET DANCING May 18, Jun 15, Jul 20, St Thomas Church Hall, Exeter

May 5-7, Buckland Monachorum EXETER FESTIVAL OF SOUTH WEST FOOD & DRINK May 5-7, Castle & Northernhay Gardens, Exeter THIS EARTH GATHERING May 10-13, Broadclyst, Exeter DARREN BRITTAIN May 11, Spiritualist Centre, Exeter DART MUSIC FESTIVAL May 11-13, Dartmouth BEEKEEPING FOR IMPROVERS May 11-13, Furzeleigh Farm, Ashburton EXETER PRIDE May 12, Exeter REVEL FAYRE May 12, Clyst Honiton MAY FETE May 12, St Andrew’s Church, Kenn CONCERT IN THE PARK May 13, Courtenay Park, Newton Abbot. Turn over the page for more GoingOut listings

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GOING OUT EVENTS/FESTIVALS

PSYCHIC SALLY: KISSES TO HEAVEN May 14, Corn Exchange, Exeter ART WEEK EXETER May 22-28, Exeter DEVON COUNTY SHOW May 17-19, Westpoint, Exeter RAINBOW’S END HOLISTIC WELLBEING AND NATURAL CRAFTS May 19-20, Civic Hall, Totnes

Rainbow’s End

HOLISTIC WELLBEING AND NATURAL CRAFTS FESTIVAL

Civic Hall, High Street, Totnes 19th and 20th May 2018 10am-5pm Free admission All-day programme of talks, workshops and demonstrations Wide variety of readers, healers, therapists and traders Hourly Buddhist Meditations 07900 824089

SHINDIG WEEKENDER May 25-27, Gilcombe Farm, Somerset THE MASKED BALL May 25-27, Beacon Cragg, Porthleven BUDE & STRATTON FOLK FESTIVAL May 25-28, Bude, Cornwall BRIXFEST May 26, Quayside, Brixham. KINDRED SPIRITS FESTIVAL May 26-27, Waterloo Farm, Cornwall LOVE SAVES THE DAY May 26-27, Eastville Park, Bristol RAGGED VICTORIAN WEEKEND May 26-28, Morwellham Quay, Tavistock VEGFEST May 26-28, Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol DAWLISH ARTS FESTIVAL May 26–Jun 2, Dawlish FOOD FAIR May 27 The Shops, Dartington

MUD LARKS FUN RUN May 27, Dartington

FARMERS MARKETS ASHBURTON

5 days a week: Tuesday – Saturday Tuckers Yard, Ashburton BOVEY TRACEY Alternate Saturdays every month Town Square, Bovey Tracey BUCKFASTLEIGH Every Thursday Near The Globe Inn, Town Centre BUDLEIGH SALTERTON Last Friday of every month Polle Car Park, off High Street CREDITON Every 1st Saturday of the month The Market Square, Crediton DARTMOUTH Every second Saturday of the month The Old Market, Dartmouth DAWLISH Every second Saturday of the month The Lawn, Dawlish EXETER Every Thursday Junction of South Street and Fore Street EXMOUTH 2nd Wednesday every month The Strand Gardens, Exmouth ILFRACOMBE Every 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month St Peters Church, Highfield Road

IVYBRIDGE Third Saturday of every month Hartford Road Car Park, Ivybridge KINGSBRIDGE Every first & third Saturday of the month Town Square, Kingsbridge NEWTON ABBOT Every Tuesday Courtnay Street, Newton Abbot PLYMOUTH Every second & fourth Saturday of the month Town Centre Plaza, Plymouth PLYMOUTH (GOOD FOOD MARKET) First Sunday of every month Royal William Yard, Plymouth TEIGNMOUTH Last Saturday of every month The Triangle, Teignmouth TORQUAY Every Friday Union Street, Torquay TOTNES GOOD FOOD MARKET Every Third Sunday of the Month Market Square, Totnes

MUSIC GIGS THE INTERNATIONAL DELTA SIX Apr 1, Plymouth Jazz Club, Plymouth SHONEN KNIFE Apr 3 Phoenix, Exeter LISBEE STAINTON Apr 3, Parish Church, Kingskerswell

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)

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GOING OUT LLOYD & ROSE BUCK Apr 4, Corn Exchange, Exeter

LOWER THAN ATLANTIS Apr 11, Lemon Grove, Exeter

NEIL SANDS Apr 17, The Watermark, Ivybridge

MARK J. LEE Apr 5, The B-Bar, Plymouth

THE LITTLE UNSAID Apr 11, Phoenix, Exeter

THE LAKE POETS Apr 17, Parish Church, Kingskerswell

THE LEYLINES Apr 6, Parish Church, Kingskerswell MERIDIANUM ENSEMBLE Apr 7, Parish Church, Kingskerswell 10TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION Apr 7, The Watermark, Ivybridge SHOW OF HANDS Apr 8, Barnfield Theatre, Exeter THE CARPENTERS STORY Apr 08, Corn Exchange, Exeter MERIDIANUM ENSEMBLE Apr 8, The Flavel, Dartmouth KID CARPET Apr 9, Phoenix, Exeter FEAST OF FIDDLES Apr 11, Corn Exchange, Exeter MATTHEW READ TRIO Apr 11, Speakeasy, Torquay

PETE LOCKETT Apr 12, Phoenix, Exeter FEROCIOUS DOG Apr 13, Phoenix, Exeter ORPHAN COLOURS Apr 13, Parish Church, Kingskerswell THE CUBAN BROTHERS Apr 14, Phoenix, Exeter JOHN BUCKLEY Apr 14, Phoenix, Exeter MICHAEL SYKES Apr 14, Phoenix, Exeter MARTIN DALE TRIO, Apr 14, The Flavel, Dartmouth LLOYD GRIFFITH Apr 14, Parish Church, Kingskerswell HAUSCHKA Apr 15, Great Hall, Dartington SAVANNAH JAZZ Apr 15, Jazz Club, Plymouth HOLY MOLY & THE CRACKERS Apr 15, Parish Church, Kingskerswell

NAHKO & TREVOR HALL Apr 19, Phoenix, Exeter SOUND OF THE SIRENS Apr 20, Phoenix, Exeter ROSS COUPER AND TOM OAKES Apr 20, Parish Church, Kingskerswell

SHADES OF RHYTHM Apr 28, Phoenix, Exeter BANCO DE GAIA Apr 28, Parish Church, Kingskerswell ERIC BIBB Apr 29, Phoenix, Exeter DON BROCO May 3, Lemon Grove, Exeter KATHRYN ROBERTS AND SEAN LAKEMAN May 3, Phoenix, Exeter JAMIE SMITH’S MABON May 4 Pavilions, Teignmouth

CHARLIE DORE & JULIAN LITTMAN Apr 20, The Flavel, Dartmouth

THE RHEINGANS SISTERS Apr 23, Phoenix, Exeter SAM MASSY Apr 25, Speakeasy, Torquay

FROM THE JAM May 13, Phoenix, Exeter

JON BODEN & THE REMNANT KINGS May 5, Phoenix, Exeter LEE GIBSON May 6, Jazz Club, Plymouth

KATIE PIPER Apr 27, Corn Exchange, Exeter

MIKE WESTBROOK May 9, Speakeasy, Torquay

MARK CHADWICK Apr 28, Barrel House, Totnes

NOBLE JACKS May 11, Parish Church, Kingskerswell

Theatre STARSHINE Until May 31, Babbacombe Theatre, Torquay

HANS THEESSINK, BROOKS WILLIAMS May 15, Parish Church, Kingskerswell

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE LIVE: MACBETH (OPERA) Apr 4, The Watermark, Ivybridge

GARY LUCAS May 15, Phoenix, Exeter

STEEL MAGNOLIAS Apr 16-21, TOADS Theatre Company, Torquay

MARCUS CORBETT & NITIN GAIKWAD May 22, Parish Church, Kingskerswell ANDY NOWAK TRIO May 23, Speakeasy, Torquay CHARLES WATSON May 24, Phoenix, Exeter

MARMOZETS May 7, Lemon Grove, Exeter

FAIRPORT CONVENTION May 30, The Watermark, Ivybridge

NINEBARROW May 12, Parish Church, Kingskerswell

JASON DONOVAN May 16, Corn Exchange, Exeter

SEB ROCHFORD May 5, Space Studio 1, Dartington

HAZEL O’CONNOR Apr 22, Parish Church, Kingskerswell

ELECTRIC SWING CIRCUS May 11, Phoenix, Exeter

KATRIONA GILMORE & JAMIE ROBERTS May 27, Parish Church, Kingskerswell

THE LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE Apr 25-28, Bijou Theatre Productions, Paignton BEOWULF - SETH KRIEBEL Apr 25, Peninsula Arts, Plymouth RSC LIVE ENCORE: MACBETH May 2, The Watermark, Ivybridge

KING KING May 27, Phoenix, Exeter

THE PANTALOONS PRESENT THE WAR OF THE WORLDS May 4, The Watermark, Ivybridge

ROBYN HITCHCOCK May 29, Parish Church, Kingskerswell

TONS OF MONEY May 14-19, TOADS Theatre Company, Torquay

Saturday 2nd June 2018 10.00am - 5.00pm FREE ENTRY

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 include: psychic readings, sports and fitness coaches, therapies, tarot card readings, Neal’s Yard Remedies, reflexology, medi-hemp products, meditation and holistic healing as well as crystals, jewellery, gifts and many more… Interested in exhibiting? Contact our team today to find out more.

Newton Road, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 3AF

www.newtonabbotracing.com Tel: 01626 353235

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Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

ORGANICGARDENING SPRINGTIME for our resident gardening expert, JOA GROWER, means it’s a busy time of year for planting all those fresh vegetables.

Photo: Beth Coombes

There’s time for lots of tender planting

pring at last! The clocks have corn in a block of at least 3 x 3 as gone forward and here at this allows the pollen from the male Growers that means more time flowers (that’s the one at the top in the veggie garden. Just what we of the plant) to fall down on to the need, as this can be the busiest female flowers (that’s the tassel on time of the year! the end of the cobs) this then causes them to start to fill out and produce The first early potatoes will be lovely sweet corn on the cobs. coming through, so don’t forget that If you planted broad beans earlier the more you mulch and earth up, in the year or maybe even late the more potatoes you will harvest. last year (and Grass clipping, they survived the well rotted arctic conditions), manure (at least you might want a year old) or to check them for home produced blackfly. If they compost will have set 4 or 5 do the job. It’s flowers, the best always a good way to avoid this idea to water first is to pinch out the if the ground is fleshy top section dry, so that the where the blackfly mulch will lock like to gather. the moisture in. April and May Once the frosts are also ideal have all gone months to sow (don’t get caught root vegetables. If out like a lot of us Bottle recycling you’ve not tasted did back in late freshly pulled carrots, you February) it will be time must give them a go. Choose an to plant out the more tender plants area of the garden that isn’t too such as cucumbers, courgettes, stony and rake it thoroughly. Carrot squashes, outdoor tomatoes and seed is very small and it is very French and runner beans. We easy to over sow. A tip that I was always give them a little bit of given, many years ago, is to mix protection by covering them with it with some very dry horticultural their own little greenhouse, using sand and then sow into trenches old plastic bottles that have had 1-2cm deep and 15cm apart. the bottom and lid removed, just This helps to spread the seed a bit until the plants get settled in. [This further apart. reminded me of a great eco friendly idea the plastic bottle and bamboo When the seedlings start to appear greenhouse I keep meaning to make and are large enough to handle one day, pictured - Scott ] you can thin them out to about 7-9cm apart. To protect your carrot Sweetcorn can also be planted crop from the Carrot Root Fly, outside in May. Choose a good create a barrier over or around the sunny position in the garden and crop. This can be done in various work in a general organic fertilizer ways, probably the easiest is to such as chicken manure pellets cover with horticultural fleece. or seaweed meal a week or two Happy Growing! before planting. Always plant your

Comfrey - an organic gardening top tip

ONE of the great secrets of the organic gardener is growing and feeding with comfrey, a member of the borage family (no organic garden is complete without a bit of comfrey growing in a corner somewhere!). Firstly make sure you get the right comfrey plants. Please don’t be tempted to dig up the wild variety as it will self seed all over your plot and be rather difficult to get rid of. Look for the variety ‘Bocking No.14’ (*we sell it at Growers Organics) which is sterile and Comfrey although it still flowers it will not produce seeds. Once your plants are established cut them down to the ground and soak the leaves in water or press the leaves to make your own rich, dark fertilizer. This you can do up to 3 or 4 times a year. Try it, it really is fab stuff! If you already have comfrey growing and you still haven’t got around to planting your seed potatoes. Pop a few wilted comfrey leaves in with each seed potato. You just might find it improves your spud harvest. Enjoy your evening time in the garden! 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.

Empowering young people and building community through music

HE community-based organisation Jamming Station has, since 2012, been bringing young people together to write, play and enjoy music. Offering regular sessions where kids can jam, socialise, write songs and rehearse for the next gigs and festivals on the horizon, their aim is to build confidence, provide community and to empower kids aged 13-21 with skills which will benefit them throughout their lives. Currently focused mostly in Totnes, Jamming Station has some exciting new plans to try and reach even more young people in the wider Torbay community. Music leader, coach and musician Beth Coombes said: “We will be partnering with other youth organisations in the area and have fundraising plans which we hope will enable us to roll out a vibrant and accessible programme of outreach events

and workshops including DJing, sampling, singing and songwriting, all helping to build confidence and connection in community.” Jamming Station also have a monthly radio show on Soundart Radio and are looking for young presenters (they’ll train you!) as well as plenty of music from local musicians. Beth added: “We are very interested in hearing from anyone who’d be interested in volunteering to be part of Jamming Station, whether you can bring musical, mentoring, radio, administrative or fundraising skills, and we would love to receive any personal stories and insights regarding the benefits of music in your own lives.” Please get in touch: info@ jammingstation.co.uk and follow on facebook.com/jammingstationuk twitter and instagram @jamming_ station

Share shed has lottery backing Totnes’ Library of Things, the Share Shed, has been awarded over £6,000 from the Big Lottery to further develop its work and activities. The Share Shed allows people to borrow all sorts of useful things – so they don’t have to buy them. Its catalogue includes tools, a carpet cleaner, a pressure washer, camping and gardening equipment, electrical appliances and much more. The Share Shed was started with the support from the Network of Wellbeing (NOW), Totnes Town Council and Big Lottery Fund. NOW’s Totnes Project Coordinator, Mirella Ferraz, said: “We’re thrilled the Big Lottery has supported us once more, reassuring us how valuable the Share Shed is. We’re also really excited about our plans for 2018, which include a local Festival on making and sharing, organising repair events, and moving to a new place. We’re also are very keen to reach out to more people and get new members in order to make the best use of this amazing asset, which currently has over 250 items that people can borrow.” The Share Shed operates from the Guildhall garage (by St Mary’s church), and is open every Saturday from 10am to 1pm. Anyone can join, on production of a valid ID, and a contribution between £1 and £10. To see the items on offer and for further information, visit shareshed.org.uk. l They’re also seeking more volunteers, get in touch via info@shareshed.org.uk.

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Hedgegnome Local author Richard Heddington is the creator of Henry the Hedgegnome, the star of a series of picture books for children of ages 2-7. The books are about a little hedgehog who wears stripy socks, and each tale is a short bedtime story. With the national love of hedgehogs stronger than ever, and the plight of our little garden buddies gaining increased attention, Henry the Hedgegnome is helping children to develop a respect and relationship with hedgehogs from an early age. More information about Richard, Henry the Hedgegnome, and the books, can be found on the website: https:// hedgegnomes.co.uk

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Photo: Beth Coombes

The rise and rise of veganism variety

EGANISM was once perceived as some sort of extreme form of vegetarianism, with vegans commonly stereotyped as weird lentil eating, sandal wearing hippies. This year has seen veganism go mainstream, becoming the lifestyle choice of millions of the young and trendy. Vegan bloggers and Facebook stars fill the internet with vegan recipes and discussions, and celebrities have been championing the cause all over the world. According to a February 2017 report from Mintel, more than 20% of under-35s have tried a vegan diet. The vegan industry has now grown massively in response to this trend. Here at Reconnect we’re happy to continue to support the trend, and are joined by Ethica’s Amelia and Matt from Greenlife to tell us more.

Elaine from Ethica’s Devon vegan diary

VER 168,500 people signed up to Veganuary this year, which was a fantastic first step to living a more compassionate lifestyle! For most people, going vegan is a process that doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s important to have as much support as you can. There are regular events around Devon to help you meet other likeminded plant-based people. One of the longest running events, recently celebrating a whole decade of serving up delicious vegan dinners, is the Earth Cafe; a monthly pop-up cafe night in Plymouth. Held in the cosy basement of the Fortescue pub, a hearty vegan buffet is accompanied by local speakers & musicians. The next Earth Cafe is on April 28, doors open at 7pm and food served at 7.30, entry is £1 and food is £5. A little further afield, but definitely worth the trip, is the Cornwall Spring Vegan Festival. I was absolutely blown away by last year’s festival and my only complaint is that all the cake sold out before I got to try any! Nestled in the picturesque Cornish coastline, Mount Pleasant Eco Park becomes host to a collection of compassionate caterers, cake-makers & crafters once again on April 7th. Entry is free and the event is family & dog friendly, with the option to camp onsite the night before to really make the most of the location. Another fantastic event which is thankfully returning this year is the Exeter Friends For Animals annual charity bake sale, this year on Saturday April 14 at St Stephen’s Church, Exeter High Street. As usual there will be an array of mouthwatering cakes & bakes, plus stalls, talks, and a delicious buffet. Admission is free and all profits go to animal causes. Other EFFA events: April 29 from 3.30pm vegan carvery at Farmers Union and May 5 from 7pm fundraising gig at Exeter Cavern with Phat Bollard, Front Cover and more! Email mail@effa-uk.org for booking info and more events. Also in Exeter is a brand new meet-up for vegan parents, held at Rabbit from 10.15-11.15 on the first Monday of the month. It’s a relaxed morning where vegan parents can chat, eat cake, and draw upon the knowledge & experience of facilitator Cath, a homeopath and mother of two happy & healthy (now grown up!) vegan children. Fast becoming a staple of Plymouth’s blossoming vegan community is All-Day Elevensies run by Elaine & Jim of The Naturally Vegan Plot. Elevensies is held at Union Corner, Union Street, from 11-5, with food served all day, and the next events are April 28th & May 26th. April’s event features 2 cooking demonstrations- chocolate orange cake and trifle, so if you need to brush up on your vegan baking skills, make sure you get involved! Ethica on Armada Way is Plymouth’s only 100% vegan store, visit www. ethicaveganstore.co.uk

“We have seen a huge rise in both the number and quality of vegan produce in recent years” said Matt, main buyer at Greenlife in Totnes. “The quality of some of the vegan products we now sell means that they are also appealing to non-vegans purely based on their taste. Luxury brands of vegan chocolate such as Booja-Booja and local brand Mulu are hugely popular, and they are of equal quality to the finest ‘normal’ chocolate on the market.” Greenlife now sell a huge range of vegan dairy product alternatives, meat alternatives, savoury snacks, biscuits, cakes, wines, vitamin supplements, bodycare products and even vegan ice cream. “We are always researching new vegan products to add to our range.” One considerable success has been the new Tyne Chease range made from cashew nuts. “This artisan, award winning chease brand was very popular with customers when we did a tasting and they are now flying off the shelves,” said Matt. “Both the texture and taste are leagues above what used to be available for vegans.” With more than 24,000 products and services registered with

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For more information on membership, workshops and courses have a look at the website www.studio45.uk.com or contact us directly at info@studio45.uk.com Studio 45 is a busy hub and interactive learning space for potters and ceramicists. It is an open-plan learning environment where members and students alike have access to wheels, kilns and equipment as well as technical know-how. We provide weekly classes in ceramics from beginners to advanced and specialist weekend workshops on glaze technology, low impact firing, women making big pots and kiln building. We are also offering low cost courses for special interest groups and low-income individuals.

Empowering families across Devon & Cornwall since 1999

the vegan trademark alone you can now get a vegan alternative to almost anything. A vegan diet is good for your health, good for the environment and is a better use of global food resources – and there has never been an easier time to ‘go vegan.’ If you are a vegan or are considering going vegan, then pay Greenlife in Totnes a visit and see the variety of vegan products on offer. Greenlife are open from 9am – 6pm Monday to Friday, and 9am – 5.30pm Saturday. The unique selection of quality herbal and nutritional supplements, eco goods and ethical natural bodycare products available in the Greenlife shop are also available to order online on their website www. greenlife.co.uk

Royston E Naylor (Stone) Commonwealth Photographic Award Fujifilm Professional Distinctions Award Glastonbury Festivals Photographer since 1990 t: 07754 673658 e: stone@stonefree.org

Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk

eco homes

Restoring wildlife corridor boundaries

RANSITION Homes CLT has been restoring the boundaries of the Clay Park site in Dartington, and they recently held a two day workshop on building a traditional stone-faced Devon hedge bank. Six eager participants and CLT coordinator Nicola were led by Martin Stallard in creating a new section of bank to fill a gap where there had been a gate. Filling gaps in the existing hedge network benefits wildlife by creating a continuous wildlife corridor, as well as providing additional habitat, and building the wall was, we are told, incredibly satisfying! Project coordinator Nicola Lang explained: “Ahead of the workshop an earth bank was built by minidigger, and our first task was to dig a trench in which to lay the foundation stones. As each course of stone was laid the void behind was backfilled with earth, which was compacted with a lump hammer, to stabilise the stones. We made fantastic progress, but didn’t quite get to the top so Martin will soon return to finish building the bank to the same height as the adjacent bank, and the top will be planted with traditional hedge row species.“ They also held a one-day workshop

in restoring an existing bank near the entrance to the site, digging out the collapsed bank, and building back up with vertically placed stone (to match the adjacent bank). If you would like to learn more about hedges in Devon, the Devon Hedge Group website has some excellent resources: http://devonhedges.org These activities are funded by the Postcode Local Trust (www. postcodelocaltrust.org.uk) and Nicola and team are also delighted to have commissioned Landworks on the Dartington estate to make some benches for the site using funds from this grant. Nicola added: “It’s a busy time for us, and by the time you read this we’ll have received a response from the Homes & Communities Agency on our grant application, planted 20 fruit & nut trees at Clay Park, and the decision on the planning application for our community building is due on April 20th. We’re also in the process of appointing the contractor to build the houses, and hope to start on site in the autumn.” To get the latest updates sign up to the mailing list via the website: www. transitionhomes.org.uk or contact Nicola Lang with any queries on info@transitionhomes.org.uk

Children get inspired by nature GREENWOOD Construction have asked us to highlight their crowdfunding campaign to make a difference to children by connecting them with nature and empowering them with practical skills to thrive in an outdoor environment. Their dream is to inspire not only the younger generation to engage with nature, but to inspire them to explore the natural world at their doorstep and as far as their reach will take them. Based at Alleligh near Dartmouth, the project gives children the opportunity to build greenwood structures including a nine-metre roundhouse and log cabin. They hope to inspire young students who may not fit into the traditional classroom environment, offering the experience of gaining practical skills such as using hand tools, woodwork and team building. Much of their work has been with inner city students who have limited access to the countryside. “It’s

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incredible to see the positive effect being out in nature has on young adults, after an initial nervousness students seem to grow in confidence and relish the opportunity to use their hands and learn through the process of trial and error. “We want to give as many young students the chance to take a break from the social pressures the internet has brought to their generation, enjoy being themselves, learning at their pace without deadlines in a unique learning environment which they will help shape themselves.” The roundhouse has a self-supporting roof and students will learn carpentry skills, geometry & maths application and many more skills whilst building this unique structure. See the crowdfunder page for more details. https://www.crowdfunder. co.uk/outdoor-learning-throughgreen-wood-construction/

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news & views Putting cannabis in the spotlight By Therapia’s Jonathan Abery

ANNABIS usually gets a bad press — but the recent coverage on TV (‘Going to Pot’ and ‘Dragon’s Den’), and numerous items on the radio and in the Daily Telegraph plus other publications, is firmly putting the health benefits of cannabis in the spotlight — and especially CBD oil. Cannabidiol (CBD) is just one of over 85 cannabinoids presently identified in the cannabis plant and the oil is extracted from high-CBD, low-THC Hemp (Latin name: Cannabis sativa). THC is well-known for the mindaltering “high” it produces. CBD is not psychoactive and this means that it does not change the state of mind of the person who uses it. However, it does produce significant changes in the body and has some remarkable and well-documented medical benefits. Research into CBD is still in its infancy — but what is known is that by incorporating CBD oil into your daily routine can have significant benefits for your physical and mental health. CBD has been proven for a range of treatments including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinsons. Moreover, it is an effective anti-inflammatory, has no side-effects and is nonaddictive. Everyone who uses CBD oil say they sleep better and feel less pain. CBD oil is even prescribed on the NHS. MediHemp Complete CBD is produced using the latest techniques so that the active ingredients of the plant remain in the end product as much as possible for better bio-availability. During production, use is made of a gentle CO2 technique with which the hemp flowers are extracted. Because there is no preparation with heat, the favourable cannabinoids are retained in the end extract and it contains many other healthy and essential ingredients, such as: Hemp protein, Carotene, Vitamin B, Vitamin E, Minerals, Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. MediHemp has the waxes removed from the extract and this gives it a lighter colour, a more pleasing taste and a better viscosity than other CBD oils on the market. Prices start at £28 for 10ml of 5%* strength (250 drops/500mg CBD), £64 for 30ml of 5% and 30ml 10% – £POA. * 5% CBD is the optimum strength. Therapia is a niche company producing medicinal cannabis products since 2001 including the ever-popular ‘Joint Cream’ which provides pain relief for arthritis sufferers. Therapia is in Fleet Walk Shopping Centre (next to TKMaxx) Torquay TQ2 5EN, open 10.30 to 4.30 daily. Telephone 0800 0747 319 / 07817 454390 www.therapiaonline.com l Visit Jonathan and Therapia at the Wellbeing Show, Newton Abbot Racecourse on Saturday June 2 2018.

Drum and dance days

OCAL project African Drum and Dance for Devon Communities have a series of Free and donation based events throughout April, May and June in Exeter and Totnes. Run by Allan Kerr and Denise Rowe of Shumba Arts the project has received funding to put on Africa Saturdays (see advert on page 14) in Exeter on April 7 and Totnes on April 14 (Evening courses start April 16th in Totnes and 25th in Exeter). Allan Kerr told us: “Thanks to a Big lottery grant we are able to offer two big community days for all the family, as well as two evening courses, which will culminate in performance opportunities. At these events we will learn traditional African rhythms, dances, and songs and get to experience the power of bringing these elements together in a group. “We believe that African Dancing and Drumming is one of the most effective ways of bringing people together to celebrate being alive on this earth. No matter whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced drummer or dancer, this is an opportunity to come and participate, to learn new rhythms and dances and to be part of a group. There are so many reasons why people come to join our sessions, from wanting to keep mind and body fit and agile, to learning embodied wisdom from a different culture, to meeting new friends and learning new skills. “ Denise and Allan travel regularly to West Africa and Zimbabwe, where they are involved in supporting local projects and learning the music and dance that they love to share. “Over the past year we have been lucky enough to share our work with a diverse range of the Devon community – and to discover that it is full of amazing people from all kinds of backgrounds – you are all welcome to join us in the rhythm!” As well as their current project, they offer workshops, courses and performances to schools, organizations, festivals and communities. For more info email: shumbaarts@gmail.com, see their website – www.shumba.org.uk or contact Allan on 07955304747

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LOCAL PRODUCE Locally sourced field grass goodness

T this time of year, do you ever find yourself gazing at South Devon’s rich green fields, and thinking they look good enough to eat? Local Yvonne Scepanik and her team believe that’s because throughout history we have craved the chlorophyll rich wheatgrass, especially after the end of winter/ beginning of spring. Kingsbridge based business Fieldgrassjuice offer this organic fieldgrown wheatgrass, which has been traditionally harvested using scythes, and then freshly pressed and frozen. The wheatgrass they use flourishes on fertile slopes near the coast at Beeson. Yvonne said: “Our WINTER WHEAT has witnessed wild storms, grey blue oceancoloured clouds watering the earth seemingly endlessly, kneading the soil with hail, covering it in frosty ice crystals and then warming it softly in salt glittering sunshine while the fresh wheatgrass shafts are working their way through this well weathered Devonian Earth, eager to meet the light, strong in stalk, root and CHLOROPHYLL - the blood of plants, packed with sun’s energy, one of our SUPER FOODS, which is what humans and animals alike throughout history have been craving for.” This invigorating exposure to the elements has another benefit,

Fieldgrown wheatgrasses unlike tray grown grasses don’t get mouldy. Yvonne added: “Fieldgrassjuice is using the traditional peaceful method of scything to harvest the wheat, not disturbing flora and fauna. After harvest the grass is immediately juiced and frozen, for maximum nutritional benefit! And to not create more rubbish on this planet, our packaging is completely compostable.” Those wanting to sample the benefits of harmoniously grown Fieldgrassjuice can get a shot from their local stockists in May. “Get a taste of this pure nutrition, feel the sun shine within!” To find out more and pickup a monthly supply when available online visit www. fieldgrassjuice.com

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Naturally nourishing Beautiful food to open the senses

PRING sees an outpouring of creativity to delight the senses at the Sea Light Gallery in Dawlish. Katie Sarra is continuing to paint her aweinspiring collection of underwater creatures, which are displayed throughout the gallery. The taste buds are also in for a treat with the return from Japan of Kuniko, Sea Light’s much-loved chef. Kuniko is training at the international macrobiotic chef school and will be bringing what she’s learned, as well as inspiration from her native Japan, to the new Spring menu. Katie said: “Some people, and Kuniko is one of them, have the gift of creating beautiful food that opens the senses and nourishes the body. Every time I have eaten one of her dishes, I’ve felt gratitude for the delicious flavours, its health-giving nourishment and the beauty and artistry of its presentation. It is art on a plate.” The gallery is particularly excited that Kuniko is bringing some of the recipes handed down through her family back with her to Devon, to create a fusion of traditional Japanese cookery with contemporary macrobiotic dishes. In March the gallery held its first Magical Musical Opening the Senses Taste Evening. Guest chef Bruno, from Forest Fungi, prepared an elaborate Lebanese-inspired candlelit dinner, accompanied by live sacred music. He also created a fantastic pre-performance supper as part of an evening of shared stories with Tarte Noire Women’s Playback Theatre Company.

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Katie said: “Our communities came together on this rainy night in February. We cosied up to share stories about “Solitude, Togetherness and Our Times of Loneliness” with a delicious accompaniment provided by Bruno, who is our long-term friend and advisor.” The Sea Light team is continuing to grow. Recently the gallery welcomed Kirsten and Helen, both of whom are trained baristas who will be happy to make you a perfectly prepared organic coffee. A new coffee shop menu will be coming soon. And, in case you thought it was all about drinking coffee and eating yummy food, the 2018 Certificate in Sexological Bodywork training has begun, with Kian and Katie teaching on the course for the first time this year. Katie said: “In May, 28 students will be arriving in Dawlish from all over the world for 14 days of intensive training here at the Sea Light. The Gallery and Tea Rooms will be closed while they are here as we will have our hands full making sure that they get the very most from their visit.” Sea Light will be closed May 11-27. l For more information visit: www.thesea.co

Sea Light have also welcomed Helen, and Kirsten - two new members of the team.

WITH this being an early years themed issue, resident foodie JANE HUTTON offers some advice on baby foods.

Weaning our children off sweet foods

F ALL the stages that a child goes through before it leaves the care of its mother, weaning is one of the most crucial. We are used to the debate about whether breast is best, and the guilt tied up in whether we do, don’t, can or can’t breastfeed for those first months. After that, getting our babies onto solid food seems a bit of an inbetween, let’sget-through-it kind of stage. Actually, it is one of the most defining for the future health, tastes, and diet choices of our children. On the surface it seems very simple – just puree up some cooked veg or fruit, or give them a jar chosen from the slew of well-marketed baby food brands, the ones that seem like a healthy option for a convenient meal, easily portable, and taking the pressure off us to make it from scratch. But that is where the two biggest problems lie. The first of those problems is nutrition itself. It’s inescapable that anything that is packaged, jarred, or sold in shops has been processed, pasteurised, and in all likelihood depleted of many of the nutrients and delicate enzymes that our burgeoning babies need. The second problem (and this is an a-ha moment for many) is

sugar. We are currently addicted to sweetness, to sugar in many forms, and to a preference for carbs that has lead to a huge rise in obesity, diabetes, and a whole spectrum of issues that affect both physical and mental health.

To make carrot crisps: 4 carrots rapeseed or coconut oil (melted) sea salt Preheat oven to 120 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Using a mandolin or veg peeler cut the carrots into very thin slices. Lightly toss the slices in oil and coarse sea salt – you might have to pat them dry ﬁrst with kitchen paper. Don’t over-do the oil. Bake for 45 minutes. Set aside and cool on wire rack. To make sweet potato crisps: 1 large sweet potato 1 tbsp rapeseed or coconut oil (melted) 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 190. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Peel the sweet potatoes, then create lots of thin strips using a mandolin or veg peeler. Toss the strips with the oil, sea salt, and cinnamon and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until edges are slightly golden and crispy. Remove from oven and cool.

No one is born with a sweet tooth – they are made, developed, and seeded in the weaning stage. Whether home made or packaged, a lot of the foods we often use for weaning are heavily sugar or starch-based: apple puree, carrot, parsnip, and so on. It’s true that often sweet foods are what a baby gobbles up, and there is a theory that babies and toddlers have taste buds that reject anything sour or bitter as a protection against poisoning – an ancient risk when we got our food from what was growing around us. It’s also true that the brain accepts a new taste once it has experienced it a number of times. So the secret is perseverance – give your baby lots of foods, especially greens and pureed protein veg like peas and beans. The sweet stuff as part of an overall diet is fine, but vary it from the start, make it from scratch and don’t give up. Try this issue’s version of crisps for a healthy snack once they are older, or for us adults…..

Sweet potato and carrot crisps

Take both and toss together with additional sea salt, cinnamon or other seasonings as desired. 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.

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MORE FOLLOWS... This issue Reconnect’s old editor MARTIN FOSTER has been moved to comment on the shocking revelations of sexual misconduct that have been uncovered in society.

It’s time to act responsibly and decently

STILL feel privileged that Scott is happy for me to continue with my More Follows… columns and I’m never short of something to write/rant/ramble on about. Possible subjects for this issue (and they may yet be revisited for future issues) included: life here at Tigley Tump (we’ve just finished planting around 1500 trees and it’s truly humbling to be doing our bit to create part of the future landscape); mobile phones (mine, bought as a secondhand reconditioned unit, died and I really resent the fact that while they represent the ultimate in people power technology, when they go wrong, we’re all expected to be IT experts and run tests on this and download that and delete the other before the actual experts will, or can, get on with actually fixing them); and death and funerals (a subject that I’ve touched on before but which our family’s revisited recently after the demise of our beloved Auntie Eileen). But I always believe it’s best to go with your gut feeling and my gut’s been churning recently at every new mention of just how awful men can behave towards women and children. Not a day goes by without another perpetrator being named and shamed; we will surely look back on this period as a one of society’s biggest shifts in attitude and (hopefully) behaviour. From sexual harassment in all quarters of society (and particularly evil when involving the abuse of power in the workplace and other institutions) to the staggeringly widespread production of porn (and before anyone attempts to defend its ‘use’, let us consider just how the stuff is produced), it runs through so many peoples’ lives, like a seeping seam of poison. To those of us who feel sullied by the behaviour of our fellow man, it is cleansing and refreshing to witness so much of this outrageous behaviour being exposed, making room for at least a little justice and, for some perhaps, a little closure. Social media – another example of people power all the time it’s being used responsibly – has played a big part in furthering the cause, giving publicity and support to movements like Me Too and the End Violence Against Women Coalition. Is it not though, sad that in order to be able to move forward into a new caring era of mutual respect, we first need to draw up a set of rules. As a result of the Harvey Weinstein revelations (and don’t

you just hope any fellow, as yet unexposed, abusers are really bricking themselves?), the actors’ union Equity are considering new guidelines for sex scenes in movies. Surely film makers and actors know where they want and/ or need to draw the line? Not making films based on shit books like Fifty Shades of Grey would be a good place to start. And someone in an office somewhere in Whitehall (presumably) is currently drawing up a code of conduct for Parliament and the House of Lords. Do the people we elect to run our country really not know how to behave without a rule book? I guess ‘guidelines’ like these are useful when someone is taking legal action, providing a benchmark against which people’s actions can be measured and compared. But wouldn’t it be better if we could just assume that anyone taking a position of authority, or working within any area of vulnerability, would act decently and respectfully? Surely we all know what that means (and the wholly appropriate outrage expressed in all quarters concerning recent scandals suggests we do) and surely laws already exist to punish those who choose to ignore it. And in all the recent media coverage, I’ve yet to see anything relating to any form of investigation or research around the motivation of the offenders. When an internet porn ring is exposed, it shows how it infects every area of society and when a case of child abuse hits the headlines, more and more victims feels emboldened to step forward to tell their stories. So the problem is rife to the point that it’s actually a significant part societal behaviour – but how much do we know about why they do it? If we had a better understanding of why some men feel able to totally ignore these social laws, perhaps it could lead to us doing something about curbing its frightening growth. Maybe it’s time to recognise what we all know what ‘bad’ behaviour is – to find out more about those who decide to decide to do it anyway.

Mart

Saving traditional orchards in Devon

S THE orchards around towns and villages in Reconnectland start to burst into blossom, it’s worth thinking about the work that the not-for-profit organisation Orchard Link does to help keep our beautiful local orchards healthy and productive. One of Orchard Link’s aims, since it was founded twenty years ago, has been to save traditional orchards in South Devon. In the past two years, with the help of Heritage Lottery funding, they have worked to breathe new life into more than twenty community orchards, passing on skills such as pruning and grafting, and encouraging family activities like blossom days and apple pressing events. Even though the Lottery funding has come to an end, Orchard Link will be continuing to support these orchard groups through 2018 and beyond. Upcoming courses – which anyone is very welcome to attend – include a workshop on pruning stoned fruit (cherries, plums, etc.) on April 21.

Another cause worth supporting is Orchard Link’s campaign to discover interesting local apple varieties and for local retailers to stock local apples. A very wide range of apple varieties is grown in Devon, but we always seem to see the same few varieties on sale at our supermarkets and greengrocers. If more local shops made more local apples available, particularly in the English season, how delicious that would be! So why not start asking your local retailers if they are planning to stock Devon varieties this year – and let Orchard Link know how you get on via their Facebook Orchard Link South Devon group. Whether you have 500 fruit trees or five, or if you simply want to help ensure that Devon’s lovely orchard heritage lasts for many more years, you are most welcome to join Orchard Link. Membership costs only £12 per year and offers orchard-lovers both training/ education and inspiration. For more information, visit orchardlink.org.uk

New children’s centre for Plymouth THREE local women are in the process of setting up as a Steiner inspired children’s centre in Plymouth, which will double up as a community hub space for those wanting an alternative to the mainstream. Laura, Gia and Shelley have founded Snapdragons Plymouth CIC a new venture that will be based in the Victoria park area of Plymouth. They explained: “We are leasing the former bowling huts and green from Plymouth City Council to create a community space for those looking for alternative education and lifestyle choices in Plymouth and the surrounding area. “In the main, Snapdragons will be a Steiner Children’s Centre, with parent and baby/parent and child group sessions as well as a kindergarten for children aged 4-7. We will also be home to many other activities.”

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These activities are to include Plymouth Woodcraft Folk, Plymouth Red Tent, a Mens Tent, bushcraft/ art/craft/music/language sessions, forest school, and possibly a local Scouts group. The venue will have potential to host after school/holiday clubs, as well as offering wild food and foraging walks, community allotment and orchard, food co-op (Suma and Essentials), school shop including Weleda and items from Mercurius, an alternative library, Latch on breastfeeding support group and much more! The trio are open to additional suggestions to utilise the space. They added: “We are really looking forward to building a space for likeminded people. If you’d like to keep updated with our progress, help out with the various projects or donate equipment/ money etc, get in touch.” You can find them on Facebook: Snapdragons Plymouth or email snapdragonsplymouth@gmail.com

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Camping and weddings at Beech Hill

EECH Hill Community, in the heart of the countryside, is an ideal venue for low impact family camping and is also becoming popular for alternative weddings. Visitors have described it as ‘beautiful, warm and friendly’. Beech Hill, an eco housing co-op near Crediton, is home to 16 residents who live, work and have fun together. The lovely old building is a former manor house, and the six acres of land include an idyllic space for campers, with a fire pit and compost loos set among the trees; a camp kitchen and solar showers will be ready soon. Camping is relaxed and informal, and groups can hire the whole space. One former resident, who grew up at Beech Hill, came back for her wedding last summer. Sadie Tulley and her fiancé John hired a marquee on the large lawn and exchanged wedding vows in front of the house. There was a ceilidh

in the evening, with the happy couple and many guests camping on site. “I still can’t believe how amazing it was,” said Sadie. The ethos behind Beech Hill is to share and co-operate, and live lightly on the land. Residents grow much of their own fruit and veg organically and have renewable energy and reed bed sewage systems. A large, south-facing workroom can be hired for events and courses, with a kitchen available too. Some groups use the indoor space and camping area. Children play a big part in the community, and family groups love visiting. There is even a large outdoor swimming pool, available by arrangement. See www.beechhill.coop, where there are several short videos showing the facilities. Email bookingsbeechhill@gmail.com or call 01363 877228.

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early years The gift of sensitive parenting CONNECT Parenting’s Audaye notes how our earliest relationships have profound and powerful shaping inﬂuence over our lives.

S PARENTS we know that children jolt our world into turning on a whole new axis from the moment they appear to us. We have that first ‘encounter’ of a relationship with this beautiful and tiny being, which despite their size moves the centre of our universe with all sorts of impacts. How quickly that sets in, and exactly what that feels like can be different for each parent, yet the shift is profound, often tangible and it’s certainly there. Surely, if what is being built by this relationship for us as parents has the power to shift our world on its axis, it also has enormous power in shaping the worlds and lives of our children. From before birth and throughout childhood our children are learning about being-in-relationship through their experiences of relationship. A lot is facilitated in that important parenting relationship, our children are totally dependant upon parents to meet both physical and psychological needs and the state of the relationship is how a child will gauge how those needs are going to be met. Providing for and meeting those needs to be welcomed, to belong, be delighted in and comforted, helped to understand difficult feelings; be supported to grow and explore helps to build that sense of relationship security. They learn this from the day-to-day countless interactions, behaviours, attitudes, beliefs and values. Out of those interactions, patterns emerge that shape their understanding of what relationship means, and how they are, or are not able, to move around in it: this becomes a map of their attachment, made, stretched, compressed, sometimes warped, in that gravity between child and caregivers. Over the many decades of research into what’s known as the attachment system, a psychological term for the ways in which we form and maintain key relationships, the evidence has shown that what’s called a secure attachment include a range of relationship capacities to thrive throughout life (empathy, reflectiveness, thoughtfulness, psychological and emotional resilience). What they come to embody and understand about these capacities is understood by how their caregivers help them access those capacities for relationship.

Children that gain a secure attachment in childhood, grow to thrive and have more happiness and less anger in their relationships with parents and siblings, are able to turn to their parents for help and solve problems on their own, get along with friends and form lasting relationships, have higher self-esteem, feel confident that most problems have an answer, are able to trust themselves and others, and know how to be kind to those around them. Having easy access to the psychological and social capacities that we all learn in these relationships is going to put us and our children in good health. They are powerful allies against the personal adversities that sadly befall many of us, equipping us to navigate life pressures at least in good part with social and emotional intelligence, thoughtfulness and resilience, and with kindness and compassion. Parenting with an aim to help our children on the path to security is a wonderful and lasting loving gift. Such aims can feel at times overwhelming, especially if we feel we didn’t get much or any help towards security ourselves - It’s not easy for sure and I want to say, welcome to the human club. A difficult past does not determine your future or that of your children. As adults and parents, we have agency and the ability to make positive changes. Sensitive and responsive parenting is a major part of the key to helping our children to secure attachment, what’s also needed is a clear map guiding us to see and understand our children’s real attachment needs, and an understanding of how to meet them. Parenting interventions like the Circle of Security can help parents feel equipped to untangle present from the past and illuminate difficult or unclear aspects of their relationships. By working on ourselves we can help our children to weather the inevitable difficulties and challenges they, our society, and indeed humanity will face in this century and the next. Connect Parenting’s Audaye runs Circle Of Security Courses across the south west. With www.thebrighthorizon.org eco-therapy and systemic coaching for life and work. For info and bookings contact via www.connectparenting.uk or email: info@connectparenting.uk Phone: 07543114535.

Babywearing w

DEVON mum has created her own line in ethical baby slings, bringing together her experience of motherhood with her love of high quality fabric and fashion. Mezaya Baby hand makes slings from high quality Irish linen that is sourced from a small, family-run business. The slings are made in Devon and shipped all over the UK. Founder Victoria Lowry who was born and raised in Devon, said: “’Babywearing’ has always felt like the happiest and most convenient place for both me and my babies, so I set out to create a beautiful

HE nutritional value of meals is much more than the nutrient content of the food we are eating. It is the mix of food, environment and company. But when we are worried about what or how much/little our children are eating it is easy to forget this and family mealtimes can become a stressful time for all. Nourishing Families is a transformative programme for parents of children from 0-10 focusing on everything to do with feeding a family. It provides a space to stop and take time to consider what and how you want your family mealtimes to be. It encourages you to decide what you do and don’t want to feed you children and how you want

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to be around food. It has the potential to transform mealtimes, bringing more balance and harmony to family life. The sessions offer different ideas and suggestions and at the end parents choose what will work best for their unique family situation. Nourishing Families is run by Anna Thomson, a registered nutritionist, and mum to three children. She devised the programme while living in Japan with her family and experiencing a very different approach to food. She has used this experience and her background of working with nutrition clients. Cath, who attended the programme

Children love yoga

undalini Yoga & Star Child Yoga Cornwall teacher Sarah Angilley is currently setting up a new studio in the grounds of Buckfast Abbey. In her star child courses Sarah sees the benefits children get from yoga. Sarah explained: “Children love yoga for the same reasons that adult do, it makes you feel good about yourself. Feeling good about yourself is the surest path to happiness. Yoga and meditation has been scientifically proven to increase the amount of serotonin and beta endorphins in the bloodstream, some of the reasons why we feel good after a class.

Sarah firmly believes that children love to be part of a healthy, non-competitive group where they can find a strong sense of community and appreciation for all things. She has found that yoga helps build a child’s confidence, concentration, and gives them a positive self-image. This allows our children to develop their own sense of ‘self’ and ability to find their place in the world.

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“Children’s bodies are lighter and brighter and hold sacred inner wisdom. Yoga and meditation helps to keep their energy light and bright.” During Sarah’s yoga practice sessions children learn pranayama (breathing) techniques to strengthen their nervous system helping them deal with life’s little stresses and strains. Sarah added: “They are taught to protect their energy and tap into the tools of self-healing. Children learn valuable skills of self-validation, self-love and peace.“

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way to do that with Mezaya. “Entering motherhood is a chapter in your life of vast transformation and I wholeheartedly believe that the benefits and advantages of carrying baby can support that. When you allow the time and space to feel connected to your little one, when you carry them so close that you pick up on their cues and are able to meet their needs. That builds confidence in your parenting ability and trust in your baby. It’s a beautiful thing.”

A SPACE TO INSPIRE Pregancy, Baby + Toddler Yoga Children’s Dance from 2yrs+! C H A P E L H O U S E , TOT N E S TOW N C E N T R E www.chapelhousestudios.com

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said: “I really enjoyed the classes. I actually think they’ve been the most rewarding I’ve ever taken in terms of application to my daily life and making space to think about what my family is eating.” Nourishing Families programme takes place in Totnes fortnightly from Monday 23 April to Monday 2 July. It costs £100 with concessions and some subsidised places. An intensive version is also offered during the summer term. l For more information, contact: anna@nourishingfamilies.co.uk www. nourishingfamilies.co.uk or follow @ nourishfamilies on FB

Sessions are he ld in small groups and ex plore specific themes: • HOW we ar e around food, what w e bring from childhood • WHEN - tim in snacking and gs of meals, grazing • WHERE and HOW we eat • WHAT is a balanced diet ? • Picky and FU SS and what to do Y eating about it.

Wraps + Slings made for carrying our little ones in.

Find a deeply positive state in labour

FORMER paramedic and qualified acupuncturist specialising in peri-natal health is offering hypnobirthing courses for parents-to-be across South Devon. Donna Ashton teaches hypnobirthing to expectant mothers and their partners, as well as BabyReflex. She asks: “Are you pregnant or planning to be? Maybe it’s your first pregnancy and you are worried, not knowing what to expect? Or are you wishing to have a better experience the second time around?” Donna is keen to explain what hypnobirthing is… and what it isn’t. She is eager to dispel the myth that it is only for women who want to use it as an alternative to conventional pain relief. And she wants to reassure women that there is no Paul McKenna figure in sight! So just how does it work? “In essence, hypnobirthing will teach you a whole variety of techniques to practice whilst pregnant, working on both your subconscious mind and your body. When in labour, you will be able to access this deeply positive hypnosis state. This allows the hormones of

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birth to work effectively, resulting in a more efficient labour and a more comfortable and relaxed birth for both the woman and baby. Mothers are less likely to want pain relief.” Donna founded Confident Birth and Baby Courses and teaches KGHypnobirthing. Her training is accredited by The Royal College of Midwives.

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She added: “My sister used hypnobirthing to achieve a wonderful and empowering birth after a terrible experience the first time around. Both she and I now teach KGHypnobirthing. Whether you are planning a home birth, hospital birth, natural birth, waterbirth, caesarean birth or require a medically induced birth, the hypnobirthing techniques will keep you feeling calm and in control.” Hypnobirthing offers partners a practical role to play throughout the labour and feedback from new mums often points to how supportive their partners were following this training. For more details visit: www. confidentbirthandbaby.com

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early years Plants that love kids

It is easy to think that children and beautiful gardens don’t mix well. Think of balls and feet trampling your precious tulips and you would be forgiven for concluding that never the twain shall meet. But there are plants that are both robust enough to be handled and beautiful enough to inspire interest and appreciation from even the wildest kids.

NVITING your child into the garden whether to tend or play - allows them to build a relationship with plants and wildlife that will stay with them forever. It lets them get up close with other species and develop an attitude of care and reverence as they watch the cycle of life unfold – a cycle which all creatures, humans included, are part of. In fact, when designing gardens for play, the right mindset is one where children are considered just another wild species amongst the flora and fauna that we are attempting to nurture. Below are some suggestions to help you attract more ‘wild life’ to your garden. Respect your elders Elder (sambucus nigra) is one of our favourites as it has so many uses. Scented flowers in the spring for making cordial and fritters, dense summer foliage for playing hide and seek and, in the autumn, berries for making paints and pies. The flowers provide nectar for a variety of insects and the berries are eaten by birds and mammals. Small mammals such as dormice and bank voles love both the berries and the flowers. Many moth caterpillars feed on elder foliage, including the white spotted pug, swallowtail, dot moth and buff ermine. Get herby Mints of all varieties are pretty indestructible once established and are great for cooking, baking, cordials and making perfumes. There are so many to choose from with interesting

tones of eau de cologne, pineapple, lemon, apple, ginger, or even chocolate. Other herbs such as thyme, rosemary, chives and marjoram are also wonderful for sniffing and tasting and very attractive to bees. All great additions to the mud kitchen pantry.

Touchy feely plants with great names The leaves of Lambs Ears (stachys byzantine) are wonderfully sensuous, good for caressing when there are no real lambs to hand and tolerant of most conditions. Introduce Angel’s Hair (artemisia) to your garden and as well as having something to stroke you might have the start of an interesting story too. For exciting sound effects try Lunaria annua, also known as Moonwort or Silver Dollar after the silvery seedpods that jingle when you brush past. Legend has it that having one in your garden will keep you honest! A visual feast If you want colour, shape and food try a weeping crab apple like the Louisa (malus louisa). Tolerant and disease resistant, her branches cascade down to the ground creating a

‘blossom den’ in spring, while the fruit is perfect for delicious crab apple jelly in the autumn. Be prepared to share the fruit with the birds and the flowers with the bees, as they both love her too. If you enjoy the company of bees and butterflies consider planting sedums. They come in a wide variety of colours, are super resilient and it’s a delight to watch delicate creatures crawling on their beautiful flower heads. Create little habitats As well as providing food for squirrels (and humans), hazel trees such as Kentish Cob are great for making dens. The rods from willow can be planted straight in the ground to create wonderful living shelters which get better over time. When pruning larger trees let your children use cut branches to lean up against a hedge to make a little burrow or hang a hammock in a place where they can look up into the tree canopy. Nature is their home. Let it go…let it go! A lot of wildlife, including your kids, like it best when you leave some parts of your garden to go wild, so why not put the spade down and allow nature to take over. Hedgehogs, frogs, shrews, voles and a host of other creatures like piles of leaves and dead wood for sheltering and feeding on insects. Give them a home, be sensitive to their habits and you will have friends for life. l Inez Aponte is a free play advocate and works for Earth Wrights limited, a local company specialising in natural play. If you have your own ideas for child friendly planting she would love to hear from you. inez@earthwrights.co.uk

Young People explore learning from horses... and connecting with horses to gain life skills

ORKING with horses has been proven to reduce stress hormones in young people. It’s not known if it’s the feel of a horse’s soft hair under a child’s hand, the collaboration required to gain horsemanship skills or something else altogether. Not only are stress levels lower in adolescents who work with horses but many of those in leadership roles have previously connected with horses. Sue Blagburn who runs Adventures with Horses said: “Many of the great horse whisperers and some of our greatest leaders developed natural horsemanship skills at a young age by getting the chance to learn how to connect with horses in nature - and that is the part of horse whispering we explore.” The young people who come to Sue learn skills they can take forward into their everyday lives by engaging with horses in a way that is intuitive and nature connected. This can also help with self confidence, awareness, relationship building and calmness. As Winston Churchill once said, “the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man”. Sue explained: “In modern times not

that many of us get the chance to grow up around horses. Most of us have to start to ride at a riding school where everything needs to be very structured with the focus on riding. There is nothing wrong with that, I feel horse riding is very beneficial, but horses also have a lot to teach young people when their feet are firmly on the ground.” Her courses are suitable for any young person aged 9 years upwards who love animals and being outdoors in nature. This particularly includes children struggling with mainstream education, with special educational needs or high functioning neuro-diversities. As well as any young people wanting to learn to connect with horses in away that is power with rather than power over. Sue added: “We work with small groups of children or one-to-one, directly with parents. Our courses and sessions are designed specifically for each individual or group.” Prices start from £30. Bursaries are available for children who couldn’t otherwise afford to come. l For further details go to www.adventureswithhorses.co.uk

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Empowering kids to thrive

Touch For Health (TFH) Kinesiology Course: Levels 1-4 Bringing balance to life… with Liz Reddish and Jane Fowler Registered TFH instructors.

ALM, the smartphone app for mindfulness and meditation, have launched The Calm Schools Initiative, where they are offering free Mindfulness training tools to every teacher in the world. Calm know that children face unique social and emotional challenges, and are experiencing greater pressures earlier in life, and feel more stress and anxiety than ever before. So, they would like their school day to begin with a few moments of quiet and stillness. Numerous studies have shown the many benefits of teaching mindfulness to children. Through mindfulness education, kids can develop a lifelong capacity for greater self-awareness, concentration, patience, and resilience. Many teachers understand the benefits of mindfulness, but they face time and budget constraints, making it challenging to bring mindfulness education to the classroom. Therefore Calm are offering every educator in the world free access to Calm, the mindfulness app that hundreds of thousands of people all over the world use everyday. Their aim is to empower teachers with mindfulness tools and resources they can use to help kids learn this new skill. Under this initiative, any teacher with a K-12 classroom, anywhere in the world, can get free access to Calm’s paid subscription service with unlimited access to their growing library of guided meditations and mindfulness exercises. Particularly of use is Calm Kids, tailored for age groups from pre-K through high school. Over the coming year, they will be steadily adding to our Calm Kids library, equipping teachers with an ever-expanding supply of content crafted for the unique needs of their students. Calm’s goal is to onboard 100,000 classrooms this year, improving the lives of over 1 million children. If you’re a teacher, fill in the form at www. calm.com/schools and Calm will share tips, suggestions, and best practices to introduce mindfulness to your classroom and get your students excited about meditation.

Level 1: @ Swallet Farm, Bristol, Somerset Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th October 2018 Residential: Friday 23rd & Saturday 24th November 2018 @ Well House, South Devon Friday 2nd & Saturday 3rd November 2018 Level 2: @ Swallet Farm ,Bristol , Somerset Residential: Friday 18th and Sunday 19th January 2019

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Kinesiology has been found to successfully help people: • Resolve emotional, physical and mental stress • Achieve work/life balance to improve performance on every level • Towards healing of muscle injury • Reduce pain • Identify nutritional solutions • Identify personal goals and discovering paths to reach them Techniques learned can be used on yourself, on others, or can prepare you for Practitioner level For more information: Swallet Farm Holistic Training and Wellbeing Centre Old Bristol Road, East Harptree, Bristol, Somerset, BS40 6DQ Contact: Jane Fowler 07876 192 142 jane@swalletholistic.co.uk

Well House Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7 3SA Contact: Liz Reddish 07971 106572 liz@devonwellhouse.co.uk

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early years Our children and their mental health Inspiring children with a love of movement GETTING children interested in their own wellbeing and inspiring a lifelong love of movement is one of the aims of Chapel House Studios in Totnes. The centre holds pregnancy, baby and toddler yoga classes. Dance classes start for children as young as two. Chapel House has grown to become one of Devon’s foremost dance, pilates, yoga and wellbeing studios, catering for adults and children. These classes are broad ranging as Victoria Rogers explained: “In some classes like zumba you will be energised and invigorated. In others such as yoga & pilates you will find a nourishing space where you can enjoy time for yourself.” The centre is situated in the centre of Totnes and is also home to Totnes Osteopathy, Totnes Physio, Undone Beauty (Skin clinic) and a range of therapists offering counselling, hypnotherapy, massage and Bowen technique. It recently acquired a licence to offer acupuncture. For details of classes, treatments and therapies visit: http://www. chapelhousestudios.com

RECONNECT regular contributor JANE HUTTON highlights the urgent need to discuss the mental health of our young people, and offers some advice on how to lead by example.

VER the space of twenty years I taught thousands of children between 5 and 18 years old. Being one of the adults that they spend a significant amount of their time with gives us almost parental insight into aspects like their health, social activities, likes, dislikes, play, rest, good moods, and bad ones. Now, mental health is a focus that has not just appeared in schools, but jumped in right at the top of the agenda. With frightening statistics on young people experiencing mental health issues (and let’s be clear, statistics only record the ones we know about), the incidence of self harm, suicidal thoughts, crippling anxiety, and depression is more prevalent than the dreaded head lice ever were. How did this happen? Why has it become so bad? What can we do? In Latest studies reveal that 3 children in my experience as a teacher, mental health expert, nutritionist and mother/ every classroom have a mental health aunt, here are some things that I believe have contributed: problem. Organisations offering help and advice include: 1. Social media: it was a decade ago that Facebook burst onto the scene. Mental health disruption has risen sharply since then, along with ChildLine cyberbullying, eating disorders, and addictions. Both sensitive youngsters YoungMinds in my family found they felt much less anxious after deleting social media Contact a Family accounts. You do the maths! Family Lives 2. Diet: mood and food are linked; junk food and mental illness are linked; Bernardo’s research bears this out. It’s not about calories, it’s about nutrients, and the best nutrition comes from real, fresh, local food, not processed food, Kidscape supplements, or fruit and veg shipped in plastic from miles away. CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) 3. The Internet: the pace of life has increased a thousand fold since the PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide) internet became accessible. Now we are besieged with notifications, Children and Young People’s Mental immediate answers demanded from all and sundry, and welded to Health Coalition (CYPMHC) devices that make us stressed while the thought of not having them makes us hyperventilate. Are youngsters scrolling at 3 am instead of sleeping, worrying about what Sarah will say in her next nasty Facebook comment? You bet they are. 4. The Death of Communication: we text, we email, we whatsapp, but we don’t actually talk. Communication, real deep listening, is a skill. What did a group of youngsters I saw walking along the pavement do? Yes, they were out and about together, but every single one of them was walking along looking at their phone. The answer? The internet, social media and devices are here for good, but we do have a choice, as parents and individuals, how much we allow them to dictate to us and our children. Healthy family meals, device-free time, strict broadband use windows, time to talk not text, boosting confidence, building trust so kids feel they can talk to us about their fears, worries or problems, discussing mental health and how it’s ok not to be ok – all these are helpful, and depend on one thing: us leading by example, prioritizing health and removing ourselves from our devices too.

Finding the time to laugh and play outside

VERY Wednesday morning, whatever the weather, the sound of children laughing and playing can be heard at Old School Farm on the Dartington Estate. This is the Fox Tots outdoor playgroup at Foxhole Community Garden who have been here for three years and offer families the opportunity to be together, outside and explore the natural world. It’s run by garden leader Zoe Jong, who trained in horticulture and outdoor education on the Dartington Estate. Zoe said: “I think one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves and our children is time together playing outside. It’s a chance to decompress, explore and connect with each other and the environment around us.” To stimulate innate curiosity and learning

Zoe provides tools and guidance on a seasonal theme which could involve creating crafts from natural materials, gardening activities and cooking over the open fire, usually organic produce harvested from the garden. Each session starts and ends with a song around the campfire, and could include digging for worms, running and balancing on the moveable planks and logs, painting with mud, looking for dragonflies and frogs around the pond, playing in the mud kitchen or sampling tomatoes, corn, apples and other seasonal produce from the beds, orchard and Garden Tunnel. Focusing on child-led exploration the garden provides a safe but exciting space for young ones to explore. “It’s a great privilege to run the group”, says

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Zoe, adding: “We are naturally playful beings and the chance to explore and see the world through the eyes of a child helps us rekindle that part of ourselves which we sometimes lose touch with as parents and carers in the modern world.” l Fox Tots runs year round on Wednesday from 10am to 11:30am for 0-5 year olds. Payment is per half term - usually about 6 sessions at £45 (working out at £7.50 a session). During the summer months there’s often a Monday group and the group is open to older siblings. To go to a free taster session or to book for a half term contact Zoe Jong 07505 805111 zoe@ foxholecommunitygarden.org.uk www. foxholecommunitygarden.org.uk/foxtots

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early years Trust in the Future

VICKI Wren, the early years lead at Steiner Academy Exeter, explains how early years education there is an extension of their children’s home life, where they feel secure and comfortable.

ere at the Steiner Academy Exeter we are a warm and welcoming community of learners. We work with awareness, we treat each other well and we facilitate a happy, productive working environment where people are able to feel safe to explore new things. Set within 5 acres of landscaped grounds, we are fortunate that in equal measure both outdoor and indoor learning are integral to our whole curriculum, opening opportunities for our multi-talented team of staff to be innovative in balancing the creative, active and academic aspects of learning for children from Early Years right through to GCSE. Our Early Years Education includes Parent and Child sessions for parents with children aged 0-4 years and Kindergarten education for children aged 4 - 6 years (Reception and Year 1). We intend to make Early Years education at Steiner Academy Exeter an extension of the children’s home life and a great deal of attention is devoted to making the Early Years environment one in which the children feel secure and comfortable, and we work closely with parents to ensure children have as smooth a transition from home to school as possible. To help children orientate themselves within school when they begin Kindergarten at aged 4, each teacher creates a well-structured daily rhythm for their class, both inside our beautiful indoor classroom spaces and outside in the Kindergarten garden, with regular visits to our onsite woodlands. Our work is based on building relationship through practical activity – food, art, craft, music and lots of play! At Steiner Academy Exeter we have 5 Kindergarten classes, each with between 18-20 children, a teacher and a support teacher. We combine Reception and Year One children in each class to create a community of mixed age children which helps children understand and accept difference and develop communication and social skills. Though together as a school community we create a beautiful environment and hold high ideals in regard to what we want to offer our pupils, we are definitely

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not naïve in knowing what’s out there in the wider world, and what our children may encounter. Children everywhere trust the world until they learn not to. None of us who care for children want to darken the doorstep of childhood innocence by bringing awareness too soon of the ways in which some people can make the world an unsafe place to be. We do all we can, but sometimes, through no fault of children themselves, heart-breaking damage occurs. As guardians we love and care for our children from before they’re born. We keep them safe by making sure they’re nourished and warm and have everything they need as they grow. With an eye on the world outside we offer things that will strengthen future opportunity for them and, hard though it is to let them go, we support independence at every stage of their lives, because to fulfil their potential they will need to leave the shelter of our nurturing wing. All children must eventually reach a level of independence (by design or default) where their knowledge of both the dark and light of this world will help keep them safe. The degree and detail of appropriate awareness depends on location and the stage of the child’s development. In schools our everyday work is too often the lifesaving business of undoing damage. We may need to rebuild the ability to trust for children who have been betrayed by those they should be able to depend on. And always comes the question: ‘How could this happen?’ For the child, and all those involved in helping the recovery of trust, it can be a dark and testing time. Children lacking faith in their ability to keep themselves safe often manifest challenging behaviour as a protective mechanism. For some, even with consistent love and support, the ability to form trusting relationships can take years. Many of us have learned the parameters of how much and who to trust through the hard experience of losing trust; fear and rage begin to creep into our hearts when we imagine the trust of any child being compromised and we know that to protect our children it’s necessary to introduce them to the tools they need to keep themselves safe (appropriate awareness being one) and give them time and space to develop their skilled use of such tools. All educators have a duty to recognise the community they serve

and offer Child Protection and Safeguarding training relevant to the place, time and future needs of individuals within their community - education to create a safer world. At Steiner Academy Exeter we train our staff by drawing on the best educational methods and practice of Steiner education and beyond. This ensures a multidisciplinary and contemporary understanding of how best to empower the children in our care to become confident, self-reliant and kind individuals, each with an awareness of their rights and responsibilities and a strong sense of the contribution they can make. We know that in doing so, in developmentally and culturally appropriate ways, we do all we can to enable our children to thrive and to create safe healthy communities throughout their lives. l To become part of the Steiner Academy Exeter school community, check out the website www.steineracademyexeter.org.uk

A weekend of fun DadFest2018 welcomes all dads and male carers with children all ages to a fun weekend of outdoor activities, good food and dad dancing in South Devon this September. Awarded ‘Best Small Event in the UK’, DadFest is held at Forest & Beach, a wonderful Forest School education centre at Beeson, near Kingsbridge. DadFest offers a range of great activities throughout the weekend, from beach fishing and meeting a lobster, to archery, woodcarving and fire-lighting. The food ticket gives you all meals and drinks for the whole weekend. Saturday night is the global phenomenon that is The Official World Dad Dancing Championship where dad can become an overnight megastar. DadFest 2018 is September 14-16 and tickets are on sale from May at www.dangerousdads.org./dadfest or dangerousdads@btinternet.com - why not email now and pre-book? DadFest always sells out quickly.

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WELLBEING

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

Finding Active Hope

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HAT do a monkey and your mind have in common? Quite a lot, actually, according to storyteller/ writer Elly Crichton Stuart and community artist Carol Timms. But they reassure us that we can train our monkey minds through mindfulness and they are launching a new programme to help us do that. Elly said: “Do you find yourself getting bogged down, anxious and reactive? Neuroscientists have observed that we can change our habits and cultivate new neural pathways in the brain. Why do so many people practise Mindfulness? Because it calms us down and we start to experience more happiness!” Mindfulness is an ancient practice from the East of stopping, noticing the breath and becoming familiar with our mind and habits. An Introduction to Mindfulness runs at The Nest, Schumacher College in Dartington on Tuesdays from April 17 to June

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5, 7 to 9pm. There will also be a day session alongside the evening sessions. It will be facilitated by Elly and Carol who will lead you on a journey of discovery, connection, walking meditation, relaxation, and, above all, self-compassion. It costs £150 with £80 concessions. For more information contact: Carol on: cooltimms@btinternet.com or text Elly on 07518 908179 www. ellystoryteller.com

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Among the classes currently on offer are: weekly meditation and kundalini yoga, monthly gong bath sessions and monthly trauma workshops. There will also be ad hoc workshops, including breathwork, which is hosting an introductory workshop on Saturday May 12 2018. The Studio is conveniently located in Barton Hill Car Park adjacent to a brook. It’s easy to park and just five minutes walk away from the railway station. Lois said: “We are currently creating a new website but for the moment you will find details of our Therapists at www.changesnow. co.uk or on our Facebook page The Studio Dawlish.” See the advert below for more details.

E would like to bring our readers’ attention to a venue in Dawlish that offers a space for health and wellbeing in this picturesque seaside town. The Studio is a unique and nurturing space, started by Alan and Lois Fry in 2016 to offer a range of therapeutic treatments in a peaceful town centre location. Therapists at The Studio offer: Shiatsu massage; Reflexology; Remedial massage; Aromatherapy massage; Mindfulness; Reiki; Breathwork; Counselling, NLP, Kinetic Shift, Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy. Alan Fry is also able to provide Reiki Attunements and there is a Reiki Exchange once a month.

QUINE · E

Health and wellbeing in Dawlish

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Juliette Medder

EMOTIONAL HEALTH Welcome back to our exploration into all things emotional. In this edition our Emotional Health columnist LEIGH SMITH discusses the value of true self-worth, how to build it, and why so many of us live with...

Those feelings of worthlessness

T’S EASY to recognise a person with high self worth, they’re the one expressing opinions, standing out from the crowd, being successful in work and relationships and not feeling like a victim. Nothing seems to get in their way, and life seems to be an interesting and fulfilling game, rather than a constant battle. Is this you? Or do you suffer from the debilitating effects of low self worth?

Our self worth has a massive effect on the way we live our lives, and can influence the choices we make, our relationships, how we socialise, and how creative we are in our lives. Your self worth is how you regard yourself, the value you place on your own life, it is how you understand your unique qualities, your strengths and personal attributes. Having a low self worth can hold you back from so much of what life has to offer; negative thoughts about yourself can cause you to withdraw from people and opportunities, and develop destructive patterns of behaviour leading to anxiety or depression. So why do some of us feel we are valuable and worthy, whilst others feel worthless and inadequate? There are many facets to the creation of a healthy self worth. Genetics plays a part, but primarily it is shaped by a combination of our life experiences and most importantly how we make sense of those experiences. What can we do if we didn’t have the most positive upbringing and our self worth is at rock bottom? Don’t despair, take action, you actually do deserve to have a wonderful and fulfilling life. Here are some top tips to building some real self worth: Sack the inner critic Start by noticing how often you berate yourself, the negative messages you have playing on a loop. These messages are working to keep your self worth down, they are sabotaging you, and it’s time to give them a run for their money. When you do spot them, name them; “aha there’s that nasty thought I sometimes have”… and put yourself back in control. Learn to make a game out of spotting them and blasting them right out of the water. Remember that you are valuable, you are unique and there is no one as good at being you as you. That inner critic is fired!

Finding the positive Spend time focusing on your positives, no matter how small they are to you, ask yourself what you do well? What do people say you are good at? Be brave, and ask your loved ones for one thing they like about you. We can feel embarrassed and find it hard to believe positive things about ourselves, but take them anyway, store them until you can fully own them, stock up your larder. Celebrate your successes There’s no doubt you are all too aware of each mistake you make, but at the end of each day ask your self: “what did I achieve today?” No matter how small celebrate your successes, build on the ability to recognise your worth and own it. Become your own coach Start to develop some positive self talk; “well done Leigh, you handled that with care” encourage yourself with kindness to take little risks: “go on Leigh have a go, it’s ok to get it wrong, it will be fun to try”. You can coach yourself to notice how well you are doing and how hard you are trying. Even when you fail your inner coach can still egg you on: “it’s ok to get things wrong Leigh, you’re doing so well and have already made some improvements, keep going, I believe in you” Surround yourself with the right people Take an inventory of the people in your life who don’t appreciate you or that leave you feeling bad about yourself, and make time to connect more with people who love you and make you feel good about yourself. Some people are just not healthy for you to be around, and you deserve to be surrounded by people who have your best interests at heart. This might involve making some social changes and learning to take a deep breath and say ‘no’ before agreeing to doing something which you know isn’t right for you. Remember that you really are worth it!

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.

Dr Claire Ryan, Network Spinal Analyst

R. Claire Ryan D.C is one of those who sum up the essence of Totnes. She’s one of the luminaries of the town’s burgeoning wellbeing reputation. Claire and her team at Ola Chiropractic strive to return those who visit to optimum health. Since setting up Ola in 2011 Claire’s reputation has grown to the point that just through word-of-mouth the clinic is busy and full. Word on the street is that, “Claire works magic”. Those who have re-experienced their spines through her sessions exclaim: “I feel I’ve been getting to know my spine for the first time... it’s a great feeling, it’s life-changing.” Whether it’s for a ‘Bad back’, headaches or chronic immune condition she has been working wonders! A qualified doctor of chiropractic, Claire offers a very different approach to what you might normally associate with chiropractic care. Claire practices Network Spinal Analysis (NSA), a powerful form of chiropractic where the contacts are very gentle, very precise and very powerful. She can also offer

the conventional re-alignment through manual adjustments when appropriate. As far as magic is concerned NSA is all science, but ask her patients and they just marvel at the results. In NSA ‘patients’ are actually called ‘Practice Members’ recognising their response-ability in the process of their own well-being. Practice Members feel more equipped to deal with everyday stresses, which makes Claire’s work vitally important in this day and age. She doesn’t perform a standard treatment, the key to her therapy is deep awareness. Practice members readily admit Claire has a gift that goes well beyond the bog standard chiropractic. They say, “she’s a very gentle, humble, well rounded person. She’s patient and calm in how she handles the situation and she has that ability to really make you feel at ease.” Claire’s quick to reveal it’s not magic but careful analysis and feedback that makes her work life changing. Whatever it is, it certainly achieves wonderful results. To make an appointment visit www.totneschiropractic.co.uk.

Try some rewarding counselling training

F you have considered training as a counsellor, Spring could be the perfect time to start. Iron Mill College in Exeter is offering part-time counselling training for beginners and anyone hoping to embark on counselling as a career. Its popular Certificate in Counselling starts again on 11 May and runs over 12 Fridays. The course is quality checked by the National Counselling Society (NCS) and is open to all. If you have already completed a Counselling Certificate, the next step is the two-year Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling. There is an introductory weekend on 19 and 20 May and the course is held on

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Thursdays. It is accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and completing the programme qualifies you as a counsellor. College Principal, Rose Bedford, said: “Whether you are seeking personal or professional development, we have something to offer you. If you want to develop new skills, meet new people and engage in new experiences, our upcoming courses could be just what you are looking for.” The college is hosting a Counselling Taster Day on Saturday 28 April for people who want to find out more. Visit: www.ironmill.co.uk or call 01392 219200.

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WELLBEING Find transformation through drama Real food, Real life, RAMA… what does that word

mean to you? Dramatherapist Rachel Perry admits that, in a world where the word often equates with the idea of some kind of crisis, it’s not always easy to convince people of the benefits of dramatherapy. She said: “But, what if you were able to revisit a challenging situation through drama or create the perfect relationship scenario? Intentionally using drama in this way can open a window to a very different scenario to the one you previously experienced or feared you would experience. Gaining a new perspective creates new choices.” She told reconnect that dramatherapy gives people permission to play, providing a creative vehicle for the transformation of feelings. It acts as both a container for personal feelings and the means to explore them. Rachel explained: “Our imagination allows us to play our way into relationships as we journey inward. We explore the multiple realities of our lives, creating a space for new experiences and fresh insights into our behaviour patterns, allowing for the release of emotions and opening up the potential for change.” Rachel has been a HCPC registered dramatherapist for over 20 years.

Real health

Rachel Perry She founded Scenario Arts in Personal Development Ltd and provides training and personal therapy to a wide range of groups and individuals. She has recently moved from Bristol and has set up a private practice in South Devon offering 1-1 therapy, introductory weekly groups and tasters in Newton Abbot and Totnes from April. One client who worked with Rachel commented that, after dramatherapy, she felt “anything I want is possible, there is no pre determined path for me, I can take a risk. How fantastic!” Another said it had given her “a new purpose and direction” Rachel explained that dramatherapy is suitable for anyone who wants to understand the healing nature of the artistic experience. She works with people seeking individual healing as well as therapists who are looking for tools to apply to their own work practice. She is offering special introductory rates and is holding a taster day in Newton Abbot on June 16 from 10am to 4pm. Visit: www. dramatherapy.org.uk or call Rachel on 01803 473079 rachel. perry59@googlemail.com

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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Tony has faced many of life’s challenges

DON’T know about you but when I encounter someone who has faced some of life’s toughest challenges head on and refused to give in, I’m pretty interested to hear what they have to say. So, when Tony Clark wrote to Reconnect extolling the virtues of meditation, I wanted to know more. Tony was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2010. He refused to take the drugs offered by the NHS after reading that they didn’t cure the illness just prolonged its decline. Instead he began a voyage of personal discovery, to find what would help him. Tony spent a month in India at an Ayurvedic clinic. Then he spent a month in Thailand learning Qigong at Mantak Chia’s resort called The Tao Garden.

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After that, he went to Colombia and spent a month on a Shaman’s farm drinking their form of Ayahuasca. Next stops were Siberia and Tibet where he did rituals with Shamans and deepened his Buddhist teachings. Throughout his quest, Tony focused on eating a healthy diet and doing meditation. He came to the conclusion that meditation is beneficial whoever you are, whether you are healthy or ill, young or old. Tony is now running his own meditation session at Harbour House in Kingsbridge every Saturday From 12 noon to 1pm. For more information contact Tony on 07980 548009 or email tonyclark@yahoo.co.uk

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BioEnergetic Health

An innovative testing and treatment method effective for acute, long-term and difficult-to-diagnose health problems.

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WELLBEING The wisdom of contemplating death

TERESA WICKSTEED

The Green Funeral Company’s Claire and Rupert Callender have been undertakers for nearly two decades. Ru believes we can find wisdom by changing our viewpoint on the contemplation of the fear of dying, and the fear of being alive.

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THE trick,”said Don Juan, Carlos Castaneda’s ‘brujo’ alter ego, “is balancing the terror of being alive, with the wonder of being alive.” We’re pretty sure now that Carlos created Don Juan as a cover for his own hard won psychedelic wisdom, but the truths he gave him to say stand complete. And the terror of being alive, with all of its endless, messy revelations, is a very astute observation. It is terrifying to be alive, not simply because the awareness we have of our finite life, but because of our everyday stress. I think mortality is often our only way out, the promise not of life to come, but a cessation of the trials of this one. Imagine having to live forever, a rambling, ill punctuated tale lacking a merciful editor. Perhaps we would eventually work out what to do; I suspect I would spend a great deal of time making the same endless mistakes. I am the living repudiation of the idea that regular contemplation of death, particularly our own, can lead to wisdom. Like Bill Nighy, who’s casual admittance in a newspaper interview that he thought of his own death a dozen times a day led to headlines around the world, for me, it is often simply a touchstone to keep my anxiety fresh, a wound that I can’t leave alone. It hasn’t brought me depth, or none that helps me. I can also firmly state that if people were to actually live each day as if it were their last, that would involve lying in a bed semi conscious, breathing shallow breaths while the people who love you look on, pale and in shock. Hardly the blur of bucket list ticks most people think of, or the buzz of last minute self gratification. I think the closest way to match the expectations of this command, and the realities of it, is to stop for a moment and discover who you need to say sorry to the most. Our work does however, lead us to see the best in people as well as the saddest. After 18 years of being undertakers, nothing has broken the conviction that people are fundamentally good and strong and loving, so perhaps there is some life wisdom to be won from it. The only trick I have to offer, to both combat the fear of being alive and the fear of dying, is whatever your default viewpoint, try and alter it. Most of us are either locked in the detail, or overwhelmed by the bigger picture. If you’re in too close, pull back and look around you and enjoy the view. If the universe is a dizzying map of connections, concentrate, zoom in. There, what’s that? No, there, yes!

A friendly welcome awaits you

“

THE only problem we are having with our very popular Start Up in Business scheme for new practitioners, is convincing people that it really is true – it IS such an amazing opportunity!” Exeter Natural Health Centre’s Ali Morrish is talking to us about their Start Up in Business scheme. For £50 per month, new practitioners can have unlimited ad hoc use of one of the centre’s beautiful therapy rooms in the heart of the city. Ali Morrish said: “One of the main problems we have is convincing people that this is a genuine offer. I think in days when everything seems to come at a cost – there is a catch, or a scam, or hidden extras – it seems hard to believe that there is genuine goodwill and generosity. But it makes good sense to us to make use of rooms rather than have them standing empty, so we offer them at a subsidised cost to practitioners who are just beginning their businesses. We have practitioners here who have been with the centre since 2001 but we always welcome new people because it helps the centre to thrive. New people bring new clients and that is of benefit to us all.” For £50 a month the philosophy is ‘if we have the space, please come and use it!’ Ali added: “We look together over the months at how your business is growing and see if incrementally

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you are ready to pay a little more as more clients come in. If not, it’s fine to carry on as you are. If you’re not ready for whatever reason, you may drop out without any obligation other than that month’s payment.” Ali explained that new therapists find working from a busy, established clinic rewarding. “You can look to make and take referrals, ask for marketing advice, gain experience from being amongst like-minded people and feel good about coming out to work in a professional clinical space.” A recent new therapist to the centre said: “I have received a warm welcome from everyone. Ali and Mo are so supportive and encouraging, offering as much help and advice as I need. I don’t think I could have done this without them.” For more information visit www. exeternaturalhealthcentre.co.uk/ start-up-in-business-programme-fornew-practitioners/ or call 01392 422555 - info@enhc.org

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WELLBEING The art of lightening up

OST of us are seriously good at taking things seriously. And it’s no wonder. We are taught from childhood not to fidget, not to laugh too much, not to giggle… But certified coach and modern hypnotherapy practitioner Gwen Channer suggests we might not be doing ourselves a favour with this outlook on life. She is urging us to lighten up, to smile even when it hurts. And she’s serious. Gwen said: “Imagine you stubbed your toe and it hurts really badly. How do you react? With moans, groans and anger or upset? Most likely. However, now imagine being amused after you stubbed your toe, smiling (even through tears of pain) and thinking with a giggle ‘That was silly.’ “Notice what happens to the pain. That’s right, it becomes less intense and more bearable when we approach the situation with amusement.” Easier said than done, eh? Well, Gwen reminds us that amusement and pleasure are not the same thing. She said: “We do not need to enjoy something to bring amusement into it. It is counterintuitive but the more we add an element of amusement into our serious situations the easier they are to deal with.” She acknowledges that it can be tricky. “Start small,” advises Gwen,

“such as smiling when you hurt your toe. Over time, you’ll become more adept at it. Eventually you’ll be able to lighten up even the more difficult issues. Giving yourself some space and distance allows you to look at things from a slightly different perspective. This might enable you to find a solution. At the very least, you will experience less pain!” Gwen reminds us that we can generate amusement inside ourselves without an outside stimulus. If the situation calls for it, we can generate amusement without showing it on our face. It is a surprisingly powerful tool. Here is a final thought from Gwen: “If you can smile, do because it has been proven that when we force our mouth into a smile after a little while we actually start to feel better. Give it a go, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.” To find out how you can benefit from working with Gwen visit: inherentwellbeing.co.uk

Navigating our way through change

HANGE is inevitable. Change is constant, said Benjamin Disraeli. But, how do you feel about change? Do you greet it with enthusiasm or do you, perhaps, groan inwardly at the idea of doing things differently? Bell Bartlett is a tarot reader who can provide practical information, helping you to know what to do and when to do it. She explains that she is able to alert you to solutions you may not have considered and to resources you may not realise you have. “Change is nearly always provocative, even the changes we choose can keep us awake at night with anxiety. If you are looking for clarity about your direction in life - and often that includes how to make a living doing work you love - I can help,” said Bell. She is no stranger to sudden

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change and the anxiety that can provoke. Three years ago Bell made what felt like an enormously courageous decision to devote herself to her heart work of being a psychic reader, a skill she had been developing over 35 years. Looking back, she can hardly believe how much power she was giving to her fears, which were telling her how she could never make a living doing what she loved. Fast forward to 2018 and there is a consistent demand for her services. “I now have more freedom, more income and more joy in my life. Doing what I love for a living is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.” Bell’s speciality is practical, sensitive support. She can provide answers to questions, throw light on the most beneficial way ahead for you, reveal qualities about the impending change that you may not be aware of, and provide options you may not have considered. She can look ahead to see what choices would work best for you and which ones to avoid. If you have a change coming, or you know change would be good but you’re not sure how, Bell has the skills, and the experience to illuminate the way for you. For more information call Bell on 07796 900509 or visit: www. conscious-tarot.co.uk

Gong bath sessions

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WELLBEING The Feldenkrais Method® with Lifeworks Somatics • 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

Letting go to find a new life

N ANCIENT cultures it was recognised that a person needed to undergo some kind of initiation, a deep inner journey out in the wilds of nature, in order to find themselves and connect with the gift they were born to live. We have lost this connection with nature here in the West but some, like Vision Quest leader Rebecca Card, are trying to help us to refind it and discover our soul’s true purpose. Rebecca said: “There is an astonishing sanity and innate knowing that comes from these traditions of earth-based peoples. When a person spends a number of days and nights (usually four) alone and without food in a wild place they come to know something about themselves that they didn’t previously know. They come to see the world in a new way. “Everything is stripped away. No TV, no screens, no radio, no books, no people and no food! When there are no distractions or comforts, the mind has nothing to cling to. It can be a difficult and challenging time. But it can also bring sweetness and deep, pure connection. It can bring the initiate to some profound places internally.” A Vision Quest, or Fast, is often referred to as a dying because something needs to die, to be released so that something new, alive and more aligned to our

truth can be born. Rebecca explained: “Initiates may choose to have a pre-fast ceremony, some way of marking the intention, perhaps. This is called the Severance phase. And they may like to take a day simply walking the land, looking for signs along the way. The activities themselves don’t take the entire preparation time, nevertheless the initiate’s psyche certainly begins to do the work and this is often revealed in the night dreaming. “For the fast itself they will be witnessed crossing and entering the Threshold (second phase). After four days and nights they will be witnessed coming back and begin the Integration (third phase). This includes the telling of their story and, often, the mirroring of it to give clearer seeing and deeper understanding. Grounding and eating is an important and much-appreciated part of the Integration.” Rebecca runs Vision Quests on Dartmoor to help people let go of a way of life that is no longer serving them, mark a moment of life transition, or find their true purpose and then take it back as a gift to the world. For more information visit: www. naturewisdom.life Or contact: Rebecca@ naturewisdom.life / 07960 520128

MINDFULNESS

COURSES IN PLYMOUTH SAT MORNING OF MINDFULNESS 24TH MARCH AND 21ST APRIL 18

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£41.85 WELLBEING

Energy dynamics in relationships THERE are four basic ways in which we interact and exchange energy with another person, explains energy healer and homeopath Marc Blausten. These are Push, Pull, Stop or Allow. Following on from the article ‘Healing Relationship Cords’ in the last issue, Marc shares his insights into energy dynamics in relationships.

N most situations, our ego self will try to find ways to control a relationship in an attempt to keep our wounds safe. Push, Pull and Stop are the different forms of defence that our ego uses. “Allow” is an undefended place. “Pushing” our energy onto someone else has the effect of trying to dominate or overwhelm them. Being ‘on top’ and in control. It is competitive and comes from a need to be better, cleverer, stronger, quicker. The belief is that best form of defence is attack. Pushing energy is what happens when we are intimidating or aggressive. “Pulling” energy is an attempt to control through manipulation. Sucking on the energy of the other person by being needy, or trying to get sympathy or support. Playing the part of the underdog or disadvantaged. Being ‘less than’ and childlike in order to evoke the protection of the other person. “Stopping” the flow of energy between people is a way to defend ourselves by putting up a block and disconnecting. It is like folding your arms and turning your back, or retreating into a cave. We are safe when we are separate, but it can be a lonely place.

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.

All of these modes of defence will, in turn, evoke a defensive response from another person. A push could get a push back, or a pull might get a stop in response. However the fourth way of exchanging energy is by being in “Allow”. This is when there is no attempt to control the energy, allowing things to simply be as they are. There is no judgement, and everyone is seen as being lovable. When we are undefended we encourage the people around us to be undefended too, as they feel safe. This is the place that a healer holds as they must be undefended to allow the healing energy to come through. Marc has 30 years experience with Energy Healing and Homeopathy. He was clinical director at The College of Practical Homeopathy in the 90s, one of the first people in the UK to graduate from The Barbara Brennan School of Healing (USA). He founded The School of Energy Healing here in the UK. l Marc sees clients in Totnes, Plymouth and Online. For more information visit: www. healingandhomeopathy.com or call: 0333 433 0454 (local rate)

How is your Qi energy? IN CLASSICAL Chinese medicine all disease is believed to be caused by imbalances and blockages in the flow of Qi energy through the body. By contrast, when your Qi flow is balanced, you are likely to feel relaxed, confident, full of energy and enthusiasm. Ranbir Virk is bringing one of the most ancient healing arts of Classical Chinese medicine to Totnes. Tui Na facilitates the free and even movement of Qi in the body by applying pressure to the meridians through which Qi flows. The name conveys the vigorous nature of the hands-on healing system: “Tui” means “push” and “Na” means “grasp”. Ranbir treats a whole range of conditions, from physical ailments frozen shoulder, shoulder and back pain, tennis elbow, and sciatica through to insomnia, night sweats and emotional problems.

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He said: “Do you feel stuck - mentally, emotionally or spiritually? Are you always tired? Do you have constant, dragging pain? Tui Na massage might help.” He explained that, whereas here in the West we might visit an osteopath, chiropractor, physiotherapist or sports therapist, in China, the first port of all would be a Tui Na practitioner. Ranbir added: “The distribution of Qi within the body has profound effects on all aspects of your wellbeing, the emotional, spiritual and the physical.. When your Qi is balanced you will experience a noticeable increase in energy, vigorous and freedom from stiffness and pain.” For more information call 01803 868282 07483 112920. Email: ranbir@yinpalmtaoartsuk.co.uk or visit: www.yinpalmtaoartsuk.co.uk

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NEW TO YOUR COMMUNITY Now at Arcturus Clinic 01803 868282 07483 112920 ranbir@yinpalmtaoartsuk.co.uk www.yinpalmtaoartsuk.co.uk See Ranbir if you suffer from Frozen Shoulder, Shoulder Pain, Lower Back Pain,Tennis Elbow,Ankle and Knee Problems, Numbness in Arms, Hands, Feet and Legs, Neck Pain, Sciatica, Insomnia, Night Sweats This list is not exhaustive

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Are you feeling stuck - Mentally, Emotionally and / or Spiritually? Are you feeling fatigued? Do you suffer from lack of energy / are you always feeling tired? Are you suffering from constant pain?

Then Ranbir can be of assistance

TUI NA CAN ALSO HELP TO TREAT SOME CHRONIC AND ACUTE CONDITIONS • TASTER SESSIONS AVAILABLE SOON Also please enquire about Taoist Breathing, Taoist Meditation, Qi Gong and Bagua Special offer for massage therapists, clear your blockages in your forearms and arms and strengthen your hands Plus assistance for new mothers with toddlers, if they are feeling tired, stressed, anxious and overwhelmed.

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WELLBEING SOEL School of Experiential Learning Exploring the dynamic relationship between mind and body Courses in Experiential Anatomy Community Workshops

Creative Mentorships

Individual sessions in Body-mind Centering®

The Nautilus rooms welcomes Lynne

www.tsoel.org.uk

HE Nautilus Rooms in Totnes, which celebrate its third anniversary this year, have recently added Lynne Tarrab-Snooks (formerly Gerlach) to their team.

Would you like to employ Sherlock Holmes on your health case? Try the next best thing and consult an experienced homeopath with a sense of humour and 3000 remedies to find your perfect match. Put us all in the same place at the same time and the results could be unimaginable!

Whatever your health dilemma, give Homeopathy a whirl in 2017 Jacki Becker RSHom

jackibeckerhomeopath.co.uk (Totnes) t: 01803 867747 m: 07792 059 867

The mind-based therapy centre’s Ruth Baker is delighted to welcome the new practitioner: “Lynne brings with her a lifetime of experience of working with people - in education, psychotherapy, mentoring and spiritually. Many in the area will know Lynne as an Integrative Psychotherapist and co-founder of the Thrive Approach. She has now retired from these and is working as a consultant, mentor and workshop leader. Lynne is bringing to The Nautilus Rooms three courses / groups. Lynne will bring presence, creativity and joy to her workshops as well as a depth of knowledge and experience.” Lynne’s workshops are : Lynne Tarrab-Snooks

Becoming a Warrior for NOW

A 2 day course informed by the Shambala work of Chogyam Trungpa. An introduction to finding and developing your essential Warrior Nature. Our group will come together using breath work, meditation, movement, mark-making and inquiry to reconnect us to our deeper capacities. In these ways we will begin to meet our experiences with heartful resilience, focus and strength. Swap your Kids: living lovingly with adolescents This introductory event has the potential to become an ongoing evening group.

Try something different… Education & Training in Mental Health & Wellbeing

Certificate in Counselling: Our 12 day entry level course, which is quality checked by the NCS. Starts 11th May (Exeter). Advanced Diploma in Integrative Counselling: 2 year (taught element) BACP accredited course, which enables qualification as a counsellor. Starts 19th May (Exeter).

Book onto our Counselling Taster Day - 28th April (Exeter)

For further information or to apply: 01392 219200 / enquiries@ironmill.co.uk

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Understanding the neuroscience of the adolescent brain and what it means for parents, workers and friends. The delights, challenges and potential in living/being alongside adolescents What the world needs now: creativity, judgment and empathy

Coaching 101 - Introduction to Coaching: A 2 day weekend workshop, open to anyone wishing to explore whether coaching is an option for their future development or for integration into their current role. 14th & 15th April (Exeter).

www.ironmill.co.uk

This 2 evening course is aimed at parents and those working with young people and will cover:

A small group offering mentoring/ supervision for those people working with children led by Lynne Tarrab-Snooks (formerly Gerlach). The group will meet on a monthly basis and has the potential for an ongoing closed group. Ruth Baker continues to offer her popular Sandplay and Therapeutic Art courses for professional and those interested in exploring their own inner development through creative psychotherapies. Visitors to the centre, at the end of the alley way by Lloyds Bank opposite the Mansion, love the space, commenting upon the sense of peace and how they would like to move in! l For more information about The Nautilus Rooms and forthcoming workshops visit www.nautilusrooms.uk and the Nautilus Rooms Facebook page.

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WELLBEING DANCE SCAPES

Find your connection to plant spirit

Movement Medicine with Rosie Perks

HE wisdom and healing properties of local plants are waiting to be discovered thanks to a new initiative from Tim Morgan-Spankie at Huxham’s Cross in Dartington. The Green Path Plant Connection has been set up to share Tim’s knowledge and passion for plants, and to help people rediscover their deep connection to plant spirit. Green Path is hosting a series of workshops where people can learn how to make natural medicines from local plants to help with everyday health issues. Tim explained: “This knowledge would once have been commonplace. Reconnecting to plants in this way empowers us to take our healing into our own hands. It also connects us deeply with our local environment, when we go out to gather plants to help us in our healing.” He believes that healing can also occur on a deep level when we learn to listen to the spirit of the plants, and hear what they have to say to us. “This quiet listening allows us to hear the wisdom of the plant spirit, as we develop a relationship with that plant,” said Tim. “This wisdom often guides us on a soul level.” Modern herbalism has developed detailed scientific knowledge of the extraordinary healing power of plants. The vision of Green Path is

IN DARTINGTON, DEVON

closed groups one to one sessions one day & longer workshops NEXT DAY 2 JUNE • 5 DAY JOURNEY 19 - 23 SEPT 2018

THE JOY AND INTELLIGENCE OF THE MOVING BODY

info@dance-scapes.com | dance-scapes.com to combine this with a connection to the spirit of the plant, so that we can be guided by their wisdom as well as our knowledge of the plant’s properties. Workshops often focus on a single local plant. Tim explained: “We spend time developing a deep connection with the plant, then move on to learn about its properties. We allow plenty of time for the practice of making herbal remedies to take home.” Forthcoming workshops are: April 14 Spring tonics April 21 Dandelion medicine day May 19 Wild fermentation June 30 Calendula medicine day For more information contact Tim on 07913 820235 or visit facebook.com/thewayofplants

Eden energy medicinal daily routine

HERE are only 40 Eden Energy Medicine Clinical Practitioners in Europe. And one of them, Hilda Kalap, practises right here in South Devon. Hilda trained with renowned energy healer Donna Eden, author of the bestselling book ‘Energy Medicine’. Over three years, Eden Energy Medicine practitioners are trained to balance and optimise the body’s energy, working with nine primary energy systems including the aura, chakras and Chinese Five Rhythms. At the heart of the practice is a five-minute daily energy routine that can strengthen the immune system, increase clarity of thinking and improve coordination. As well as this, Hilda has almost 10 years’ experience as a Reiki and massage practitioner and is a Reiki Master Teacher. She is a Reiki practitioner to cancer patients at a local hospice, runs her own health practice from the Arcturus Clinic in Totnes and can also make home visits. Conditions she works with range from anxiety and depression to infertility and eating disorders. Hilda is a member of the Federation of Holistic Therapists and the Reiki Association. She has also published a picture book on mindfulness.

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Over the forthcoming months she will be running two kinds of classes. On two Wednesday mornings in April (18 and 25) there’s the chance to learn the Eden Energy Medicine Daily Energy Routine at the Arcturus Clinic, Totnes. The same venue hosts the Reiki level 1 courses taking place all day Saturday May 26 and Sunday May 27. For more information visit: www. thehealingspace.global Or email hilda@thehealingspace.global or call: 07983 216793

Riverstone, the home of Heart & Soul Funerals, is friendly and comfortable, situated on the banks of the River Dart near Austin’s Bridge at Buckfastleigh. The hall provides sanctuary for vigils and a beautiful space for a funeral ceremony. You are always welcome to visit us. Traditional, individual & green funerals and plans Riverstone,18 Dart Mills, Buckfastleigh, TQ11 0NF

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WELLBEING Feel the benefits after just one session

Combining hypnotherapy and life coaching to make the changes that you want in your life, moving yourself to that next step. ..

benefits after just one OW can you take care of session. Yin yoga is a those around you wonderful way to get if you do not take care back into yoga or to try of yourself, asks Natalie it for the first time. It is Austin, yoga teacher. a physically gentle style, She pointed out that with all postures done however wonderful it seated or lying down.” is, motherhood can She guides students be an all-consuming, to explore their limits relentless cycle of and find a place in responding to your the posture that suits Natalie Austin child’s demands. their body, how they feel and to Natalie said: “Sadly, it is often make their practice as personal and the case for new (and not so new) mothers, that even spending an hour healing as they can. She added: a week can be too much to ask in “Even an hour a week will help you our busy, full and rather hectic lives. return to yourself, relax, de-stress and That is one hour out of 168 in a quiet your mind and give you tools to week! I say to people, you deserve cope with the everyday demands of this. It is not too much to ask. motherhood and anything else you “It is so important for a woman to have to deal with.” nurture and nourish herself. In this Yin yoga classes are on Monday new age of Aquarius, this is the evenings at 6.30pm and first step towards healing the wider Wednesday mornings at 10.45am community and Mother Earth. You at Chapel House Studios, Totnes. cannot take care of those around you if you do not take care of yourself.” l For more information email: natalie@loveyogatree.co.uk, call Natalie explained: “An hour a week 07516 720246 or visit website at a yoga class will nourish you on so many levels and you will feel the www.loveyogatree.co.uk

Firsthand experience of AuraTransformation

☎ Lynda 07495 809223 www.heartandminddevon.co.uk

“YOUR positivity has gone through the roof” was what someone said to Roz after she’d received an AuraTransformation (AT) from Sarah Jennings. We asked Roz to share more about this fascinating and esoteric treatment…

Photo of Sarah Jennings before and after her own AuraTransformation.

WEEK or so after my AT I felt so unbelievably different about and in myself that I felt it should be evident to the outside world. Comments did start coming in – things like “you look really well, you’re glowing”. I actually asked a close friend who’s known me a long time “am I any different?” The response was, “well your positivity has gone through the roof, it’s great to see.” The way I relate to people has completely changed since the treatment; I am able to see with clarity the dynamics and the roles each person plays. I can see and understand the motives and needs behind various modes of behavior, both in myself and in others. And I instantly understand the karmic lessons that need to be learned. Prior to AT I found the role of mother difficult at times; typical mundane stuff such as running around trying to get everything done, balancing pressures of work and home life, other people, all sorts of stressors. If my daughter threw into the mix any challenging behaviour I could easily find myself responding negatively, snapping and getting cross. I’m sure any mum knows that ‘end of the tether’ feeling. That has not happened once since my AT. While maintaining the boundaries, I am always able to respond with love and compassion. I have an ability to understand the root cause of her behaviours, including her tantrums. We understand each other. And we have so much more fun as a result. During AT, I was amazed by Sarah’s ability to draw out events that had occurred a long time ago, even as far back as childhood, that needed healing. She prompted memories of things I’d never talked to anyone about, some of which I’d hidden even from myself. I found silent tears rolling down my cheeks as I relayed these events and let them go, feeling so much lighter, like I’d lost the weight of the world. Sarah practices in Exeter. There is a currently waiting list for AT so she advises people to get prepared for the treatment by watchingwww. withsarahj.com/atintro. An Aura Mediators Training Course runs from May 24 to 27 in Exeter. Contact daretobe@withsarahj.com.

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WELLBEING Retreats to connect to nature

PRING is a busy time at The Sharpham Trust, which has a full schedule of retreats, mindfulness courses, outdoor learning and the arts designed to connect people with nature and foster mindfulness and wellbeing. Visitors stay full-board at Sharpham House, which is a Grade-1 listed Georgian Palladian villa, set in landscaped grounds designed by Capability Brown. The entire estate covers around 550 acres. To coincide with National Walking Month, May sees the start of Sharpham’s popular Mindfulness and Walking retreats. Experienced leaders blend mindfulness teachings with coastal, moorland and Sharpham’s Walking river walks. Retreats connect to nature Sharpham’s Katie whilst exploring Devon’s Tokus said: “Walking amazing landscape. retreats encourage people to connect deeply with the land mindfulness practice and share our (The Sharpham’s Trust message experiences around the fire and is of a deeper nature connection under the stars.” after all), whilst exploring Devon’s Accommodation is in fully-furnished amazing landscapes. The walks bell tents pitched in Sharpham’s average 7-8 miles and Devon is a woodland, close to the River Dart. It very hilly county, so we recommend costs £325. only people with a medium to good levels of fitness should participate.” From May onwards, Sharpham also offers Woodland Retreats where Walking retreats cost £375 for three participants stay in furnished bell tents nights, starting from May 6 onwards. and experience mindfulness teachings For anyone wanting to find out in a peaceful woodland setting. about wild foods and medicinal Anyone who is interested to explore herbs, a foraging retreat in more about the extraordinary health Sharpham’s extensive woodland is benefits of fermented foods is invited a sensory journey through plants, to come along to the fermenting trees and the soil. workshop on Saturday May 12, From Thursday June 7 to Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Costing £45 June 10 participants will learn the per person, participants will learn ancient art of foraging, through how to improve their immune system sensory awareness and presence. and gut health with the power of The four-day programme takes probiotic-rich fermented foods. in the woodlands, hedgerows, Participants may learn to make: fields, gardens and riverside of the Sauerkraut, Kvass (a fermented magnificent Sharpham Estate. drink, most likely from beetroot), Katie explained: “You will learn fermented whole veg (e.g. carrot not only how to forage, but also sticks) and Water Kefir (a fermented how to connect on a deeper level drink). The workshop is suitable for to the plants around you, how to age 16 and over. find your gateway plant and how Also coming up is the return of to listen with your heart. We will Sharpham’s popular Dusk Chorus make simple and delicious wild on Saturday May 12. Described as food dishes to complement our “almost as good as a dawn chorus vegetarian meals, cooked by a but without the ridiculously early wonderful cook from the estate. start”, it is led by Mike Langman who We will make simple medicines worked for the RSPB for together, have herbal tea nine years. At this time of ceremonies, engage in year, the mixed landscape of the Sharpham Estate Workshops in provides an ideal fermenting, location for many foraging and different bird species, some of which have just bird song. returned from wintering in Africa. Mike explained the birds will be in full song to establish territories and attract a mate. l For more information about these and other events visit: www. sharphamtrust.org

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HEALING AND HOMEOPATHY

Barbara Brennan Healing Practitioner Registered Homeopath • RELATIONSHIP CORDS • CHAKRA BALANCE • AURIC SURGERY • EMOTIONAL HEALING • HARA HEALING • ORGAN & SPINE REGENERATION • ALL STYLES OF HOMEOPATHY

Marc Blausten

LCHom, MARH, BHS, FIEH, BCMA

Healing and Teaching for 30 years Free initial chat 0333 433 0454 (local rate) www.healingandhomeopathy.com TOTNES – PLYMOUTH - ONLINE

Let go & surrender ~ Reconnect to your pleasure ~ Come home to your body sessions ~ workshops ~ bespoke retreats

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WELLBEING Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) (Stimulates the immune system to function optimally)

The Bowen Technique Arcturus Clinic, Totnes Home Visits For an appointment please call 07931 505 312

AMANDA MORRIS

amanda@amandamorris.co.uk www.amandamorris.co.uk

CLT – MLDUK – CertECBS – BTPA

The Healing Space Healing Naturally

UPCOMING CLASSES: LEARN THE EDEN ENERGY MEDICINE DAILY ENERGY ROUTINE Weds 18th April – 9:30 am to midday . . . . . . . . . £15 . . . Arcturus Clinic, Totnes Weds 25th April – 9:30 am to midday . . . . . . . . . £15 . . . Arcturus Clinic, Totnes Cost includes refreshments and handouts REIKI LEVEL 1 - TWO DAY COURSE Sat 26th - Sun 27th May – 10 am to 5 pm . . . . . . £100 . . . Arcturus Clinic, Totnes

Eden Energy Medicine Clinical Practitioner

Hilda Kalap - Healer | Writer | Teacher Tel: +44 (0) 7983216793 hilda@thehealingspace .global www .facebook .com/thehealingspace .global @hilda_kalap

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GH IN

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Treatments available in the Kingsbridge area. Please contact Judy Talbot MRSS Dip.Tui Na on

HAT do you She said: “In addition, do for a living? many of us have It’s a question experienced some form we’re often asked. of trauma, whether it’s a major trauma, such For sexological body as sexual assault, or the worker, trauma healer smaller traumas than can and guide Catherine occur in everyday life, Hale the short answer is such as nearly being hit “I help people to connect by a car as we cross the with their bodies.” street. Trauma locks up The complete answer Catherine Hale the body and can create is more complex. vicious cycles of anxiety, anger, and She explained: “We come into depression. It can lead to an unstable the world as a sensate beings, nervous system.” touching, tasting, hearing, looking Disconnection from our bodies and smelling. We are intimately leads to a range of symptoms, connected with our bodies as it’s she explains, including: inability through them that we make sense to orgasm, premature ejaculation, of the world. We don’t yet have the pain during sex, sexual shame, capacity to think, to ask questions vaginismus, addiction to or to be guided by a rational, more pornography, lack of pleasure and analytical part of ourselves. checking out during sex. “As we grow and develop, the mind “But it doesn’t need to be this way,” begins to come online and we are said Catherine. “We can return to influenced by those around us, picking the innocence we once had, the up ways of behaving or conditioning deep connection to our bodies, that enable us to feel loved. the unfolding of pleasure. We can Sometimes, this requires a significant gradually open our body to trust it’s level of adaptation and a distancing safe to feel everything. Unmet aspects from our truer embodied nature.” of ourselves can be met through Catherine believes that by the time sensation and emotion so that more we are adults and embark on intimate of us can be here, present in our relationships, many of us have lost connections, in intimacy, in love.” that deeper, visceral connection to Catherine offers one-to-one sessions, our bodies. Combined with a lack couples work, workshops, talks and of pleasure-based sex education, bespoke retreats in Totnes and London. we arrive in the arena of sexual l For more information email relationships, according to Catherine, Catherine@tantricawakening.org Or poorly equipped to feel energy, visit: www.tantricawakening.org desire, and pleasure in our bodies.

Massage treatments through clothing.

HEAL

m/thehealingspace .global

The deep connection to our bodies

07855 332329

Receive a personalised treatment which combines Shiatsu, Deep Tissue Massage and Energy work. Treatments are supportive and nurturing and will assist the body’s natural healing processes. They will alleviate and help: • Depression & anxiety/moodrelated disorders • Hormonal problems • Insomnia/sleep disorders • Digestive problems • Boost immunity & energy levels • Arthritis/joint mobility

Hold the front page

with wellbeing editor Kate Philbin

ACK in the day I was a PR exec. I formed the opinion that there was a sort of magic to getting the local press to cover your product or service. My boss talked in vague terms about “building relationships” with journalists (which often seemed to involve a long lunch) and “coming up with a strong angle.” Now that I am older and wiser – and particularly since I began working some of my week as a local press journalist in the South Hams – I have discovered that the truth is somewhat different. If you’re hoping to get the paper to cover your event, product or service, here are some helpful tips from someone who gets to wade through lots and lots of press releases every week and can spot a good one at 50 paces… Be targeted: Send relevant information to the relevant press. By this I mean, don’t send a story about an event in Exeter to journalists in Bristol because they won’t use it. Sending out a couple of well-targeted press releases to newspapers in your particular area will yield better results than sending out 50 across Devon in the vague hope they’ll be interested. Say something newsworthy: Press releases that are full of promotion and nothing else will probably end up in the trash. Give them what they want: Journalists are looking for well-written news that is simply and clearly presented. And a good, in-focus, high resolution photo. If you give them this consistently they will come to trust what you send them and, hopefully, use it regularly. Check out their editorial policy: Most papers will give priority editorial space to advertisers. It’s a sad fact of life. If you never advertise you might find your press releases don’t get used, no matter how good they are. Be deadline aware: Newspapers are printed to tight, immovable deadlines. If a journalist requests something like a photo or a comment, check their deadline as sending it later than this time will mean it doesn’t get used. When I’m not working in Reconnect Towers with Scott, I write all types of content for businesses and individuals, including press releases, articles, websites and blogs. I also offer mentoring and advice. For more information visit: www.cafecopywriter.com or call 07970 107123.

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WELLBEING

The Healing Room in Chagford

TONY CLARK OFFERS MEDITATION FOR ANYONE AND EVERYONE LEARN WHO YOU REALLY ARE • BE WHO YOU ARE • BE HAPPY WITH WHO YOU ARE

Inside Chagford’s new treatment space NATURAL gardens with trees, water and wild areas surround The Healing Room in Chagford. This new treatment room offers a simple, nurturing space for holistic therapies. It has been created by Melanie Ward and Tim Hall in a newly refurbished cabin. This beautiful, healing space connects the peace of the calming interior with the natural, wild environment of Dartmoor that surrounds it. Tim said: “Whatever issue you may want to address, we offer a safe, welcoming environment for you to come and receive healing and support.” Melanie and Tim are qualified and experienced practitioners offering a wide range of holistic therapies including Shiatsu, Reflexology, Spiritual Healing, Transformational Breathwork and Shadow Work. “We are surrounded by nature here and the beauty of the place is nourishing in itself and really supports the work that we do.” Said Melanie, who recently relocated to Devon from Glastonbury where she still runs a successful Shiatsu practice. She has over 10 years experience as a bodyworker including working for retreat centres

and charities. She began training in Shadow Work shortly after she first encountered it in 2009 and is now a qualified Shadow Work Coach, offering one-to-one sessions. Tim has been practising healing and self development since 1992 and is qualified in Transformational Breathwork, Spiritual Healing and Reflexology, with a wealth of experience working with plant medicines including the Bach remedies. He also leads programmes for Embercombe and is the beekeeper for Canonteign Estate and Embercombe practising and teaching natural, bee-first beekeeping. Melanie and Tim are both fully trained Shadow Work Group Facilitators and are running low cost Shadow Work workshops as part of their final certification process. Get in touch if you would like to be added to their mailing list to hear about forthcoming events. For more information about The Healing Room contact Melanie on 07581 375988 or Tim on 07870 938323, or visit www. thehealingroomchagford.co.uk

Come and meditate with us at... Harbour House The Promenade Kingsbridge TQ7 1JD CONTACT TONY 07980 548009 tonyclark@yahoo.co.uk

Every Saturday From 12 noon to 1pm Beginning Sat 3rd March

Your mind. Your life. Your success. Executive Coaching in Exeter with free introductory sessions. Call 07717 172 691 or visit matthewrochford.co.uk

DRAMATHERAPY DRAMA

Revealing our inner selves

A DYNAMIC APPROACH TO HEALING & CHANGE

OW do you care for all living beings? For each of us the answer will be different. And for Kanada Elizabeth Gorla as lead facilitator and the force behind Embercombe’s leadership programmes – the beauty and simplicity of this question helps to reveal more about our inner selves. Ben, Kanada & April 2015 Embercombe’s programmes Catalysts at the Well are designed to empower people to see themselves challenges that we’re facing and as leaders and change-makers. As I’m there, I’m in’” a participant, you will embark on a journey of discovery that takes Amongst others, Kanada facilitates you deeper into this question. The Embercombe’s Catalyst programme aim is to find your true purpose, for 18 to 25 year olds. Catalyst your power and a kind of deep is five days of deep immersion resilience that will hold you strong into nature and transformational through all life’s challenges. leadership with a difference. Returning to simple principles, Kanada said: “The current integrity and the natural world you generation faces challenges like will gain a clearer understanding never before and it is harder than of yourself, your gifts and your ever for young adults to find their direction. place in the world. From the work that I do with young people, we Embercombe is offering Reconnect have found that they are hungry readers a 15% discount on its for elders, they want people leadership programmes using the to step forward and walk with promotion code: Reconnect56K them.” Kanada is such an elder. She stands alongside participants saying ‘together we will meet the

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l For more information visit: https://embercombe.org

SCENARIO ARTS LTD presents; Individual & group therapy in South Devon Special introductory rates

‘A sense that anything I want is possible, there is no pre determined path for me, I can take a risk. How fantastic!’ Louise 2004 ‘Allowed me to just be, expressive and creative, playful and imaginative. Gave me a new purpose and direction’ Sal 2011 ‘Life enhancing’ – Peter 2016

DRAMATHERAPY - closed weekly group Newton Abbot. April 5th - May 10th 7.30-9.30 £20 per 2 hr session An opportunity to deeply enter the creative healing process that dramatherapy can offer in a contained group. DRAMATHERAPY Taster Day – Newton Abbot June 16th 10 am -4 pm £45 (includes refreshments) A practical, fun & informative introduction to dramatherapy as a healing medium

Contact rachel.perry59@googlemail.com/01803 473079

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WELLBEING BACK/NECK | MIGRANE | SHOULDERS | SPORTS INJURIES

IN PAIN?!

TRIED EVERYTHING ELSE?

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Free initial consultation and £20 off 1st treatment with code: -LIVE01

Yoga with Natalie @ Chapel House Studios - Totnes

Yoga Classes Yin - Monday 6.30pm and Wednesday 10.45am Vinyasa - Thursday 6.30pm Drop In Price £8/Discount for class package.



07516 720 246 | natalie@loveyogatree.co.uk | www.loveyogatree.co.uk

Our nervous systems need rest WE ALL know Nikhila explains the old adage “If that a healthy at first you don’t nervous system succeed, try, try needs rest, and again!” It is very to deeply know familiar in our how to find rest. It culture to value is resting that our effort and striving society has trained over natural body us to forget, intelligence. But, in the name of if you have ever productivity and suffered from achievement. True stress, insomnia, relaxation is a burnout or ME/ state of being in Chronic Fatigue which there are Syndrome you feelings of ease, will be aware of or of going with the cost of this the flow, of being to our physical, Nikhila Ludlow carried by life. emotional and mental health. A Feldenkrais ‘Awareness Through Movement’ class or workshop, Nikhila Ludlow, practitioner of the teaches body awareness, it helps Feldenkrais Method®, suffered a improve mobility and movement skills breakdown in her early 20’s after and can re-set the nervous system striving for material and academic toward rest and relaxation. There success. She went travelling and are guided series of movements, discovered the work of Dr Moshe usually done lying on the floor, which Feldenkrais while at a meditation centre in India. This proved to be a encourage students to find ways to turning point in her life. move with less effort, enhancing their capacity to sense and feel more. “Through regular meditation and the two main tools of Feldenkrais “When sensitivity to a movement Awareness Through Movement and is increased, finer motor control Functional Integration - I learned is possible,” explains Nikhila, about the benefits of looking at life “and awareness of unnecessary through the intelligence of my body. muscular efforting, poor postural and I learned that, actually, less is more. movement habits grows - through the No pain is gain. Whilst there is, child-like process of exploring and undoubtedly, a place for effort and sensing and feeling. Slowly students striving - without a certain level of re-learn to move smoothly lightly and challenge the caterpillar would never easily again. Through movement become a butterfly - there is a world they learn to respond more effectively of difference between healthy effort, to the stresses and strains that life and chronic over-efforting. The latter brings – Less really is more. “ eventually leads to a loss of capacity For more information visit: www. to rest, which is commonplace in our lifeworks4.me.uk culture today.”

Why dance?

ANCE is a joyful and deeply connecting experience, says Movement Medicine teacher, Rosie Perks. She believes that dancing offers us a simple, physical way of being fully in ourselves and with another or others. “When we dance we open doors in ourselves we weren’t aware of, we access resources and support we didn’t know we had and we keep our emotions mobile and fluid,” she explained. “It’s hard to get stuck in a thought pattern or a feeling when the body is in motion. “Why is this a good thing? Because it gives us space to breathe and experience more of ourselves. It also enables us to make contact with others and be with what is outside of us without losing ourselves to it. “When we invite our innate ability, our trust and acceptance of who we are, our curiosity and lightness, and let all of this move, our experience of life becomes so much broader.” There is a thriving dance community in and around South Devon with many different types of dance

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and movement to suit different people. Totnes Dance Collective on Mondays, 7.30 to 9.45pm at Totnes Civic Hall is a drop-in session run by experienced dance teachers and facilitators, including Rosie who teaches Movement Medicine. For more information visit: totnesdancecollective.org. There are also closed groups, workshops and one to one sessions in Dartington. For information visit; dance-scapes. com.

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WELLBEING Exploring the world of somatics SOMETIMES one of the most helpful ways of understanding what a training course entails is to hear at first hand from a participant. Student, ANNABIE DALY, who is in the first year of an Experiential Anatomy course at The School of Experiential Learning, shares with Reconnect her journey into somatics…. In the first year of the Experiential Anatomy course we have been exploring the systems of the body through different modes of knowing. So far we have gone into cells, skin, bone and organs. My own journey with Somatics began back in the winter of 2012 after I was lucky enough to join one of Rosalyn Maynard’s Body-Mind Centering workshops while I was at Falmouth University. It was a pivotal point in my relationship with and understanding of my body and has taken many on a wonderful journey of discovery into new ways of knowing. During a reflection circle on one of the workshop days, I said that I wished to reclaim the joy of being in the body. I had never knowingly felt this but somehow I knew it was an inherent right and I wanted to claim it. I felt instantly that Somatics had a depth of wisdom in it and that it was going to be a doorway for me. The practices we have used have

become an intricate tapestry of support from which I have been able to draw out and examine creativity, trauma, new and more joyful ways of being, inspiration, grounding, kindness… We have used touch, sound, drawing, writing, movement, reflective practice and bearing witness. I have developed a more easeful, respect-filled, lovefilled relationship with myself and this incredibly complex, extraordinarily beautiful, intelligent body-mind and its interconnected place in the web of life. It hasn’t always been an easy journey, throwing up the challenges of the mind, of habit, of old hurts and fear buried deep in the flesh and bone and breath, resisting change but longing for it too. It continues to be a beautiful, fascinating and completely awe-inspiring process of discovery and undoing. l For more information about The School of Experiential Learning visit: https://www.tsoel.org.uk

Shaking ourselves better

AVE you ever sought and found that elusive missing piece? For Carmella B’Hahn, this process also helped her discover an elusive missing peace. Carmella is a Transition and Grief Guide. She has felt called to do this work since the shock drowning of her five-year old son, Benjaya, in the river at South Brent in 1992. Carmella describes what she does as supporting people to “break through rather than break down”, and has written a brace of books on the subject. Yet two years ago, after working in this field for 25 years, she discovered a technique that has transformed the way she manages grief, tension and trauma. Carmella explained: “I believe in holistic healing, including the mind, body, emotions, spirit and environment. Imprints of shock and trauma can affect the body, preventing us from being fully present and at peace. Until recently, I didn’t know how to release these imprints. “But, two years ago, I stumbled upon TRE, or Tension and Trauma

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Releasing Exercises. This is a simple series of exercises designed to induce our natural shaking/ tremor mechanism, which calms the nervous system and releases deep patterns of tension and trauma. Wild animals shake when stressed. However, as humans we tend to contract, trying to ‘hold ourselves together’. This prevents the healing cycle as our bodies naturally want to shake. Through TRE, we can complete old cycles now and learn to release stress as it happens.” Carmella now leads TREMOR TRIOS, 2-4pm on the first Saturday of the month at Bowden House, Totnes. Three people learn TRE together (£30 each) followed by tea and treats. Three or four guided sessions are recommended to feel confident using TRE as a lifelong stress release practice. Individual sessions are also offered. Booking essential: carmella@heartofrelating. com 01803 867005 www. heartofrelating.com For more information about TRE visit: www. trecollege.com

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GRIEF SUPPORT

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crystals CREATIVE counsellor. Heartful, Supportive Counselling. Creative Exercises including Art, Sandplay etc. Adults and Young People. Ruth Jenni Adv Dip Couns 07974097787 www.oakflower.co.uk Dartington, Newton Abbot and on Skype

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GRIEVING? STRESSED? Counselling and/ or body-based TRE (tension/ trauma release) @ Bowden House, Totnes with Carmella B’Hahn. 01803 867005 carmella@ heartofrelating.com www.heartofrelating. com

MOVEMENT MEDICINE

JANE Jones ICGT Grad. A variety of authentic Crystal & Earth Cycle Workshops. For more details see www. crystalearthwoman. co.uk 07791939208

FOR READERS... an at-a-glance guide to services and products - plus diary dates. FOR ADVERTISERS... an affordable way to get your message across. Boxes are £55 and £98 and the lineage ads cost just 90p a word, with a minimum of 20 words. THE DEADLINE... for the June/July issue is May 1. Call Scott on 01392 346342 or email adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk.

PSYCHOTHERAPY

DAVID OXLEY MA: Fully qualified Accredited BACP counsellor and psychotherapist. Psychosynthesis and Core Process. Working with Relationship, Depth, Integrity and Soul. Central Exeter, Totnes and Plymouth. www. davidoxleycounselling. co.uk, 07876051093.

MA-URI Massage & Hawaiian Lomi Lomi. Full body, deep tissue, stress release. Emotional healing, deep connectedness. Pregnancy. Arcturus Clinic, Totnes. Meileen 07342904741.

TREE CARE

CLEANSE, relax, balance mind/body connection. £30 full-hour, discounts for initial treatment or course of 3, £75, book 07522344291, nicolasuzanne@ hotmail.co.uk based Totnes Natural Health Centre

TOMMY Hutchinson BSc (Hons) Forestry, ND Arboriculture, NPTC Qualified. Sensitive, professional tree care. Free consultation. Call: 07837486388 Email: universaltreecare@ outlook.com and https:// universaltreecare. wordpress.com

YOU NEXT?

YOU could advertise here for just 90p a word - a minimum of 20 words. And you can have a free picture too, while space allows. Call Scott on 01392 346342 for more details.

WORKSHOPS & MEETINGS FRACK FREE TOTNES wild shakti days FOR WOMEN JAY Ramsay MA: Oxon, UKCP. 20+ years experience with individuals and couples, Psychosynthesistrained, now working in Totnes: www. jayramsay.co.uk 07752-719331

Meetings are held at the Seven Stars The Plains Totnes at 7pm on last Sunday of the month.

fooling workshops

Introductions to Fool Expression Workshops on the 28-29 of April and 9-10 of June. Hittisleigh £100 (£90 conc.) Contact Christie Animas 07980371335 or christiede@hotmail.com.

”How would your life look like if you would resource yourself from your wild nature? Come and enliven yourself with other women for a Shakti dance and some wild times in the woods.” The next takes place on April 14 and June 17 from 9.30am to 6pm priced at £45 per day (£40 conc.) Contact christiede@hotmail.com or tel 07980371335.

Katheryn Trenshaw Passionate Presence Centre for Creative Expression

massage HOLISTIC counsellor specialising in trauma/abuse, and for those feelings/ emotions difficult to put into words working with art, sand and outside amongst nature. Annie, www. natureswaycounselling. co.uk, 07760 439760.

REFLEXOLOGY

MOVEMENT MEDICINE open classes with Ailsa Lucas. Dance for awareness, healing, freedom, power, resources and transformation. Monthly Saturday mornings. Dartington / Plymouth. movementmedicine association.org, ailsa. clare.lucas@gmail. com, 07999 486059.

phone: +44 (0) 1803 863552 skype: katheryntrenshaw email: post@ktrenshaw.com

Re-Membering l Re-Invention l Re-Vision Two-hour, one-to-one sessions for professional, personal and artistic development - by phone or Skype

Advertising: 01392 346342 adverts@reconnectonline.co.uk

Feel welcome to sign up for our free newsletter at

www.passionatepresence.org www.reconnectonline.co.uk

T HE N AUTILUS R OOMS

COURSES AND WORKSHOPS Mindfulness, Sandplay and Art Tuesday Evening group of

Ruth Baker Email: ruthbaker1@gmail.com

Introduction to Therapeutic Art facilitated by Ruth Baker Association of Integrative Sandplay Therapists accredited course.

Ruth Baker Email: ruthbaker1@gmail.com

Introduction to Sandplay Therapy facilitated by Ruth Baker Association of Integrative Sandplay Therapists accredited course.

Ruth Baker Email: ruthbaker1@gmail.com

Mindfulness and Creativity A day of mindfulness and creativity for all.

Ruth Baker Email: ruthbaker1@gmail.com

Introduction to Sandplay Therapy facilitated by Ruth Baker Association of Integrative Sandplay Therapists accredited course.

Fabulously located in the centre of Totnes, yet tucked away in a quiet alley, with easy access to short and long-term parking. Check out our amazing list of highly qualified therapists and interesting events. Leafl ets are available at the end of the alley way opposite The Mansion and next to Lloyds bank. If you are looking for a wonderful venue for a group, meeting or CPD event, do come and check out our lovely group room.

NEW GROUPS COMING UP

OW Warrior for N Becoming a for dates in May and June

enquire ➤2 day course rmerly Gerlach) Tarrab-Snooks (fo e nn Ly : er ad Le ➤ essionary places 0 per day) 2 conc ➤Cost: £120 (£6 Shambala Informed by the Trungpa. work of Chogyam finding and to An introduction essential developing your e. tur Warrior Na me together Our group will co meditation, rk, using breath wo making and movement, mark- ct us to our ne inquiry to recon In these . deeper capacities to meet gin be l ways we wil with heartful our experiences d strength. an us foc e, nc resilie

9p Wednesday night for two consecutim, either a Tuesday or a ve weeks • Cost: £20 (co ncessions availab le) per session This course is aim ed at parents an young people. d those working with The course will co ver: • U nderstandin g the what it means for neuroscience of the adolescen t brain and parents, workers and friends • The delights, chall alongside adolesc enges and potential in living/be ing ents

y event has This introductor come an be the potential to group. ongoing evening

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW: creativity, judgmen t and empathy

A small group offering people working with mentoring/ supervision for those (formerly Gerlach) children led by Lynne Tarrab-Snooks 3 x once a month ses inspire and review sions for a small group to support, children. These first the effectiveness of your work with first served. With the 3 sessions will be open, first come, potential for an ongoin g closed group. Cost £40 per sessio n (concessions ava ilable) Dates to be confirm Monday or Wednesdaed in May, June and July; on a y evening 7.30-9.30 pm Lynne Tarrab-Snook originator of the s (formerly Gerlach) is the coeducation consultan Thrive Approach and experienced and supervisor and t, Integrative Psychotherapist(retired) the Institute for Artsformer Course Leader of trainings at Lynne is a long-stan in Therapy and Education, London. Diamond Approach, ding member of the Ridhwan School, Grover’s Swedish retrand an assisting Teacher to Susannah eat “The Ineffable Stre am”. Contact Lyn ne : lynne.tarrab.sn

•

SWAP YOUR KIDS: living loving ly with adole Two evening sessi scents ons: 7.30 to

ooks2016@gmail.

com

Ruth Baker Email: ruthbaker1@gmail.com

Certificate in Integrative Sandplay Therapy facilitated by John Daly Association of Integrative Sandplay Therapists accredited course.

Ruth Baker Email: ruthbaker1@gmail.com

Certificate in Therapeutic Art facilitated by John Daly Association of Integrative Sandplay Therapists accredited course.

Ruth Baker Email: ruthbaker1@gmail.com

Becoming a Warrior for NOW 2-day course informed by the Shambala work of Chogyam Trungpa. An introduction to finding and developing your essential Warrior Nature. Using breath work, meditation, movement, mark-making and inquiry to reconnect us to our deeper capacities. In these ways we will begin to meet our experiences with heartful resilience, focus and strength.

Email: lynne.tarrab.snooks2016@gmail.com

Swap your Kids: living lovingly with adolescents Two evening sessions. To understand the neuroscience of the adolescent brain and what it means for parents, workers and friends. Exploring the delights, challenges and potential in living/being alongside adolescents

aining y Groups and Tr therapist ho yc Ps d Creative Therap llor an egrative Counse c Art and

uti ker, Int Lead by Ruth Ba Trainer in Sandplay, Theraped teacher. and Supervisor. s. Mindfulness practitioner an tion for Creative Therapie ed by the Associa sionals accredit Courses for Profes ts pis era play Th Integrative Sand ndplay Therapy to Integrative Sa peutic Art • Introduction Thera ive rat eg Int to n • Introductio Sandplay Therapy • Certiﬁcate in erapeutic Art Th in te • Certiﬁca ndplay Therapy • Diploma in Sa peutic Art era Th in a Sandplay • Diplom explored through and Art • The Enneagram Process Explored through Sand l • The Alchemica plored through Sand and Art Ex • The Goddess : Courses for all ration in the sand • A days explo and Symbols s ration using Art g our inner selve • A days explo ing group explorin en ev ing go on . ss ne • Monthly ful nd mi and through sand, art mail.com : ruthbaker1@g Contact: Email454 34 Tel: 077363

Email: lynne.tarrab.snooks2016@gmail.com

What the world needs now: creativity, judgment and empathy A monthly group offering mentoring/ supervision for those people working with children and young people. To support, inspire and review the effectiveness of your work with children.

Email: lynne.tarrab.snooks2016@gmail.com

The Work of Byron Katie with Sylvia Karathanos a supportive and small group to learn and practice the work of Byron Katie (Fortnightly on Sunday evenings 7-9.30pm)

Call: 01803 868379 email: skarathanos@phonecoop.coop Find out more at www.thework.com.

Women’s Circle A safe and sacred space for women to come together, use their voices, be heard and be seen. We will connect to the feminine through storytelling, yin yoga, discussion of the feminine, guided meditation and dance.

Contact: katy-potts@outlook.com

The Nautilus Rooms • 35a Fore Street • Totnes • TQ9 5HN www.nautilusrooms.uk • info@nautilusrooms.uk Call Ruth on 07736 334454 or Peter on 07826 414404

Anna Karthauser - massage therapist Offers individual and group tuition on request. To find out more contact Anna.

Call: 07912612462, email: anna@karthauser.org or visit www.annakarthausermassage.co.uk