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OCTOBER 2018 £4.40

DECORATING CRAFTS HOUSES GARDENS FOOD TRAVEL HEALTH

Ideas for

AUTUMN

Craft projects with seasonal finds Simple ways to update your kitchen Sweet recipes for orchard fruits ON THE MEND THE FARM THAT HEALS CHILDREN

Inspiring Interiors countryliving.com/uk

9 770951 028286

A very modern manor and a designer’s Kentish farmhouse

RAISE A GLASS A SPARKLING BRITISH WINE BUSINESS

SAVE ON TICKETS TO OUR CHRISTMAS FAIRS

October 2018 issue 394

110

Contents

Houses & gardens 11 40 58 64 110 118 124

EMPORIUM New ways to introduce elements of country style to your home INSPIRED BY AUTUMN Capture the beauty of a woodland’s turning leaves by using the rich, earthy tones of red, amber and burnt orange IN FULL BLOOM Expert advice on creating your own seasonal loral arrangement SIMPLE KITCHEN UPDATES Bring new life to the busiest room in the house by adding fresh character and sorting out your storage BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY A 16th-century Kentish farmhouse is the perfect showcase for the colourful style of its interior designer owner HIGH ON THE HILL Deep in the Wye Valley, a naturalistic country garden beautifully blurs its boundaries into the surrounding landscape HEART OF OAK Beautiful cratsmanship and a distinctive palette bring style and substance to a contemporary manor house in Herefordshire

countryliving.com/uk

132 141

A BURST OF COLOUR As autumn sets in, Tom Stuart-Smith’s experimental garden provides an eye-catching pyrotechnic display GARDEN NOTES Everything you need to know to get the most from your plot

Features 31 37

56 74

THE GOOD LIFE Practical ideas and advice for would-be smallholders FROM THE BLACKSMITH’S COTTAGE Growing up in an English village might be idyllic but it’s an experience full of unusual characters and unexpected events, as our new columnist Octavia Lillywhite well knows AN ARTIST’S NATURE JOURNAL Kelly Hall illustrates the lora and fauna she sees near her home every month A GOOD VINTAGE On the chalk slopes of the North Downs, Mike and Hilary Wagstaf produce award-winning sparkling wine

158 ON THE COVER Ideas for autumn pages 40, 64 and 158 On the mend page 90 Inspiring interiors pages 110 and 124 Raise a glass page 74 Save on tickets page 89

OCTOBER 2018

Contents 98

(as seen, right)

132 October 2018 issue 394 82 90

FORGOTTEN CRAFTS In our continuing series, we discover traditional skills that are at risk of disappearing. This month: the swiller NATURE & NURTURE In the picturesque surroundings of Jamie Feilden’s Wiltshire farm, disadvantaged youngsters grow in conidence while caring for animals and acquiring rural skills EXPLORE… THE WYE VALLEY Home to cider orchards, beautiful woodland and a rich history, this AONB is perfect for an autumn escape

Food & drink 144 158

BRITISH IN PARTICULAR We look at the delicious ingredients farmed, ished, made and grown in the UK. This month: venison FROM TREE TO TABLE Inspired by the productivity of British orchards, cookery writer Stuart Ovenden has created a range of recipes

OCTOBER 2018

Health & beauty 167 169

HEALTH NOTES Our regular round-up from the world of health and beauty FIND YOUR BALANCE Discover natural ways to keep your hormones in check

News & views 21 175 176 194

A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY What to do, where to go and simple pleasures in October NEXT MONTH IN COUNTRY LIVING WHERE TO BUY Stockist details LOVE OF THE LAND Roger Phillips

Reader ofers & events 89 156

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There’s plenty of colour in this issue, which is perfectly right and itting for October. Our interiors story Inspired by Autumn (page 40) takes the russets, reds and yellows of the landscape and brings them indoors in decorating schemes and craft projects, while designer Tom Stuart-Smith’s garden (page 132) and that of Poole Cottage in the Wye Valley (page 118) are fabulous examples of how stunning late-summer planting can be. Aside from bringing pleasure, gardens, it has long been recognised, can help heal those sufering from trauma or with mental health issues. So, too, can farming – Michael and Clare Morpurgo’s charity, Farms for City Children, has been proving this for years. On page 90, we feature Jamie Feilden’s Wiltshire farm, where disadvantaged young people gain support and grow in conidence while caring for animals and acquiring rural skills. I hope it inspires you.

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NEXT ISSUE ON SALE 3 OCTOBER

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OCTOBER 2018

emporium Use simple patterns, rich colours and natural textures for a contemporary and rustic interior COMPILED BY SIAN WILLIAMS Woollen textures in rich berry tones instantly add warmth at this time of year. Lambswool scarf, £29.99, London Transport Museum Shop. Fingerless gloves, similar, Etsy. Basket, flea market find

The Vintage Star design on this throw, £149, by Melin Tregwynt, is an archive pattern revived from the 1950s

Paper sculptor Kate Kato recreates nature using recycled materials. Fungi sculpture in jar, from £310, Kasasagi

Tan leather clogs handcrafted in Sweden, £119, Kitty Clogs

Inspired by the struts on Japanese drums, this solid cherry wood chair is designed by renowned craftsman Koji Katsuragi, £530, Sitting Firm

This rattan ‘Strolley’, £79, Olli Ella, switches from a pram to a trolley. Also available in white

Containing a blade saw, pruning knife and gardening knife, this kit has all you need for tidying and propagating this autumn, £46, Isabel Haines

OCTOBER 2018

EMPORIUM

Handmade in the UK from sustainably sourced American black walnut, this bench features industrial-style hairpin legs, from £590, by Cord Industries at Not On The High Street

Handmade cotton pinafore dress featuring a pretty country scene, from £22, Busy Little Things

Illustrated by Edward Bawden, The Gardener’s Diary was first published in 1937, £10, V&A Shop Stylish short wellies printed with a heritage floral design, £44.95, Joules

An earthy palette of warm browns, greens and deep yellows reflects the rich change in nature. Wool check fabric, similar, Sanderson at Style Library. Mug, similar, Sue Binns. Jug, flea market find

Made in Scotland, this handpainted baking dish can be used in the oven, microwave, dishwasher and freezer, £78, Anta

OCTOBER 2018

A classic velvet deep-buttoned chair with stained oak legs, from £885, The Loving Chair Company

PRICES AND AVAILABILITY CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENT DARBY AND CATHERINE GRATWICKE. STYLING BY CAROLINE REEVES

Layla Robinson’s wild wreaths combine garden flowers and wild foliage from hedgerows, made to order, £145

This compact DAB radio combines vintage style with modern functionality, £69.99, VQ

CHRISTMAS FAIRS LONDON

HARROGATE

GLASGOW

Head to our festive fairs across the UK, where you will ind a beautiful selection of crated gits made by independent artists and artisans Wheat-free baked dental dog treats, with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, £2.95 for 250g, made by Laughing Dog on its Lincolnshire farm (London, stand GH19; laughingdogfood.com)

Sophie Allport’s Garden Birds print features on a selection of homeware, from ceramics to lampshades, from £40 (London, stand MF27; Harrogate, stand C82; Glasgow, stand J11; sophieallport.com)

British spun-lambswool fingerless mitts by Miss Knit Nat, £40 (London, stand MB58; missknitnat.com)

A perfect gift – this tin contains English Breakfast tea bags, a pot of jam, sugar hearts and a printed tea towel, £23, The English Cream Tea Company (London, stand VG6; englishcream tea.com)

Classic ride-on car in silver, £95, Kiki and Bow (London, stand VG8; kikiandbow.co.uk)

OCTOBER 2018

Cath Ball of Stitched Ceramics uses lace to imprint detail onto her porcelain pieces. This 15.5cm diameter plate is £40 (Glasgow, stand G5a; stitchedceramics.co.uk)

Solid cast-silver acorn earrings, handmade by Min Fletcher-Jones, £50 (London, stand MF30; Harrogate, stand M7; minfletcherjones.co.uk)

Digitally printed cotton tea towel, £10, Harris and Hall (Harrogate, stand C16; harrisandhall.com)

countryliving.com/uk

LONDON

HARROGATE

GLASGOW The decoration on this handmade linen purse (19cm x 13cm) is inspired by vintage handwritten letters, £22, Rosie’s Armoire (Harrogate, stand M5; rosiesarmoire.co.uk)

Fox embroidered wall art in Harris tweed, handmade in Scotland (11cm x 15cm), £24, The Canny Squirrel (Glasgow, stand SB10; thecannysquirrel.co.uk)

Handcrafted antiquepewter and teak pen, £36, Wood Wonders (London, stand MB44; woodwonders.co)

Leonie Worrell makes bow ties in wools and pretty Liberty prints – ideal for weddings and smart casual wear, £55 (London, stand MF35; leonieworrell.co.uk)

Merino wool and cotton tank top, available in three sizes ranging from 12 months to five years, from £38, Jump Junior (London, stand MB82; jumpjunior.co.uk) Customise this digitally printed vintage map clock with a favourite location, from £60, Atlas & I (Harrogate, stand M36; atlas-and-i.com)

A3 craft beer risograph print by Ellie Hodesdon, £18 unframed, East End Press (Glasgow, stand SB9; eastendpress. com)

OCTOBER 2018

Milking stool made from old Scottish whisky barrels, £144, Darach (Glasgow, stand C27; darachgifts.co.uk)

Ladies wool tweed field jacket with suede detailing, £259, Welligogs (Glasgow, stand F13; Harrogate, stand M65; welligogs.com)

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CHRISTMAS FAIRS LONDON

HARROGATE

GLASGOW

Handmade earthenware from Japan – cup and saucer, £46, Sansho (London, stand MB45; sansho.com) Linen cushion featuring a print of an original watercolour of Iona Abbey, £45, Diloll (Glasgow, stand H9; diloll.co.uk)

Blue striped tea towel in organic linen, £9.99, True Linen (London, stand MB49a; truelinen.co.uk)

Interesting prints taken from original appliquéd country scenes, from £10-£30, Rustique Interiors (Glasgow, stand C7; Harrogate, stand M37; rustique.scot)

Rattan chair with shower-resistant seat, £270, from Limes & Vines (London, stand MB31; limesandvines.co.uk)

Adult knee-length floral cottonmix socks, £6.95, Forever England (Glasgow, stand D1; Harrogate, stand M59; London, stand MF47; foreverengland. com)

Set of three enamel pots, useful for storage in a kitchen or bathroom, £14.95, Rex London (London, stand GB1; rexlondon.com)

BDC LONDON, 7-11 NOVEMBER SEC GLASGOW, 15-18 NOVEMBER HCC HARROGATE, 29 NOVEMBER - 2 DECEMBER For more information and to book tickets, visit countrylivingfair.com. To book a room at the Country Living St George Hotel in Harrogate, visit countrylivinghotels.com

OCTOBER 2018

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COMPILED BY SIAN WILLIAMS. PRICES, STAND NUMBERS AND AVAILABILITY CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. PRICES QUOTED MAY INCLUDE OFFERS AVAILABLE AT THE FAIRS ONLY; ONLINE PRICES MAY DIFFER

Cashmere reversible cardigan with balloon sleeves, £159, Cashmere & Cotton (Harrogate, stand M52; London, stand MB86; cashmereandcotton.co.uk)

COMPILED BY LAURAN ELSDEN AND SARAH BARRATT

Help hibernating hedgehogs Whether we wear it, felt it, knit or crochet it, wool has been important to mankind since the Stone Age, and there’s no fibre to rival it. Unlike the synthetic materials our clothes are increasingly made from today (the production of which is often detrimental to the environment), wool is entirely natural, comes from a renewable source and is biodegradable – releasing nutrients into the ground as it decomposes. This month, the Campaign for Wool, supported by HRH The Prince of Wales, celebrates its ninth annual Wool Week (8-21 October). With events taking place nationwide, its aim is to encourage us to make the most of this natural wonder. Find out more at campaignforwool.org. countryliving.com/uk

AS THE FIRST FROST LINGERS AND THE WIND WHISTLES through the turning leaves, be mindful of the hedgehog (Erinaceinae), which this month will be hunkering down for hibernation. Having fattened up on caterpillars, beetles and earthworms, these spiny mammals will enter a state of inertia during which their body temperature lowers to such an extent they are no longer considered warm-blooded. Rather than sleeping until spring, they awaken sporadically in search of sustenance, so will appreciate crushed dog or cat biscuits, but never milk (which can upset their stomachs). You can also provide them with a spot to bed down by leaving piles of logs or leaves in your garden or allowing an area to grow wild. Alternatively, buy a purpose-built hedgehog home. Find out more at rspca.org.uk.

While most other crops are brought in by farmers during August and/or September, corn on the cob is one of the last to be harvested. Having grown ‘thigh high by the first of July’, as the old adage says, the plants will be at least six feet tall by the time they are gathered in October.

QUIRKY COUNTRYSIDE Siddington Corn Dollies Every October, under the timbered arches of All Saints Church in Siddington, Cheshire, hundreds of corn dollies are hung up to mark Harvest Festival. Made by octogenarian resident Raymond Rush, the display continues a tradition held for thousands of years, with the igures evoking the ‘spirit of the corn’ and the hope of a fertile new crop. OCTOBER 2018

A simple make...

WOODLAND ANIMAL FELT MASKS These characterful designs are perfect accessories for imaginative children MAKE & STYLING BY ALAINA BINKS PHOTOGRAPH BY RACHEL WHITING

1 Choose an animal –those

A WALK TO TAKE

PASS OF KILLIECRANKIE, NR PITLOCHRY, PERTHSHIRE Famed for the Jacobite battle that took place here in 1689, this vast wooded gorge is also celebrated for its captivating views – and in autumn, the forest is ablaze with rust-coloured foliage. Begin this three-mile route at the Visitor Centre and take the wooden walkway towards the Pass of Killiecrankie. A bridge and some steps take you to a vantage point, ofering a view of the gorge. Continue down to Soldier’s Leap – the spot where one Redcoat, fleeing from the battlefield, made the five-metre jump over the fast-flowing water – then cross a bridge to reach Trooper’s Den. As you walk along the River Garry, you’ll pass a charcoal kiln, where you can learn all about this ancient skill. You can then extend your amble over the green footbridge or retrace your steps back to the Visitor Centre. Find out more at nts.org.uk.

OCTOBER 2018

4 5

with distinctive features and markings work best. Cut a piece of card or paper into a rectangle to the rough size, marking where the eye holes will go. The mask should cover the top part of a child’s head including the nose, but leaving the mouth and lower face exposed. Fold in half and draw half the design on the card so it will make a symmetrical image once opened. It can be a rough outline – consider the ear shape and whether there are whiskers or a nose/beak. Cut around the edge of the mask, then open lat. Working with the original markings for the eye holes,

transfer or draw out the design onto the other side, accentuating the features and deciding on the colours. Start with the back piece, which will give structure, then think of the top layers. 6 Draw around the template and cut out each layer from the felt, starting with the whole back piece irst. Cut the card template down as

you go (or make more than one) to help you draw and cut out each section to the right size from the felt. 7 Secure the layers in place using fabric glue or a sewing machine. If the ears are long and need to be upright, you may need to use thicker felt or double up this irst layer. 8 Sew ribbon or elastic to the sides so it is ready to wear.

An ingredient to enjoy GUINEA FOWL Designer, cook and author Sophie Conran shares her favourite seasonal flavour The guinea fowl is an absurd bird – seemingly in a permanent state of panic, with a walk worthy of a Monty Python character. From afar they’re beautiful, with grey plumage covered in white spots, but look a little closer and you’ll find the face of a pantomime dame with a high-pitched voice to match. I love them dearly, though. They’re delicious to eat and can be roasted, spatchcocked or fried. They’re especially flavoursome in a slow-cooked, one-pot dish with herbs, wine, stock and seasonal vegetables, making a comforting, nourishing dish full of autumnal flavour. For more information, visit sophieconran.com.

countryliving.com/uk

A BOOK TO READ

The Man Who Climbs Trees (Ebury Publishing, £9.99) As a professional climber, cameraman and adventurer, James Aldred has scaled some of the world’s tallest trees – afording him a unique perspective on the world around him. He recalls breathtaking locations, majestic scenery and life above the forest canopy.

The Glorious Life of the Oak (Transworld, £8.99) With roots stretching back thousands of years, the oak is a bastion of our natural world, and has helped to shape society. Our Viking ancestors came here in oak longships, and the ‘wooden walls’ of Nelson’s navy were made from the hardy timber. This book explores how the iconic tree played its part in forming the nation.

OCTOBER 2018

STAY IN… A COSY CABIN

For woodlands

For sea views

For quiet times

Wishbone, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire Between an ancient orchard and a ishing lake in the midst of the Malvern Hills, Wishbone (top) epitomises rural charm. Spend the day exploring 16 acres of this AONB – where old oak trees lourish – before heading back for a supper cooked on the campire. Sleeps two. Four nights from £775 (uniquehomestays.com).

Rockwater Cabin, Whitsand Bay, Cornwall Perched on a clif overlooking the sprawling sands of Whitsand Bay, Rockwater Cabin ofers uninterrupted views of the sea. Spend time unwinding on the decking, where you might just catch sight of a kestrel or peregrine falcon performing an aerobatic display. Sleeps three. Seven nights from £631 (classic.co.uk).

The Big House, Harris, Outer Hebrides The Sound of Harris is the perfect place to escape, where you’re more likely to hear the waves lapping on the shore than passing traic. Sample some of the local culinary delights, which include scallops, langoustine, brown crab and mackerel. Sleeps two. Three nights from £840 (soundoharris.co.uk).

NEWS YOU CAN USE NATIONAL POETRY DAY From Shakespeare’s sonnets to the epigrams of Oscar Wilde, poetry, in its many forms, has beguiled mankind since ancient times. Pre-dating written text, the earliest compositions were passed down the generations verbally. National Poetry Day, which takes place on Thursday 4 October, celebrates this rich legacy through events across the UK. Taking place in schools and libraries, bookshops and even buses, they involve the reading, writing and performance of poetry, all focusing on this year’s theme of ‘change’. For more information, visit nationalpoetryday.co.uk or search for #nationalpoetryday on social media. countryliving.com/uk

Our property of the month

TOURISTS FLOCK TO NORTH DEVON FOR ITS RUGGED COASTLINE, brooding moorlands and historic ishing villages,

but here’s your chance to call it home. In Little Torrington, a Saxon CHURCH FORD, dating back to Edward the Confessor, Church Ford is a LITTLE TORRINGTON, settlement six-bedroom, Grade II-listed property full of charm. Comprising a 17th-century thatched cottage and extension dating back to the 1800s, NORTH DEVON the house is perfect for a large family or those looking to start a bed £575,000 and breakfast. Walk up the driveway, with glorious gardens to your right and views over Exmoor to your let, and you’ll catch a glimpse of the clematis-framed front door. Beamed ceilings, an inglenook ireplace and range cooker make for a characterful interior, while the grounds include an orchard, copse, greenhouse and vegetable patch.

For details of more rural houses for sale, visit countryliving.com/uk. Enjoy the latest home and property features, plus much more, in the CL free weekly newsletter. To sign up, go to www.countryliving.com/uk/newsletter.

OCTOBER 2018

countryliving.com/uk

INFORMATION CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY; LIGHTHOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY PJP; MARK SCOTT; MARK WATTS; PHILIP WEBB. ILLUSTRATIONS BY JOANNA KERR. HAND-LETTERING BY RUTHROWLAND.CO.UK

F I N D YO U R D R E A M C O U N T RY H O M E

Inspiration and advice for aspiring smallholders

How to...GET CROPS FOR FREE The cost of stocking a vegetable patch with new plants can soon mount up, but it’s surprisingly easy to get them for free just by saving seeds from this year’s crop or by propagating cuttings. You don’t even need to have the plants in the irst place – you can get them from a friend or neighbour’s garden (with permission, of course!). Cross-pollination means saved seeds can difer from the parent plant, but they may be better adapted to the microclimate of your garden – plus it’s exciting to see which variations may have occurred.

STRAWBERRIES Instead of conscientiously pinching of the ofshoots, known as runners, that strawberry plants send out, allow a few of them to take root. Gardening books oten talk about pinning them down in pots of compost, but there’s no need. Leave them countryliving.com/uk

attached to the mother plant and then, come early spring, dig them out to plant elsewhere or give away.

FRUIT BUSHES Raspberries like nothing better than popping up new shoots all over a plot so, chances are, if you know someone with raspberry bushes or canes, they will be more than happy to dig out the ofending plant and hand it over. Gooseberries are more restrained, Stock your flower but you’ll oten ind that any low branches start to border with free take root in the soil – leave them to do this and you’ll plants, too. Collect have a new plant in early spring. When it comes to seeds from dried pruning blackcurrants and redcurrants, instead of sunflowers, composting the cuttings, simply make a narrow trench foxgloves, in the soil in a sheltered spot and lightly cover the poppies and stems (cut end down). You’ll be amazed how many aquilegia. have taken root when the growing season begins. OCTOBER 2018

RUNNER BEANS AND PEAS The peas and beans that have become too fat and woody to eat are perfect for transforming into next year’s plants. Let them ripen and dry on the plant, then remove from the pod; discard any that look blemished, too small or mouldy, and store in an airtight container.

SALAD LEAVES Let the last of your summer crop lower

TOMATOES If you opt for heirloom varieties, you’re more likely to get seeds the same as the parent plant. Choose healthy, ripe fruits, slice in half around the middle and pick out the bigest, fattest seeds. Space them out on a cofee ilter and dry in the airing cupboard for two weeks – do the same for chillies. Cut up the ilters to make seed discs ready for planting. Store in an envelope in a cool place.

BREED OF THE MONTH Campbell duck

If you want help in the ight against slugs and snails in the garden, then the Campbell duck is for you. These lively creatures – in khaki (above), dark and white – are expert foragers and not so heavy-footed that they’ll trample your plants. They are also top eg layers, producing between 250-300 a year (which make the most delicious cakes). The original Campbell ducks were bred in the early part of the 20th century by crossing a Rouen with a white Indian Runner, and a bit of wild duck thrown in, too.

OCTOBER 2018

Go on a course: WILLOW SCULPTURE DOWN A COUNTRY LANE IN LEAFY SURREY, surrounded by woodland, is a large, unkempt garden throughout which you’ll ind some incredible willow sculptures. They’re the work of artist and sculptor Sara Holmes. Having always admired a willow igure belonging to a friend of mine, I jumped at the chance to join Sara to learn how to make my own. She asks beforehand for your choice of design, preferably with an illustration so she can see if it’s achievable, but also so she can make the armature, or metal frame. Mine was waiting for me when I arrived, and, once Sara had handed out willow ‘withies’ to everyone, she showed us how to get started. When we were confident about what to do, we carried on, with Sara moving around the group providing help. I found the rhythmic movement of weaving the sotened willow over the frame surprisingly relaxing and a delicious vegetarian lunch provided the perfect break. It was amazing watching the raw materials being transformed, and now my willow lady stands pride of place in my garden. One-day willow sculpture workshop, £145; online course around £125 (willowtwisters.com).

OTHERS TO TRY… FOR ANIMAL SCULPTURES Dragon Willow, Kirby Wharf, North Yorkshire; £60. Focusing on traditional crafts, Dragon Willow ofers a variety of animal sculpture classes as well as other forms of willow weaving (dragonwillow.co.uk). FOR BASKETRY English Willow Basketworks, Stoke St Gregory, Somerset; £70. Based in a rural village in the middle of the Somerset Levels, this workshop teaches you the basic techniques you need to create a simple round basket (englishwillowbaskets.co.uk). FOR HEARTS Zantium Studios, Wirksworth, Derbyshire; £95. Weave organic structures such as hearts, fish and spheres with artist Emma Parkins (zantium.co.uk).

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WORDS BY KATE LANGRISH AND ALISON DAVIDSON. PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY; GAP GARDENS; GETTY IMAGES.

and run to seed. Snip of the seedheads and hang upside down in a paper bag, so the seeds can drop out. Label the bag. Keep in a cool, dry place and, in a month or so, separate them out and store in a labelled envelope.

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FROM THE B L AC KS M I T H’S C O T TAG E

THIS MONTH

MOVING ON

Growing up in an English village might sound idyllic but it’s an experience full of unusual characters and unexpected events, as our new columnist OCTAVIA LILLYWHITE well knows

ILLUSTRATION BY CLARE MELINSKY

o the time has inally arrived. Ater 40 (predominantly) happy years, my parents have decided to move out of the glorious, idiosyncratic country cottage that was my childhood home. It’s been the site of births, marriages and deaths but their advancing years mean that this ex-blacksmith’s abode, with its steep stairs and low doors, is no longer a viable option for them. On the plus side, the thatch needs replacing before they go. My parents were hoping the current one would see them out, but it’s 20 years old and its age is showing. They might be annoyed but I’m thrilled. A re-thatch is a thing of beauty: new straw that glows yellow in the sunshine, making the cottage look like a child’s cottage. I also have an ainity with thatchers, having been brought into the world by one… I was born in the spring on the dining room carpet, two thatches ago. The house had a carpet by then, and a loor – but only just. Two weeks earlier, the nice young vicar had come to introduce himself to the village newbies. He did a sterling job of looking as though all his parishioners

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had mud loors. But maybe they did back then. My birth was unexpected, of course. I mean, expected in the usual nine months sort of way – just rather sudden at the end. When her contractions started, my ma lay down and called her mother in from the garden. Granny, a tower of strength when it came to having tea ready or ridding roses of black spot, proved to be absolutely hopeless in a medical emergency and went to pieces. The only other person in the vicinity was Mr Whicher, laying new thatch on the roof. If he was shocked at the situation he found himself in, he did a good job of covering it up and luckily turned out to be a dab hand at home births, having delivered two children of his own. He was unblushing at my mother’s parturition language and just sent Granny for a bowl of warm water and clean towels. Clean towels she was good at. By the time the paramedics – and my father – arrived (separately), the event was all over and the two of us were packed into the ambulance. A festive air was lent to the occasion by the local Brownie pack, who were lined up outside the village hall next door, and cheered and waved as we were driven of. Granny wasn’t going to let a small thing like placenta force the end of a newly laid carpet, so, as soon as everyone let, she set about cleaning it. She did a pretty good job and it’s only when the sun hits it in a certain way that you can see the remains of a mark. It took most of the Thatcher years (Magie’s, not Mr Whicher’s) for my parents to renovate this crumbling cottage in a backwater village into their dream home. My father had found it by getting lost of the Basingstoke road. It was in a dilapidated state. As well as missing loors, there was no indoor loo – I’m not entirely sure there was an outdoor one either. The thatch was drooping under its weight of moss. But he saw only the rose briars. He’s from Glasgow. Across the road is the church my brother and I were christened in and where I sang in the Christingle service. Five years ago, I walked down our path in my wedding dress to get married there. Granny is buried in the churchyard now, two rows down from my sister. I remember looking round at both services to see much the same quiet congregation of villagers. It’s going to be hard to leave this house, with the mark on the carpet where I took my irst breath, but perhaps it’s the right time for new chapters. Anyway, I suspect that packing up four decades’ worth of family life won’t be straightforward. It’s going to be an interesting year. See next month’s issue of Country Living for more village tales from the blacksmith’s cottage. OCTOBER 2018

Inspired by

autumn Capture the beauty of a woodlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s turning leaves by using the rich, earthy tones of red, amber and burnt orange

WORDS AND STYLING BY ALAINA BINKS ASSISTED BY AND MAKES BY BEN KENDRICK AND LYNSEY FOX PHOTOGRAPHS BY NATO WELTON

OCTOBER 2018

D E C O R AT I N G

RICH PICKINGS Opposite A russet wall colour used to dado-height, with a pale neutral above, updates a classic idea. It still has enough intensity to add warmth and depth to a room, which is enhanced when countryliving.com/uk

paired with comforting tones of brown and red and a mix of textures, from a jute rug and weathered wood table to appliquĂŠd cushions, which relect materials or patterns from the natural world.

I N T O T H E WO O D S Above Bring the outdoors in with this beautiful wide-width beech wallpaper. The gentle colourings and scale of the print means it works well in small areas, while the vertical

nature of the trees will extend the height of a room. Keep woodwork in neutral tones so as not to distract from the paper. For merchandise details, see page 50 OCTOBER 2018

D E C O R AT I N G

Distinctive artwork in deep tones continues the woodland-inspired theme K E E P WA R M Above Here, an expanse of white metro wall tiles set behind a woodburning stove ofsets the deep blue wall colour and dark wood looring to modern efect. Used in a patchwork coniguration, decorative tiles featuring traditional designs by William De Morgan add an Arts and Crats inluence. Distinctive artwork in rich tones continues the woodland-inspired theme.

B E R RY B R I G H T S Above right An inexpensive alternative to tiles, the solid block of colour painted on this tongue-and-groove panelling makes an efective and contemporary splashback. This is a great way to introduce colour on a small scale and,

OCTOBER 2018

as it is used sparingly, it allows you to be bolder with your choice of shade. Opt for a hardwearing and moistureresistant egshell paint, especially if it is to run behind the sink area. Team with blockprint-style fabrics, natural wood shelving, vintage enamel pieces and earthenware for an original, handcrated style.

SCENES OF N AT U R E Right An eclectic mix of vintage furniture, including a classic chair with a dark-stained inish and a weathered raw-wood stool, add texture and work exceptionally well with rich autumnal tones. For merchandise details, see pages 50 and 52

AU T U M N H A RV E S T Earthy neutrals with undertones of brown create the perfect backdrop for berry reds and golden hues â&#x20AC;&#x201C; colour combinations oten seen in nature. Here, a small-scale leaf-print curtain helps to break up and lit the dark tones and adds simple decoration. Contrasting metallic textures, such as tarnished brass and copper in tableware and lighting, combined with glazed earthenware introduce elegance to a rustic setting.

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OCTOBER 2018

D E C O R AT I N G

C R E AT U R E C O M F O RT S A band of colour, such as this deep golden yellow, used above a peg or picture rail is a simple yet fun paint efect

OCTOBER 2018

to use in a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bedroom and could also be carried onto the ceiling. Quirky accessories inspired by woodland lora and fauna, such as felted wall hangings

and colourful patchwork cushions, provide charm and originality. Upturned crates placed at the end of the bed make simple tables for reading or drawing,

while a stylish wooden chair becomes a lexible lamp table plus a place to read a bedtime story. For merchandise details, see page 52 countryliving.com/uk

D E C O R AT I N G

WHIMSICAL WO O D L A N D Inspired by a tapestry, this interesting wide-width wallpaper features wild fallow deer and acts as a decorative

OCTOBER 2018

mural set behind a bedhead. Use from loor to ceiling on one wall for impact, or just on the lower section, adding a custom-made raw-edge bark shelf and paint above, as seen

here. This helps to create a brighter and calm space with a modern twist. The rich blues work exceptionally well with earthy tones, and the metal inish of the bed-frame

complements hues that appear in the paper, so that it blends with, rather than ights against, the intricate design. For merchandise details, see page 52 countryliving.com/uk

D E C O R AT I N G

GATHER FOLIAGE

NATURAL BEAUTY

Bracken, acorns, oak and beech leaves wired to a circular base make a seasonal rustic wreath. You can also try this idea with fallen leaves in rich reds, oranges and purples for a more vibrant design.

Upcycle a stool with a unique pattern using a graphic stencil. Simply stipple over the design in a contrasting tone to the stool.

Brass wreath base, £24 (set of two), Rowen & Wren. Natural mini acorn picks, £3.49 for four clusters, Pipii

Stool, flea market find; painted in French Linen chalk paint and Emperor’s silk chalk paint, £19.95/L; oak leaves stencil, £6.45: all Annie Sloan. Slip-decorated earthenware mug, £20, Josie Walter

RAW MATERIALS

AUTUMN LEAVES

Make the most of wood ofcuts by turning them into place settings with a name written neatly on one side. A handwritten calligraphy style works well; alternatively, use simple stamps if the surface of the wood is lat.

This spongeware technique will work on enamel or ceramic pieces. Cut a piece of sponge into a leaf shape, cover with a suitable paint and then print.

Wood log slices, £3.49 for five; twine, £2.25: both Pipii. Acorn and leaf linen mix, £49.50/m, Vanessa Arbuthnott. Tumbler, £18; plates, from a selection: all The Conran Shop. Napkins, £16 (set of two), Rowen & Wren. Handmade bark spoon, one-of piece, Astrid De Groot. Earthenware bowl, £20; pie dish, £48: both Josie Walter

OCTOBER 2018

Enamel mug, £5; jug, £20: both Enamelama. Humbrol paints in Signal Red and Sand, both £1.80/12ml; sponges (not shown), £2: all Hobbycraft

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D E C O R AT I N G

One-of upholstered armchair in Battle Great Wood wool with studded detail, from £1,000, Lindsay Alker. Varx block-printed cushion in Venetian Red, £75, Bonfield Block-Printers

Merino children’s blankets with embroidered woodland motifs, £871 each, Anlaby

OCTOBER 2018

RICH PICKINGS

INTO THE WOODS

KEEP WARM

Walls painted in Tuscan Red Intelligent Eggshell, £62/2.5L, Little Greene, and Slate II Architects’ Eggshell, £66.50/2.5L, Paint & Paper Library. Curtain in Owlswick Teal cotton-linen mix, £59/m, Sanderson at Style Library. Burford medium sofa in chocolate, £1,279, Country Living Collection exclusively available at DFS. Red squirrel cushion, £70, Peaceable Kingdom Cushions. Flying owl appliqué cushion, £144, Carola Van Dyke. Recycled wool throw, £18; merino cushion in safron (just seen), £79: both The Future Kept. Oak leaves and acorn A3 canvas, £19.99, Bygone Press available from Etsy. Wooden floor lamp, £175, Cox & Cox. Lampshade, similar, Nkuku. Twig stool, from £875, Pinch. Ceramic jugs, flea market finds. One-of upholstered armchair in Battle Great Wood wool, from £1,000, Lindsay Alker. Varx block-printed cushion, £75, Bonfield BlockPrinters. Book, from a selection, The Old Haberdashery. One-of rustic coffee table, £325, Home Barn. Wooden bowl and ceramic jug: both flea market finds. Red stripe linen, similar, Beyond France. Wooden plant pot and plant, from a selection, The Conran Shop. Wooden tray, similar, Muji. Slip-decorated earthenware mugs, £20 each, Josie Walter. Enamel teapot (part of set with mugs, not shown), £24, Fforest. Soup bowl by Wonki Ware, £22; jute rug, from £275: both The Conran Shop. Wooden boxes, similar, Home Barn. Basket, similar, Habitat

Bosky wide-width wallpaper in Bracken, £65.52/m, Lewis & Wood. Natural sisal flooring, similar, Country Living Collection exclusively available at Carpetright. Custom-made cupboard painted in Worsted Estate Eggshell, £60/2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Tote bag, National Trust Shop. Empire shoe shelf, £227 (unpainted and not upholstered), Scumble Goosie; painted in India Yellow Estate Eggshell, £60/2.5L, Farrow & Ball; seat upholstered in Kintyre check Peony, £42.50/m; and Grain stripe Nordic peony cushion, £40: both Ian Mankin. Small baskets, similar, Hedgehog and Olli Ella. Clothes and scarves (on shelf), from a selection, Carrier Company and Quinton Chadwick. Shoe lasts, £36, Baileys. Check fabrics (folded): Bressay Check wool in Olna, £65.90/m; Linwood and Fenton check in Caraway/Green, £89/m: both Sanderson at Style Library. Large swill basket by Lorna Singleton (on floor), £280, The New Craftsmen. Oak leaf wellies by Hunter, £110, National Trust Shop. Children’s red wellies, from a selection, Hunter. One-of watering can, £35, Goose Home and Garden. Green wellies by Emily Bond, £110, The Original Muck Boot Company. Industrial shelf with hooks, £75, Cox & Cox. Twine and holder, £15, Black Bough. Hurricane lantern, £28, Fforest. Celtic wool jacket, £240, Carrier Company

William De Morgan owl, antelope and flying leaves tiles, £32.34 each; 16 square bough design tiles, £26.40 each: all Victorian Ceramics. Wall painted in Inchyra Estate Eggshell, £60/2.5L, Farrow & Ball. White metro tiles (on wall), similar, Topps Tiles. Medium dog basket, £49, Scumble Goosie. Recycled wool throw, £18, The Future Kept. Rustic stool, from a selection, Home Barn. Lambswool jumper in tan, £74; wool hat, £35: both Carrier Company. Enamel mug with splatter design, £9.50, Black Bough. Gloves and socks, from a selection, Carrier Company and Etsy. ‘O is for owl’ print by Emily Sutton, £295, Penfold Press. Frame, from a selection, Habitat. Basket, similar, Naturally Useful from Etsy. Double-door woodburning stove, similar, Charnwood. Red enamel kettle; green enamel milk pan: both from a selection, Enamelama. Red enamel jug, £19.50, Black Bough. Terracotta plate by Silvia K Ceramics, from £38, The New Craftsmen. Ceramic teacup, £24, The Future Kept. Dustpan and brush, similar, Garden Trading. Broom, similar, Baileys

For stockists, see Where to Buy countryliving.com/uk

D E C O R AT I N G

BERRY BRIGHTS

SCENES OF NATURE

Wall painted in Slate II Architects’ Eggshell, £66.50/2.5L, Paint & Paper Library, and Baked Cherry Intelligent Eggshell, £62/2.5L, Little Greene. Empire preparation table, from £700, Scumble Goosie; painted in Rolling Fog Intelligent Eggshell, £62/2.5L, Little Greene. Undercounter curtain in Oakleaves in pink/oatmeal, £92.50/m, Blithfield. Conifer print, £11 (set of six), Bygone Press available at Etsy. The Hermit Bothy print by Jo Waterhouse, £85, The New Craftsmen. Peg rail, £30, Cox & Cox. Beeswax candle, £12 (set of two), The Future Kept. Bird card by Mark Hearld, £3, Black Bough. Large chestnut board, £170, The New Craftsmen. Red enamel coffee pot, £17.50, Fforest. Enamel jar and milk pan, from a selection, both Enamelama. Pie dish, £48; large bowl, £69: both Josie Walter. Enamel bowl with splattered design, £25, Black Bough. Copper pan, from a selection, Baileys. Napkins, £16 (set of two); plate rack, £178: both Rowen & Wren On plate rack Low bowl, £32, Josie Walter. Leaf tile, flea market find. Handmade spoon, one-of piece, Astrid De Groot. Spongeware mugs, from £9.16, Brixton Pottery. Small jug, from £25, Arran St East. Owl card, £3.50, Judy Lumley. Pewter jug and chair, both flea market finds. Red bag, £39, The Conran Shop. Battle Great Wood linen fabric in olive (on chair), £98/m, Lindsay Alker. Hedgehog cushion, £70, Peaceable Kingdom Cushions

Elderflower artwork, available in smaller prints, £30-£95, by Jackie Henderson. Chair, flea market find. Recycled wool throw, £18, The Future Kept. Stool, from a selection, Home Barn. Hand-painted lamp base, £110, and shade, £52.50, Cressida Bell

Evershed, £895, Brook Studio. Bird card by Mark Hearld (on bench), £3, Black Bough. Wool throw (on bench), from £245, Fforest On table Vintage linen runner, £48; antique large jar, £100: both Home Barn. Candle holders, £12 each, Scumble Goosie. Chopping board, £70, The Conran Shop. Ceramic jug, £15, National Trust Shop. Bowl, flea market find. Bird nest mug, from £9.16, Brixton Pottery. Cards (on table and on unit), £5 each, Bonfield Block-Printers. Ceramic pumpkin tureen, £103, Kensington Design. Cruchon, £46, The Conran Shop. Small bowls by Silvia K Ceramics, £25 each, Heal’s. Handmade spoons, one-of pieces, Astrid De Groot. Brushed copper jug, £54.76, Borough Kitchen

AUTUMN HARVEST

CREATURE COMFORTS

Wall painted in Mouse’s Back Estate Eggshell, £60/2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Owl A3 canvas print with wooden hanging rods, £19.99, Bygone Press available at Etsy. Tall white cupboard, similar, Home Barn. Bespoke curtain in Tibbs hand-printed voile, £89/m, Lindsay Alker. Farmhouse dining table, similar, Lorfords Antiques. Brass pendant light, £68, Rowen & Wren. Made-to-order polished ash Coventry chair, from £593; polished ash Tottenham Court Mod chair, from £595: both by Chris Eckersley for Sitting Firm. Dark wood chairs, flea market finds. Grain stripe cushion, £40, Ian Mankin. Welsh wool red cushion, £60, Fforest. Lambswool jumper in conker, £74, Carrier Company. Handcrafted ash bench with rush seat by Tim

Wall painted in India Yellow Estate Eggshell, £60/2.5L, Farrow & Ball and Slate II Architects’ Eggshell, £66.50/2.5L, Paint & Paper Library. Peg rail and bedsteads, from a selection, Scumble Goosie. Hats, similar, Etsy. Felt animal heads, £59 each; lambswool leaves, £9.95 each: all Indigo & Rose. Bag, £39; linen bedspreads, £185 each: all The Conran Shop. Bedding, from £16, Pure Living Collection. Fox and squirrel cushions, £105 and £95, Carola Van Dyke. Merino blanket, £871, Anlaby. Wool throws, £18 each, The Future Kept. Crates, £18 each; mouse, £10: all Baileys. Mat, £28, So Souk. Rug, from £240, Vanessa Arbuthnott. Tottenham Court Mod chair by Chris Eckersley, from £595, Sitting Firm. Lamps, similar, Heal’s

OCTOBER 2018

WHIMSICAL WOODLAND The Brook wide-width wallpaper, £90/m, Morris & Co at Style Library. Brass wall light, £135, Cox & Cox. Raw metal and lacquered Edward double bedstead, from £684 (excluding mattress), Wrought Iron & Brass Bed Company. Linen bedding, similar, Loaf. Block-printed tree double quilt, £139, Reason Season Time. Tweed fishbone blanket, £35, National Trust Shop. Recycled wool throw, £18, The Future Kept. Owl cushion, £70, Peaceable Kingdom Cushions. Wooden tray, similar, Muji. Striped napkin, £16 (set of two), Rowen & Wren. Butter dish, similar, Amara. Woodland fox side plate, from £43, Nicholas Mosse. Condiments jar, flea market find. Bench, similar, Home Barn. Wool cushion (under bench), £60, Fforest. Baskets, from a selection, Rowen & Wren and Habitat. Stool, similar, Home Barn. Mug by Brickett Davda, £29, The Conran Shop. Antique cupboard, £550, Home Barn. Lavender-filled lambswool leaf, £9.95, Indigo & Rose. Lamp base, from £49, Scumble Goosie. Paisley lampshade, from £52.50, Cressida Bell On shelf Clock, decorative plate and vase: all flea market finds. Botanical artwork, similar, Home Barn. Snowdrops and larch cones card by Matt Underwood, £2.50; plywood robin by Lisa Jones Studio, £8; stoneware bottles, similar: all Black Bough

For stockists, see Where to Buy

countryliving.com/uk

An artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nature journal October Each month, Kelly Hall illustrates the lora and fauna she has spotted near her East Sussex home

OCTOBER 2018

In full bloom During this season of abundance, take inspiration from natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s berries, lowers and foliage to create a colourful display WORDS AND STYLING BY BEA ANDREWS PHOTOGRAPHS BY EVA NEMETH

FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS PART 2

Autumn 58

OCTOBER 2018

S E A S O N A L I N S P I R AT I O N

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OCTOBER 2018

The rich tones of flowers and foliage at this time of year lend themselves well to a seasonal display. Hung up indoors or out, the wreath highlights autumn’s beauty

BEA ANDREWS

s the growing season comes to its fruition, our thoughts turn to picking, gathering and making the most of nature’s bounty, while also relecting on our hard work throughout the year. With the temperature dropping and daylight hours shortening, plant growth slows down. It is time to pause and admire the full-blown glory of late summer, and celebrate the turning of the seasons with an autumn project, capturing the feeling of abundance now surrounding us. While the hedgerows are laden with bright, ripe berries and plenty of richly coloured foliage, it’s possible to echo the varied shapes, colours and textures of the landscape in a loral display. Hawthorn and sloe berries, rosehips, sorbus, cotoneaster, viburnum, ilex and

OCTOBER 2018

photinia, with their variation of vibrant leaves and fruit, all suit this kind of treatment. Unexpected seasonal ingredients from the garden or vegetable plot, such as bolting brassica plants, kale leaves, herbs, fruit and lowers, look great in autumn arrangements. Many edibles are also very decorative, making them excellent multipurpose plants. One of my favourites in the vegetable garden is red orach (Atriplex hortensis rubra). Its young leaves can be added to salads and, when mature, it makes a tall architectural foliage plant with racemes of tiny lowers, oten used in loristry. Later in the year, its dry seedpods also make an attractive feature. Ferns, tawny grasses, dried lowers and seed heads will create a muted background and wonderfully ofset the rich reds and purples of dahlias. See overleaf for instructions on how to create an autumn wreath for your home.

Bea creates naturalistic lower arrangements for events and runs workshops in loristry. She is a horticulturist at heart. “I have been working with plants and lowers for more than 20 years, but using them in loral displays has opened up a whole new world that I am still exploring,” she says. Bea worked as head gardener with Sarah Raven at her East Sussex farm, Perch Hill, where she was lucky enough to indulge her enthusiasm for growing a wide variety of lowers and experimenting with design. More recently, she set up Botanika, a small loral design studio in Hassocks, West Sussex, where she creates displays that relect the seasons, using wild elements, varied textures and natural colour combinations. Find out more at botanikaloral.co.uk or follow her on Instagram @botanika_loral.

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S E A S O N A L I N S P I R AT I O N

MAKING AN AUTUMN WREATH

Create a natural wreath base by twisting long bendy, lealess stems of wisteria, willow, dogwood or similar into a circle. For foraged ingredients, check what is available to collect on walks around your local area. I used a selection of branches, including wild red crab apple (similar to Malus robusta â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Red Sentinelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;), ornamental grape vine (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), native hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), with its dark sloe berries. Arrange three to four stems of each together with a few dried fern leaves in a semi-circle on the wreath base and secure with wire or twine. Add home-grown

OCTOBER 2018

produce from your garden or allotment: I picked hops, purple perilla, dill lowers, lowering stems of chard and seed pods of red orach and rocket. These will create another layer of interest and texture. For that bountiful autumn feel, add brightly coloured dahlias, artichoke heads, mini pumpkins or other small yet ornamental vegetables and fresh or dried hydrangea lowers. The stems of these can be inserted through the wreath. Use wire or twine to ix them into place. To prolong the life of your fresh blooms, insert their stems into small plastic tubes illed with water when attaching them to the wreath. countryliving.com/uk

Simple KITCHEN UPDATES Bring new life to the busiest room in the house by adding fresh character, reworking its appearance or sorting out your storage WORDS BY JO LEEVERS

An assortment of old chairs and a characterful pine table lend interest to this streamlined kitchen

OCTOBER 2018

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D E C O R AT I N G

Above and far left Textural objects including woven natural baskets, hold the eye Left and below Shapely ceramics and wooden implements ofer handcrafted appeal

ALL THINGS CRAFTED As the room where you are oten found stirring, chopping and kneading is all about creativity, it makes perfect sense to surround yourself with handmade objects in the kitchen. Pleasingly tactile, they are an apt reminder that, just as with cooking, it takes time and slow practice to make something good. At the top end of the scale are items such as a freestanding larder, made-to-measure cabinetry or a handmade dining table – centrepieces that will set a mood of crated calm. And the fact that a bespoke item will be perfectly tailored to the proportions of your space subtly adds to that sense of balance. But it’s also possible to bring the crated aesthetic into your home in smaller ways. You may already have artisan tableware stored away, but giving pieces pride of place on a mantelpiece or shelf will highlight their charms. Look out for ceramics that show the hand of the maker, whether it’s in the way a handle has been moulded to a mug, or the unique swirls or daubs of glaze on a jug. Chunky chopping boards that have been carefully chosen for their particular timber and countryliving.com/uk

grain by a skilled woodworker will last a lifetime. Recycled glassware blown with whorls and bubbles has far more character than identical pieces of a production line. And block-printed or hand-embroidered table linen not only looks beautiful but feels good to the touch. At ground level, handwoven baskets are a practical addition, perfect for storing fresh vegetables or positioned by a back door for shoes, boots or dog-walking paraphernalia. OCTOBER 2018

D E C O R AT I N G

SETTING STORE Whether you have a big farmhouse kitchen or a smaller cottage space, everything from hety saucepans to sprigs of herbs needs to be stored in a logical, accessible way. Kitchen designers are constantly dreaming up ways to eke the most out of tricky spaces and irregular nooks. Bifold-doors are ideal when space is tight. Fitted to larders or smaller counter-top cabinets, they conceal – and then reveal – everyday appliances such as toasters and cofee machines. Behind cupboard doors, smooth-sliding wooden drawers are an eicient way to store foodstufs and crockery. You can ill up the entire space but still reach items right at the back. Drawers can also be tucked into corner cupboards, receding into what would otherwise be a ‘dead’ space. While some items are best hidden away, others deserve to be admired, which is where open shelving comes in. Stacked with an interesting array of plates, glasses and vintage inds, they function like a latter-day dresser. On a more practical note, if staples such as rice and pasta are stored in glass jars out on show, you can see what needs replenishing. If you don’t already have a built-in larder, freestanding versions now come with mini shelves itted inside the doors, making them as indispensable today as when they kept a cook’s foodstufs cool and dry. Sometimes, the old-fashioned ideas really are the best: pans hung from a metal rail or a rack use space eiciently while doubling as a visual display.

Left and above A balance of concealed storage and favourite pieces on display is a pleasing combination Opposite Wooden doors cleverly conceal a kitchen in designer Tom Rafield’s stylish Cornish home

Left Traditional kitchen implements have an attractive appearance, and keeping them out on show means they are always to hand Right A plate rack is a good way to display ceramics in a smaller space where a dresser might dominate

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Folding doors are one solution where space is tight, as they conceal and then reveal countryliving.com/uk

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O N -T R E N D TEXTURES & S U R FAC E S Polished concrete, handmade glazed tiles with a liquid inish, stainless-steel and quartz composite worktops are modern surface trends that can also be integrated seamlessly into a country or farmhouse kitchen. Shaking of its building-site connotations, concrete is proving to be a brilliantly versatile material. It can be bufed to a sheen, tinted with pigment, etched with rivulets or mixed with fragments of stone or glass for a terrazzo efect. As worktops or looring, it is durable and has a sot inish that works well next to painted cabinetry or reclaimed timber. Hand-glazed

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D E C O R AT I N G

Marble has long been valued for its cooling properties in kitchens

Moroccan tiles can bring a dazzling dose of colour to a kitchen, while encaustic tiles – where the pattern is made up of sections of tinted cement – will add beautiful pattern. Porcelain versions are a good solution in low-traic areas. As a worksurface, marble has long been valued for its cooling properties. Now, composites made from quartz or minerals mixed with a resin can replicate the appearance of marble or granite, but are more resistant to stains or scratches. Although it’s a manufactured product, composites still look good alongside more rustic materials, from limestone tiles to limed loorboards. If you don’t already have warm wooden looring, a slew of engineered hardwood or porcelain versions now emulate the look and feel of real wood, with the beneit that they are very hardwearing and can be combined with underloor heating. countryliving.com/uk

Top right A pale marble upstand provides an attractive and practical background for wooden tools Above Veined marble has been used to clad an island unit, deep upstands and worktops in contrast with warm wood Right Glazed tiles are perfect for worktops and splashbacks, introducing colour and lively pattern OCTOBER 2018

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COMBINING OLD AND NEW Rejuvenating a rustic kitchen doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always mean a full-scale reit â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it can be as simple as updating knobs and handles. The key to blending old and new is working out what style works for you and your individual space, rather than slavishly following trends. For instance, gnarled brass handles might be big news in contemporary kitchen design, but could look a bit too decorative for most cottage kitchens. Instead, unfussy, tapered Shaker-style wooden knobs are oten a better way to refresh still serviceable cabinetry. Paint is another relatively easy way to give a kitchen a facelit. Ask for painted woodwork samples (or create your own) before you settle

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D E C O R AT I N G

Above Antique furniture brings character to new cabinetry, while clever reproduction pendant lamp styles would ofer the same vintage efect

Left Old wooden caféstyle chairs add warmth to a grey kitchen Below Take colour inspiration from manufacturers such as Neptune’s soft lilac pink cupboard

Reclaimed basins and light pendants can give a box-fresh kitchen some much-needed character 72

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY CRISTIAN BARNETT; MARK BOLTON; NICK CARTER; CHARLIE COLMER; BRENT DARBY; RICHARD GADSBY; CATHERINE GRATWICKE; LOUPE IMAGES/ANNA WILLIAMS/ SIMON BROWN/DEBI TRELOAR; MALCOLM MENZIES; JAMES MERRELL; NEPTUNE; MICHAEL PAUL; PLAIN ENGLISH; COLIN POOLE; HENNY VAN BELKOM; HILARY WALKER; RACHEL WHITING

on a colour so you can see how it looks in your home: every country kitchen will be diferent, depending on the low of light and the size of the windows in the room. Just as your new pieces can bring life into an old setting, the reverse is also true. Reclaimed basins, taps and light pendants can give a toobland or box-fresh kitchen some much-needed character. If you’re heading to a reclamation yard, go armed with accurate measurements, as old ittings won’t come in standard sizes. Similarly, vintage furniture such as an armchair, dresser or bench will add a sense of history and permanence to a relatively modern kitchen.

A good vintage On the chalk slopes of the North Downs, Mike and Hilary Wagstaff produce award-winning sparkling English wine to rival champagne WORDS BY SARAH BARRATT

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY CLARE WINFIELD

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op – the sound of the cork as it shoots from the bottle, followed by the izz of bubbles racing to the surface, is one synonymous with celebration. While quaing sparkling wine might be a leisurely pursuit, producing it is anything but, as Mike and Hilary Wagstaf, the owners of Greyfriars Vineyard, can testify. Eight years ago, they bought a scenic stretch of hillside in the North Downs in Surrey and planted more than 70,000 vines across an expanse of 50 acres. The experience was, so they found, more labour intensive than leisurely, but they were rewarded with over 100 tonnes of grapes. Increasingly, discerning wine drinkers have become aware that English grapes can produce an end result that easily rivals its counterparts from across the Channel. (Even Taittinger has been buying plots of UK soil.) The North Downs’ geoloy is, in fact, very similar to that of France, with underlying chalk stretching from the Continent all the way to the Surrey Hills – meaning the soil favoured by Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes also exists here. Combine that with a mild southern climate and voilà! The perfect conditions for creating quality wine. Now, alongside the hills, hedgerows and woodlands that comprise the Surrey Downs are acres of acid-green vines, snaking over the undulating slopes as they grow heavy with ripe fruit. It might look idyllic, but it’s

Using traditional methods, Hilary (above) and the team produce an array of sparkling wine varieties that rival the top champagnes

a technical business, the Wagstafs attest. “If it were pure science and there was a chemical formula for developing wine, it would be made in an enormous factory,” Mike says, sampling a glass of their own award-winning 2013 Rosé Reserve Brut. “Someone would have synthesized the formula. But you can’t – that’s what makes it exciting.” Although not from a winemaking background, the pair quickly adapted to the job. Both Oxford educated (they met at Pembroke College), Hilary became a solicitor and Mike an engineer, working in London and New York before taking on the role as chief executive at an oil and gas company. This involved a gruelling weekly commute to Aberdeen from Surrey, which meant 4.30am starts – something that makes the one-mile journey he now does from his house to the vineyard all the more appreciated.

TURNING A DREAM INTO REALITY Both wine aicionados, the couple had been toying with the idea of making their own for a while. So, when Mike’s company was subject to a takeover, it seemed like the perfect time. With little prior knowledge but boundless enthusiasm, they bought Greyfriars – a vineyard irst planted in 1989 by the previous owners. They enrolled on a course at Plumpton College

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RU R A L P R O D U C E R in East Sussex, along with Mike’s brother-in-law David, who now acts as vineyard manager. Other than that, it was a case of learning on the job. “We’ve come an incredibly long way,” Hilary says, “The great thing about the English wine community is that everyone is relatively new to it. There’s only a hundredodd of us – and we’re all trying to promote the industry, so if one does well, we all do well.” October is harvest month, meaning it’s all hands on deck. “We do everything and anything,” Hilary says. “It’s hard work.” Owing to the enormity of the task, the small team enlists the help of professional pickers, but they open the event with a family and friends day. While it’s a yearly highlight, their guests are oten surprised to discover the hard grat involved. As Hilary points out, “Last year we invited around 70 people, who picked about ive tonnes. The next day, 20 professional pickers accumulated 15.” In a laborious process lasting around two weeks, more than 90 million grapes are gathered by hand, before being pressed, fermented, bottled, capped, stored at exactly the right temperature (in the chalk wine cave they carved deep within the hills), turned, settled, frozen and corked. While harvest is the grand inale, managing a vineyard is a yearround afair. “There are three critical periods when things can go wrong,” Mike explains. “The irst is when the vines come back to

Using the traditional Hilary During friends methods, and (left) and the teamthe (opposite) family day (above), produceget anto array of sparkling children try out varieties that rival any of a wine traditional method top champagnes ofthe juicing the grapes (left). For the bottles, tonnes of grapes are sent away to be professionally pressed

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RU R A L P R O D U C E R life around the middle of April. Up until mid-May, they are susceptible to frost, which can ruin the entire crop.” Only last year, the UK was hit by a cold snap in late spring, which, ater a mild winter, could have spelled disaster. But the team embarked on the ritual of lighting huge candles throughout the vineyard, heating the air and thus keeping frost at bay.

BUILDING ON TRADITION With barely a chance to blow on their hands, they then turn their minds to pollination, with lowers blooming in June. This determines how big the harvest will be, so a warm, dry season is essential. By autumn, juicy grapes should cling to the vines in abundance, but must adequately ripen before they’re picked and pressed – meaning more sunshine is required. “We are at the

mercy of the weather,” Hilary laughs, giving Mike a knowing look. “I probably look at three weather forecasts a day,” he sighs. The pair interweave traditional methods with modern technoloy, ageing their Blanc de Blancs in oak barrels for a creamier lavour. “They’re small and diicult to clean compared to metal tanks, but they do something wonderful to the wine.” So spectacular is the wine that when Hilary irst delivered two bottles of Rosé Reserve Brut to Waitrose’s head oice, she received an email asking how many more bottles they could have. Not many, was the answer, as during their irst modest harvest, Greyfriars produced only 450. The supermarket took 48 and continues to stock it today. Although their yield is now much greater, supplying local shops is still a priority: “If we want to sell in farm shops, delis and independent shops, which we do, we’re at an advantage by not being in all the supermarkets, as it feels more special.” With numerous international accolades, including Gold in the Decanter World Wine Awards, it’s fair to say Greyfriars is not only special, but helping to put English wine resolutely on the map. And that’s something worth raising a glass to.

Visitors to the vineyard can buy a bottle or two in the shop to take home

For more information, visit greyfriarsvineyard.co.uk.

5 UK VINEYARDS WORTHY OF A TOAST LANGHAM, DORSET In deepest Hardy country, this vineyard takes a ‘lowintervention’ approach to grape growing – striving to minimise environmental impact while producing crisp quality bubbles (langhamwine.co.uk).

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GIFFORDS HALL, SUFFOLK Crafting a smorgasbord of sparkling wine, rosé and fruity red, this family-run vineyard on an ancient glacial riverbed in the village of Hartest regularly opens for grand tours and tastings (gifordshall.co.uk).

RYEDALE, NORTH YORKSHIRE The most northerly commercial vineyard in Britain, Ryedale works with organisations such as the RSPB to enhance and protect its wildlife. Along with tours and tastings, you can also stay on site (ryedale vineyards.co.uk).

COATES AND SEELY, HAMPSHIRE Crafting wine in small batches, this vineyard owned by two friends takes full advantage of the English chalk terroir on which it sits – creating bubbles that have been served at Kensington Palace (coatesandseely.com).

CASTLE BROOK, HEREFORDSHIRE Tucked in the Wye Valley, the Castle Brook vines were planted in 2004 on the site of an ancient Roman vineyard. Now, this fourthgeneration family farm produces traditionally styled cuvée (castle brookvineyard.co.uk).

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CRAFTSMANSHIP

FORGOTTEN CRAFTS The swiller

From her workshop deep in the woods, cratswoman Lorna Singleton weaves traditional Cumbrian baskets known as swills. One of the last people still practising the ancient skill, she uses timber from the woodland she carefully maintains WORDS BY DOMINIQUE CORLETT

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANDREW MONTGOMERY

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CRAFTSMANSHIP

orna Singleton, coppicer and basket maker, is sitting in her studio, near Kendal in the southern part of the Lake District, with the skeleton of a half-made basket on her knees. The space is illed with the restful colours and textures of natural wood – the raw materials of her crat. Steam-bent hazel poles hang from hooks in the roof beams, while bundles of pale split-oak strips are stacked against the whitewashed stone walls. All around lie tree stumps and bundles of twigs; in one corner is an enormous pile of curly oak shavings, disgorged from the shave horse. Outside, it’s a foreboding grey day, with the waterloged sky warning of colder, harsher months to come, but for Lorna, who spends much of her time working in the woods, it’s a good opportunity to get some weaving done. “This is the time of year when I retreat a little bit from the world,” she says. “I go into hibernation and concentrate on making baskets. I’m always so busy in summer, demonstrating my crat at fairs and teaching courses, that it’s a bit of a relief when autumn comes. I like to do this bit on my own, and will oten sit here late into the night when the world’s a bit quieter, just listening to the radio and weaving my baskets.” The basket Lorna is making today is a traditional Lakeland ‘swill’, a vessel constructed from oak that has been produced in this area for hundreds of years. The name comes from the action of swilling out or washing things – one of the basket’s many historical uses, alongside broadcasting seed, feeding animals, storing irewood and even cradling babies. Swills were used in the factories of the industrial north for storing bobbins, cotton, coal and textiles, and, up until World War II, swill-making was a lourishing industry, with a swill shop, employing half a dozen swillers or more, in every village of the Furness Fells. The crat declined post-war with the arrival of cheap wire baskets, and today Lorna is one of just four people still making

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swills, and one of only two doing it full time. The other is Coniston-based Owen Jones, who irst taught Lorna the crat, and is now the person she works with to harvest and prepare the oak. But Lorna is not just keeping the tradition alive, she is also using the skills and materials to produce a more reined, modern product – a shoulder bag, which she sells, alongside her swills, through a few upmarket crat galleries. “Heritage is important to me, to carry on doing something that has been done before,” she explains, “but I also want to make something that is seen as contemporary.” To this end, she has teamed up with furniture maker Sebastian Cox to make a range of benches and stools with woven oak seats. Lorna grew up in the Lake District, in the village of Milnthorpe, and spent her childhood outdoors hiking around the hills and woods of Arnside and Silverdale. She was always interested in environmental and conservation issues. “As a child, I used to worry about soap polluting my bath water,” she says, with a smile. Going to Manchester University to study social anthropoloy and archaeoloy, she felt “burdened by urban life” and spent the holidays back in the woods volunteering on conservation projects. She was heading for post-graduate research when it struck her that she was on the wrong path. “I just thought, ‘What am I doing? This is irrelevant to my life. I need to be doing something practical and to be outside,’” she says. So she signed up instead for a three-year apprenticeship in coppicing and woodland crats with the Bill Hogarth MBE Memorial Apprenticeship Trust. Just before starting the course, she attended a swill basket-making workshop with Owen Jones, and through her apprenticeship THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE Lorna enjoys roaming the woodland for oak that can be turned into traditional baskets in her timber-stacked studio,

situated outside Kendal. She often makes the strips of wood more pliable by soaking them in the river first, weighting them down with stones countryliving.com/uk

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CRAFTSMANSHIP continued to stay in touch with him, visiting whenever she could so that they could make baskets together. Towards the end of the apprenticeship, Lorna was still unsure of her path, but the love of weaving had stayed with her. In spring 2013, she attended a course in Devon, learning to make contemporary bags from woven ash. It was a pivotal moment, when she realised there were things other than swills that she could make with woven oak. It was also around this time, through a mentoring programme run by the Small Woods Association, that she was introduced to Sebastian Cox. Lorna continued to work with Owen, and gradually her business making baskets and other products from coppiced oak began to take of. All the oak Lorna uses for her weaving comes from a patch of woodland she shares with Owen between Lakes Coniston and Windermere. Their work begins in January, when they go into the woods one day a week to cut down the birch that grows alongside the oak, leaving just the oak trees standing. “Over the next few months, we will clear the area completely,” Lorna says. “This lets the sun shine down onto the woodland loor. The new trees rise up for the light, so you get these long trunks with no branches, and timber that is useful for making things.” Surprisingly, February is Lorna’s favourite time in the woods, when she insists there are bright days. “It’s the irst sun you’ve felt on your skin all winter, and, because the days are getting longer, you can stay and work a bit later,” she says. “Everything’s on the

“I will oten sit late into the night, when the world’s a bit quieter, just listening to the radio and weaving my baskets”

ABOVE Even the more contemporary of Lorna’s woven oak designs, such as her covetable leather-trimmed shoulder bags (top), are made completely by hand, using traditional tools and techniques that have remained unchanged for generations

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CRAFTSMANSHIP verge of bursting into life; the trees are starting to bud and the birds are coming back. You can almost feel the excitement in the world that spring is coming.” From April, Lorna and Owen begin the process of ‘peeling the bark’, a satisfying job that involves slitting the outer shell of a felled trunk from top to bottom, then shucking it of in one big piece. The trunks are split lengthways into quarters or sixths, then taken to the boiler at Owen’s workshop, where they are let overnight to stew. “The next morning, when we open the boiler, the smell is amazing,” Lorna says. “Like apples, or fruity vinegar.” A busy day of ‘riving’ follows, when the steaming sections of sotened wood are pulled apart by hand along the growing rings to produce strips of oak, some as thin as veneer. The process of making a swill begins with an oval-shaped rim of steam-bent hazel, secured with a nail and known as a ‘bool’. Three ribs (also known as spelks) are added as loops underneath the bool and held in place with ‘knot taws’. Two more spelks are then added and woven in with a ‘taw’ and so it continues; adding two spelks and weaving them in with a taw, until the basket is complete. Ater seven years of making these baskets, Lorna can produce one in four hours – her shoulder bags take two days. “It is a diicult way to make a living,” she says. “There aren’t many things that are so labour-intensive. You don’t oten get potters who dig up their own clay! But that’s also the joy of it – it’s such a soulful way to live. The trees I’ve felled this year won’t be cut for another 25 years. It is a much longer cycle than we’re used to working in these days. I like that pace – it’s very stilling. And there’s something about the oak itself – the feel of it, the smell, the way it looks, with all the diferent colours in it. It’s hard to explain, but it’s a connection that goes deep. I just need oak in my life.” Lorna’s baskets and bags are available at snug-gallery.com, mooregallery.co.uk and thenewcraftsmen.com. For more information, visit lornasingleton.co.uk.

ABOVE The trunks of the local oak trees that Lorna fells are split lengthways into quarters or sixths, then softened so they can be pulled apart by hand to produce the thin, veneer-like strips, which are woven together to create her attractive baskets

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RU R A L E N T E R P R I S E

NATURE & NURTURE

In the idyllic surroundings of Jamie Feildenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wiltshire farm, disadvantaged young people gain support and grow in conidence while caring for animals and acquiring rural skills WORDS BY KITTY CORRIGAN

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALUN CALLENDER

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baby lamb bit me on the nose,” says one pupil, with his hand up in class. Not a new version of “The dog ate my homework” excuse, but an excited boy telling the teacher about his week at Jamie’s Farm. The Jamie in question is Jamie Feilden, a former schoolteacher whose groundbreaking charity is changing the lives of ten-to-18-year-olds at risk of exclusion from mainstream education. As a less-than-perfect student himself – “I strugled at school and was a borderline ADHD suferer” – he poured his enery into looking ater animals on his family’s smallholding near Bath. His mother, Tish, a psychotherapist, was keen to support what proved to be such a helpful focus. “She was the driving force behind this project,” Jamie says. “When it came to ofering schools and pupils a way of getting disruptive children back on track, she was immediately on board.” It was later (while teaching in Croydon in 2003) that Jamie decided there had to be a better way to work with children who continually misbehaved. “The school was in a deprived area with 65 nationalities. Every day was a battleield. I became convinced that if I could take some of these kids to a farm to do physical, rewarding work – real jobs with responsibility and a purpose – they would become positive and conident.” With a small investment from his mother and the use of her farmhouse as a base (with a horsebox for an oice), the idea took root. While it was his mother who had nurtured Jamie’s love of farming, it was the sudden death of his father Richard, following an accident on the farm, that spurred Jamie on. “We had talked about starting a business together and he was keen on the charity idea,” he says. “I keep striving in his memory.” Jamie continued to work part-time while piloting the scheme – building a network of supporters within education at the charity Teach First – and ater two years they were ready to launch. Since then, they have worked with 5,000 children. His mother’s property was soon too small for the numbers who wanted to come, so a loan from the ethical bank Triodos and investment from a local consortium enabled them to purchase Hill House Farm in Wiltshire, still the charity’s HQ, and they have bought two more, in Longtown, Herefordshire, and Redbrook, Monmouthshire, which opened last January. Groups of ten or 12 pupils come throughout the year to stay for a week. Today it’s the turn of Harris Academy from Orpington,

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“I was convinced that if these kids could do physical, rewarding work, they would become more positive and conident”

Jamie (opposite, above) has now welcomed 5,000 young people to his farm – giving them a sense of responsibility in a safe, homely environment

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In bonding with the animals, the children learn to understand their emotions Kent. They will be chopping logs for irewood, mucking out the pigsties, grooming the horses and helping with winter lambing. (The farm keeps a variety of breeds that will give birth in diferent seasons.) All are out of their comfort zone, and some are frightened of horses. One of their irst tasks is to work with a horse that has been badly treated in the past; it is frightened of having its rug put on, but it needs to wear one from autumn until spring. “A horse will not respond if you are fearful or agressive,” Tish explains. “You need to be calm and centred, to breathe steadily and gain control.” Under her supervision, the children learn how to approach the horse and gain its conidence. In bonding with the animals, they also learn that if they can control their emotions, they are more likely to get what they want (and not be told of by the teacher). Meanwhile, there’s an emergency in the lambing shed. A ewe is straining to give birth to twins, but one of them has got its leg stuck. “I’m not touching that yucky stuf,” says one boy, but, when shown what to do, it’s thanks to him that both lambs are saved. “There is always a good mix of kids,” Jamie says, “and although they might try to test you at irst, the dominant ones tend to become milder in company. We see young people with anger issues, anxiety, depression or other mental health problems. Oten the cause is low self-esteem. Disruptive behaviour can be a cry for help. I can empathise with them. I know the value of work, but many of those who come have never had a member of their family in work, have no father igure or ever eaten together round a table at home.” Every evening, the farm visitors sit down in the kitchen and talk, while helping themselves to nuts and fruit (crisps and enery

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Jamie’s Farm has proved such a success that a fourth one is planned to open next year in East Sussex

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RU R A L E N T E R P R I S E drinks are not on ofer). “I wanted this to feel like a family farm, not an institution,” Jamie says. There’s a games room, a break-out space with sofas and, if their enery is still not spent, they can practise their drumming around the bonire. The rules at the welly-boot camp include a digital detox. Mobile phones are taken away, as are iPads and other electronic devices; if they don’t accept the rules, they are sent home – “but that happens only to one in a hundred”. The charity is not cheap to run. Each school pays a fee of £6,000 to send a group of 12. Other funds come from trusts and foundations such as Children in Need and Comic Relief, and a third from farm-earned income. This is made from selling pork, beef and

week on the farm can be seen in the pupils’ vastly improved behaviour, as noted by their teachers. A remarkable 69 per cent who were at risk of exclusion are removed from that category just six weeks later, when a follow-up session is held. Harry, 13, an ADHD suferer, says: “I am not being told of as much now. I ind it hard to concentrate at school, but the farm helped me to calm down. I am working on being still in class, and not gigling as much.” Each child who attends the farm receives a certiicate marking their achievements and underlining the lessons they have learned. For example: “Tom would make an amazing farrier because he is great with horses. Try to get the teachers on your side so you don’t

“I wanted this to feel like a family farm, not an institution” lamb locally and renting out the three farmhouses for family celebrations, hen parties (with fresh egs for breakfast) or friends’ get-togethers. Compared with the cost of not tackling anti-social behaviour at a young age, it’s money well spent, for, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), “Every cohort of permanently excluded pupils will go on to cost the state an extra £2.1 billion in education, health, beneits and criminal justice costs.” Its report, in October 2017, stated: “Excluded children are the most vulnerable: twice as likely to be in the care of the state, four times more likely to have grown up in poverty, seven times more likely to have a special educational need and ten times more likely to sufer recognised mental health problems.” The results of a

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get detention and can play football ater school instead.” These prove very efective, but oten it’s the less expected lessons that seem to make the most profound impact. One surprising comment is from Charley, 14: “The best part was climbing up a muddy hill in the dark,” she says, remembering the evening walks, in hi-vis jackets, with Hamish, a retired sheepdog, on a lead. Not an obvious highlight for an urban girl more used to Instagram and Spotify, but a ive-mile hike on a dank and dark autumn night seems to have worked its own particular magic. For more information about Jamie’s Farm and to make a donation, visit jamiesfarm.org.uk.

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T R AV E L

THE WYE VALLEY

Home to cider orchards, picturesque woodland and a rich history, this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is the perfect place for an autumn escape wORDS BY RUTH CHANDLER

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T R AV E L

ith its serpentine river, wooded hillsides and theatrical limestone gorge, it is little wonder that the Wye Valley is considered to be the birthplace of British tourism. In 1782, a publication by vicar and artist Reverend William Gilpin championing the area and its picturesque qualities was adopted as a guidebook, inspiring the Wye Tour and catching the eye of both Wordsworth and Turner. An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Wye comprises 128 square miles of lowland countryside, taking in two countries, stretching from just below the small walled city of Hereford in England down to the town of Chepstow in Monmouthshire and over the border into Wales. In October, it epitomises Keats’ season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, being apple and pear country; with hazy veils hanging across the early morning landscape. Autumn’s colours simply gild this already uniquely beautiful place, which still has plenty to attract the modern tourist more than 200 years ater the irst visitors locked here.

U N D E R G R O U N D, OV E R G R O U N D At Clearwell Caves (clearwellcaves.com), in the Forest of Dean, you can discover the ancient art

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of iron mining, which has taken place here for millennia. As well as joining a tour, you can have a more adventurous experience at this working museum by clambering, crawling and scrambling about the rocks and passageways. If you’re keen to stretch your legs further, walk one of the myriad routes that take in the valley (wyevalleyaonb.org.uk and wyedeantourism. co.uk), including one 136-mile-long trek that guides you down the full length of the river from its source in the Welsh mountains to Chepstow Castle. The Wye Walker (wyewalker.com) sugests shorter circular rambles to enjoy along the way. Prefer to travel on two wheels? Then try one of several tracks in the Forest of Dean, including the 11-mile family trail along a former railway line or a seven-mile loop with more challenging terrain for mountain bikers. Further details and bicycles for hire are available through Pedalabikeaway (pedalabikeaway.co.uk). Few pursuits are more romantic than horseriding along tranquil country lanes or woodland paths (try severnwyeequestrian.co.uk or greenacresstables.co.uk for pony trekking), although a picnic in the grounds of the aweinspiring medieval ruin of Tintern Abbey is hard to beat (search ‘Tintern Abbey’ at cadw.gov.wales).

CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT Walking the Ofas Dyke Path along the River Wye, with the Bigsweir Bridge crossing from England to Wales; as apples are grown here, cider is a local tipple – Gwatkin is an awardwinner; a view of striking Chepstow Castle across the River Wye; the haunting ruins of Tintern Abbey

LIQUID GOLD In autumn, the Wye Valley is especially rich in food and drink. Best known for apple production, the area still maintains numerous orchards. In fact, Herefordshire makes more than half the cider consumed in the UK. It’s the local tipple of choice and you can drive a route that takes in some of the best small producers (visit herefordshire. co.uk/cider-route.aspx). Bordering this AONB countryliving.com/uk

T R AV E L is the charming village of Much Marcle, where the Weston family have been making their famous fermented apple juices in a beautiful 400-year-old farmhouse since 1880 (westons-cider.co.uk). Sample their recipe on a tasting tour or choose from seven varieties in the Scrumpy House restaurant (the menu here includes ish and chips featuring a cider-based batter).

T OW N A N D C O U N T RY Among the Wye Valley’s best market towns is handsome Ross-on-Wye, built above the river on a hill. The spire of St Mary’s Church is so tall, it punctuates the skyline for miles around. Specialist shops include Fritz Fryer (fritzfryer. co.uk), a stylish lighting emporium, which sells antique chandeliers along with unique handblown contemporary designs, while Field Fayre organic deli (ield-fayre.co.uk) has everything you need for the perfect picnic, from artisan breads to locally grown apples. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit modern rustic home store Baileys (baileyshome.com) in Bridstow, near Ross, whose wares combine beauty and utility, and regularly feature on the pages of CL. Further south is Monmouth, famed for its 11th-century castle (search ‘Monmouth Castle’ at cadw.gov.wales) – the birthplace of Henry V. It is teeming with independent shops including greengrocer Munday & Jones (mundayandjonesmonmouth.co.uk), which sells egs, cheese, apple juice and honey from the area, and Green & Jenks (greenandjenks.com) for artisan gelato made with Monmouthshire milk and Herefordshire fruit. The area’s most beautiful villages include Brockhampton, with its stunning Arts and Crats church, medieval manor house and farm (nationaltrust.org.uk/brockhampton-estate), or Woolhope, which is surrounded by a rocky landscape studded with fossils. (Search ‘Woolhope’ at herefordshirewt.org to learn about the conservation project based here.)

WAT E R , WAT E R E V E RY W H E R E Make the most of the river, which varies from shallow and sinuous to deep and dramatic with rapids lowing beneath limestone gorges, and try a spot of canoeing (search ‘Wye Canoe?’ at gov.uk to ind out more). You’ll be following in the footsteps of the original Wye Tour, which took place in boats that followed this stretch of water. Look out for signs of otters – their sweet-smelling droppings called spraint and large paw prints – and other wildlife on the banks (discover more about canoe hire at canoethewye.co.uk and riverwyecanoehire.com). The short wooded walk from the hamlet of Symonds Yat East to Symonds Yat Rock (search ‘Symonds Yat Rock’ at forestry.gov.uk) will reward you with stunning views of the winding Wye – best taken in alongside a slice of homemade cake from the Log Cabin café (keep an eye out for the peregrine falcon that nests in neighbouring clifs). For less exertion, along with the chance to see leaping salmon, take a cruise (see wyevalleycruises. co.uk or click on ‘Activities’ at wyenot.com).

ABOVE Enter the National Trust’s Lower Brockhampton Manor House through a timberframed gatehouse BELOW St Mary’s Church in Ross-on-Wye is seen from miles around

LEFT The tranquil lanes of Hewelsfield in Gloucestershire’s Wye Valley are perfect for horseriding RIGHT Admire the spectacular gorge from Symonds Yat Rock, a viewing point on the border of Wales and England, where you can also spot wildlife and birds of prey

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T R AV E L

LIVING LANDSCAPE The Wye Valley’s ancient woodland and steep valley sides are home to a wide variety of thriving flora and fauna. The Wye Gorge, a Special Area of Conservation, is a popular hangout for bats, with the lesser horseshoe and

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Foy King’s Caple Mad Dogs & Vintage Vans

Tin Tabernacle Tearoom, Baileys Peterstow

Ross-on-Wye

Pencraig

The Saracens Head Inn

greater horseshoe varieties enjoying the tall hedgerows and unimproved pastures. When undertaking one of many walks, you’re likely to stumble across fallow deer or, if you’re lucky, the more elusive roe, muntjac or red deer. For well over 200 years, visitors to the Lower Wye Valley have been charmed by the diversity of

Tudor Farmhouse, Clearwell

woodland. As well as ancient oaks, narrow-lipped helleborine and three types of scarce whitebeam, rare ghost orchids have been spotted. Peregrine falcons nest in the limestone clifs of Coldwell Rocks, while the nightjar has benefited from heathland restoration initiatives in Beacon Hill, Broad Meend and Tidenham Chase.

Priest Chambers, Linton, Herefordshire Lying just outside the AONB, this 600-year-old cottage has two sitting rooms with woodburning stoves, a spacious kitchen-diner and three bedrooms. Exposed beams, colourful rugs and antique furniture give plenty of character throughout. From £530 per week (wye valleyholidaycottages.co.uk). Mad Dogs & Vintage Vans, Brampton Abbotts, Herefordshire Choose from three beautifully furnished old caravans and a military wagon in a wild-flower meadow at this glamping site, which looks out onto the Black Mountains. Open from early May to the end of October. From £140 for a two-night midweek stay (maddogsandvintagevans. co.uk). Tudor Farmhouse, Clearwell, Gloucestershire The 20 rooms of this chic Forest of Dean hotel are modern country in style. Soak in a rolltop bath before feasting on a breakfast including fresh eggs from hens in the orchard. Double B&B from £130 (tudorfarmhousehotel.co.uk). While you’re in the area… Another lovely thing about the Wye Valley is that it’s just an hour’s drive from the beautiful Georgian city of Bath. Not only home to the Royal Crescent, Parade Gardens and iconic Roman Baths, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is also the location of Country Living’s first hotel. With beautiful rooms full of design details chosen by the CL team, plus a charming library and restaurant serving delicious local food, staying at the Country Living Lansdown Grove Hotel feels just like you’ve stepped into the pages of the magazine. To find out more or book, go to countrylivinghotels.com. countryliving.com/uk

INFORMATION CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY; GETTY IMAGES. ILLUSTRATION BY JOANNA KERR. WITH THANKS TO ANDREW NIXON, HEREFORDSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST (HEREFORDSHIREWT.ORG)

The Saracens Head Inn, Symonds Yat East, Herefordshire Views from the terraces make this traditional pub on the east bank of the River Wye a popular spot for lunch. Classic hearty fare, from cider-cooked mussels to Welsh Black steak, feature on the menu, as well as vegetarian options such as Cheddar and herb gnocchi or spiced bean burger on sourdough bread (saracensheadinn.co.uk). Tin Tabernacle Tearoom, Baileys, Bridstow, Herefordshire Having browsed the homeware in the Baileys store, take some refreshment in this quirky former church building, which was salvaged by the owners and set up in the grounds. Alongside sandwiches is a selection of locally made cakes. Open weekends only (baileyshome.com). Tudor Farmhouse, Clearwell, Gloucestershire From the bread to the ice cream, everything served in this hotel’s rustic-style restaurant is made in the kitchens. Head chef Rob Cox and his team also use fruit from the hotel’s own trees in some of the seasonal food on ofer (tudorfarmhousehotel.co.uk).

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A CLEAR WINNER Create a calm and peaceful home environment with the new range of windows from Everest

CL PROMOTION

ur homes are important to us, wherever we live, and, as we are more oten choosing to improve our properties rather than move, they are usually our most valuable asset, too. Increasingly, we are investing time and money in transforming them into relaxing sanctuaries. To create a sense of calm, we need to feel secure and comfortable, be in an environment that suits us and relects our preferred style, and be free from intrusive noise – whether from traic or neighbours. An efective way of reducing noise disturbance, as well as improving a property’s security and insulation, is by replacing the windows. As well as creating a peaceful atmosphere, a new set of windows could update your home’s appearance, with a fresh colour or style. Not only will this give a diferent look, but it could also breathe new life in, by opening up rooms to let in more light, for instance. And if you are thinking about making these changes, it’s imperative to choose the right company to get the best results. When it comes to glazing, the name that always springs to mind is Everest. As the brand leader in making and itting top-quality windows and doors for more than 50 years, Everest knows what works in all kinds of properties and rooms, from cottages and apartments to conservatories and orangeries. And you can choose from its wide selection of uPVC, aluminium and timber products, custom made and itted to the exact millimetre here in Britain.

PEACE & HARMONY To ensure your surroundings are warm and quiet all year round – thereby lowering stress levels and increasing feelings of wellbeing – take a look at the range of glazing solutions on ofer from Everest. Whatever your requirements in the diferent areas of your home, there are plenty of options to choose from. Depending on which side your property faces, one side might be cooler than the others, so triple-glazed windows would be ideal here to help retain heat. Double glazing would work better on a sunny side to maximise solar gain, keep enery in and help to reduce heating bills. If your house looks out onto a busy road, but is south-facing, thermal eiciency may not be as essential but you might require superior noise-reduction qualities. Everest has launched a new Acoustic window range, which will keep noise where it belongs – on the outside. Using laminated acoustic glass, which has a special polymer layer between two glass panes to provide exceptional soundprooing, this window has been approved by Quiet Mark, an award programme that encourages companies to prioritise noise reduction in everyday appliances. By including windows from this range in your home, noise could be reduced by up to 40dB, when compared to a standard double-glazed window – it is the equivalent of moving a road that is 20 metres away to 80 metres away. If sleep disturbance is a regular occurrence for you, this could be the solution to help you enjoy a peaceful night. Once Everest windows are itted, you can be assured that their performance is guaranteed, with a lifetime promise that you won’t see condensation between the panes.

CL PROMOTION

The muted tones of the new designs work well with natural materials and will complement your home beautifully SUPERIOR STYLE Alongside more traditional and bevelled frame options, Everest’s latest Flush Casement designs for windows and doors are ideal if you want a streamlined look. These new windows, in a range of colours, suit traditional properties or can give a heritage feel to a more contemporary home. New colours in the range include Smooth Anthracite and Grey Cedar, in addition to the sot Cream Woodgrain, Olive Grey and Chartwell Green, which suit a country style perfectly, as well as working beautifully with natural materials and blending in with the surroundings. All Flush Casement windows feature Smoothweld technoloy, which provides near-invisible corner joints, thus giving the windows a seamless lat appearance. “This new range of windows can create a completely diferent feel for your home,” says Everest’s Jill McLintock. “They will also match with modern aluminium bifold doors, so you won’t have to it aluminium window frames, which are more expensive.” To make sure your home’s interior is as stylish as the outside, for an authentic period feel or if you live in a conservation area, Georgian bars (pictured right) can either sit between the glass panes, for easy cleaning, or externally – or you can customise windows with decorative or leaded glass. You can also choose from three styles of handles – classic, monkey tail (top let) or teardrop. Sash windows help to maintain the elegance of a period property. Today’s uPVC versions are easy to clean and maintain, and, with stylish woodgrain inishes available, they look as good as traditional timber sash windows.

SAFE & SECURE It’s also well worth knowing that Everest’s products are continuously tested to the latest standards, as well as being put through a number of particular checks that highlight their thermal eiciency, strength and safety. And when it comes to security, it’s even more vital that we know we’re protected with the very best there is on ofer. Everest’s laminated glazing is the ideal solution to ensure complete peace of mind. It consists of two panes of 3mm glass that are sandwiched together with a thin interlayer of Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB), which acts like glue to hold the glass together. This means that it would be incredibly diicult, if not impossible, to break, so you can be conident that your home is fully safeguarded. Each window is designed with safety in mind, featuring the revolutionary GrabLock mechanism, available on all Everest Exclusives windows. All windows are tested to PAS24 security standards and both GrabLock and Flush Casement windows are also Secured by Design Approved, a police initiative to prevent crime with physical security. So for beautiful windows that bring a sense of style, security and serenity to your home, you can guarantee that choosing Everest will be the right choice for a lifetime.

OPPOSITE Window and door furniture includes a wide range of handles in black, gold, silver, chrome or white, and graphite for premium ranges; superb workmanship ensures a smooth inish; Georgian bars are a classic choice in conservation areas ABOVE Bifold doors open in a concertina style, folding lat when open to seamlessly connect indoor and outdoor spaces For more information about the Everest window ranges, visit everest.co.uk or call 0800 008 7172 and arrange a home visit with an Everest consultant. Also see the Facebook page at facebook. com/everesthome

Bohemian rhapsody A 16th-century Kentish farmhouse is the perfect showcase for the colourful individual style of its interior designer owner WORDS BY SUE GILKES PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRENT DARBY STYLING BY BEN KENDRICK

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OPPOSITE Tayto, the Irish terrier, sits beside the family’s restored Land Rover in front of the tile-hung Wealden farmhouse THIS PAGE Walls in Farrow & Ball’s dark-grey Down Pipe and beams in Joa’s White create an atmospheric setting in the dining room, where an antique refectory table is teamed with chairs covered in vibrant African fabrics countryliving.com/uk

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ter descending half a mile of bumpy farm track into a beautiful secluded valley where Kent meets East Sussex, visitors are rewarded by the quintessentially English sight of an ancient russet tile-hung farmhouse, with a clutch of mellow brick oast houses across the yard. The only clue that the interior of the property might not be quite as conventional as its exterior lies in the gleaming Air Force blue open-top Land Rover parked jauntily outside. Found rusting away in a client’s ield, it was restored and given a new lease of life by Alexis Wylie, who inds it great for whizzing along the country lanes to her interior design jobs. And in summer, she, husband Fergus and their three children – Finnbhar, 18, Tabitha, 16, and Jonjo, 11 – plus dogs, all pile in for picnic outings and trips to the seaside. The family arrived at Bourne Farm 15 years ago, ater more than a decade in South Africa, followed by a short stint in London. Keen to move out of the city to be closer to Alexis’s parents, they were looking for an isolated rural property with some land that was still close enough to the capital for Fergus to commute to his job as a PR consultant. Surrounded by ields, with glorious views of the Weald of Kent and only 20 minutes from the coast at Rye, this 16th-century homestead near Bodiam Castle itted the bill perfectly. Although in rather an unloved state, it came with ive acres and the bonus of outbuildings, including an oxbay, granary and a triplekiln oast, which already had planning permission. First on Alexis’s agenda was tackling the conversion of these derelict buildings, built centuries ago for drying hops. A major project, it took ive intense months but, once complete, she was able to turn her

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ABOVE LEFT An eclectic mix of pieces, including a late 18th-century Dutch cupboard, bring character to the living room

THIS PICTURE In the dining room, walls in Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe provide an inky backdrop for books and country chairs

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attention to the house. Grade II-listed, it is a typical Wealden farmhouse, with clay Kent-peg tiles covering the steeply pitched roof and a huge chimney for the inglenook ireplace stretching like a spine up through the centre of the house. With a frame made from the oak timbers of an old merchant ship, the property exudes character. “It was liveable in,” Alexis recalls, “but tired and in need of updating.” Happily, this is exactly her forte, and years of experience in South Africa working on everything from boutique hotels and safari lodges to individual projects (how she and Fergus met) have inluenced her eclectic personal style, which she loosely describes as “colonial boho”. Bold use of colour plays an important role and Alexis favours bright, vivid fabrics and accessories, set against a calm muted palette. Farrow & Ball is her current paint range of choice and features throughout, with Lamp Room Gray a particular favourite. She has used this warm battleship blue on the broad horizontal boards that panel the walls of the beamed sitting room to create a restful backdrop for an idiosyncratic mix of inherited pieces, souvenirs from their travels – including several naïve-style African paintings – and vintage inds, all presided over by a OPPOSITE Floral cushions bring colour and pattern to the sofa in the converted oast house. A wooden ladder leads up to a sleeping platform THIS PAGE, FROM ABOVE LEFT The countryliving.com/uk

traditional Kentish oast houses; a bespoke treehouse by Lucy Williams of Wild At Art; a rustic pergola smothered in wisteria provides a shady spot for Jack Russell Titus Andronicus

striking modern bronze of a lurcher. An old armchair, brought back from a French lea market on the roof of Alexis’s car and reupholstered in a subtly striped Roger Oates wool runner originally intended for the stairs, makes a comfortable perch beside a weathered 18th-century Dutch cupboard – now a drinks cabinet – that belonged to her parents. The family tends to congregate in the adjacent snug – a cosy area where the African theme has been given full rein, with a papier-mâché head of a kudu (African antelope), a vibrant painting of a pink Land Rover by Tommy Motswai, an animal-print footstool and lamboyant loral cushions from Zimbabwe brightening up the much-loved, faded bottle-green needlecord sofa made by Alexis for Fergus’s original bachelor-lat commission. The other place everyone gravitates to is, of course, the kitchen. This generous vaulted space, with its original cream Aga, reclaimed Belfast sink and handmade Chalon kitchen in distressed shades of artichoke and charcoal grey, is the scene of enjoyably rowdy family gatherings around a French farmhouse table. In summer, the action moves outdoors to the terrace. West-facing, with a wisteria-clad rustic pergola, it is perfect for alfresco meals and provides a blissfully shady retreat, where relaxed seating with cushions in quirky Charleston fabrics by Duncan Grant invite people to linger. In the recently inished dining room, walls in dramatic dark Down Pipe create an atmospheric setting for candlelit entertaining, with old family portraits illuminated in the lickering glow. Dining chairs covered in colourful African OCTOBER 2018

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dress textiles in a mix of eye-catching prints provide an unexpected but inspired contrast with the sober antique refectory table. Up at the top of the house, quietly elegant fabrics by Ian Sanderson and Kathryn Ireland, set against a pale scheme of paint colours Slipper Satin and Bone, bring a tranquil feel to the light-illed master bedroom and ensuite bathroom, which take up the entire attic space. A brightly striped rug from a souk in Oman livens up the natural seagrass that is Alexis’s choice of looring throughout. The children’s bedrooms are on the loor below, along with a tiny guest room, which is dominated by an ornate antique French bed – so high that a footstool is required to help visitors clamber into it – with an old game rack providing a place to hang clothes. Converting the oast house into additional accommodation was an obvious priority. When not occupied by visiting family and friends, it is a popular holiday let, with guests enjoying sunny breakfasts on the wide wooden balcony. Inside, there is a large open-plan vaulted living space, where comfortable old sofas are piled appealingly with cushions in sot velour and vintage lorals, with quilts and throws adding texture and warmth. “I wanted it to be a relaxing space, so kept things simple,” Alexis explains. Many THIS PAGE, FROM ABOVE LEFT The tiny guest bedroom is dominated by an ornate French bed; the Victorian rolltop bath was re-enamelled and painted to match the bathroom walls; a

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wirework chandelier makes an eye-catching focal point in one of the oast-house bedrooms OPPOSITE Cladding and seagrass flooring creates a restful, rustic look in the master bedroom

of its furnishings are cast-ofs she has stylishly upcycled: “I’m a irm believer in make-do-and-mend – old pieces have far more charm.” And she is not afraid to experiment. The magniicent multi-coloured Manuel Canovas 80s ‘puf-header’ curtains, donated by a friend when moving house, were a revelation. “I would never have chosen them but they work perfectly here,” she enthuses. Beside an old dresser illed with blue and white Spode china, a wooden ladder leads up to a sleeping platform. “It’s not for the faint-hearted,” Alexis laughs. The two other bedrooms, in each of the end roundels, are easier to access, with a four-poster in one and twin antique Swedish beds in the other. The central roundel contains a turquoise mosaic-tiled wetroom and a bathroom with a Victorian rolltop bath found by the side of the road. Re-enamelled, with its sides painted in Pink Ground to match the walls, it sits on a small brick plinth near the window, looking out onto ields of sheep. Just as the use of these buildings has changed over the centuries to suit diferent needs, Alexis is always open to opportunities for reinvention – the old granary is now her studio and, as they no longer use the main front door, she has made ingenious use of the redundant vestibule behind it as a study for Fergus. “A home is never inished,” she explains. “It is constantly evolving with the stages in your life and must never stand still.” You get the sense that many more exciting changes lie ahead for Bourne Farm. Alexis Wylie Interior Design (07990 525890; therainbird.com). For more information on staying at Bourne Farm Oast, visit bournefarmoast.com. countryliving.com/uk

High on the hill Deep in the Wye Valley, this naturalistic country garden beautifully blurs its boundaries into the surrounding landscape WORDS BY NOEL KINGSBURY

PHOTOGRAPHS BY REBECCA BERNSTEIN

GARDENING

STYLE Naturalistic hillside garden in a big landscape SEASONS OF INTEREST All year, but late summer to autumn is best SIZE 2 acres SOIL TYPE Fertile loam, some clay and exposed subsoil

GARDENING

hen Jo Ward-Ellison says she was looking for a biger garden, she means it. Her last one in Surrey was 80 by 40 feet and now that she and husband Roy are in Herefordshire – where they moved in 2008 – they have two fenced acres to play with, plus a further acre beyond, which they have let open to the local deer. Set on a wooded hillside in the Wye Valley, their garden at Poole Cottage sits in a natural amphitheatre, with extensive views over lower land to the east. “I needed to plan the garden on a scale that would it with such a wide outlook and blend and blur into the natural landscape,” Jo says. What they have achieved, since they started planting in 2011, certainly does that. Up the hill, just below the surrounding woods, the eye is drawn to some big pampas grass and miscanthus that tie in with other grasses around the house. The link is made immediately and is a conident way of saying, “This is our garden”. The most densely planted area is around the house. In late summer, grasses predominate, with plenty of lowering perennials. Planting here is in straight lines and clearly deined with a pink, red, white and green colour scheme. There are a lot of plant repetitions: pink Sedum spectabile, yellow-green fennel, red Persicaria amplexicaulis. “Originally we were going to have some traditional clipped planting here, integrate that with shrubs and ill with perennials,” Jo

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explains. “But we have used grasses instead of the evergreens.” The resulting lines of Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ and blocks of Miscanthus grasses make a long-season statement that provides an interesting alternative to conventional ways of creating framework and structure. Between these two areas is a rising slope dominated by grass, much of it strips of unmown meadow grass interspersed with mown grass and clipped beech trees, groups of shrubs – mostly dogwoods and willows – and a large pond. To one side is a vegetable garden, to the other an orchard. It has all been meticulously planned; there is an avenue of lowering trees (sorbus and malus species), making a clear sight-line to the big naturalistic border at the far end. “I believe in having an overall plan because it gives you a framework and something to work towards,” Jo says. “I was keen to put in a strong structure on a blank canvas – we didn’t have the means to start doing major things to the levels and, in fact, I didn’t really want to. We decided to divide it up but not too much, so we put in hedging that creates big curves to relect what’s in the natural landscape. Then I imposed some strong straight lines with the avenue of trees and by arranging the orchard on a grid pattern with a crisscross of mown paths through long meadow grass. “We’ve tried to be as low maintenance as possible,” Jo continues. “As a garden designer, I spend more time working on other people’s gardens, but Roy helps here, too, especially with

THIS PAGE, FROM ABOVE LEFT Verbena bonariensis, mIscanthus and bronze fennel frame the gate beautifully; straight lines of sorbus and malus species, plus two clipped yew shapes, guide the eye towards plumes of pampas grass at the far end of the garden OPPOSITE The burgeoning lower border showcases Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, calamagrostis, the variegated Cornus elegantissima and a small weeping birch, Betula youngii. Along the front edge is the yellowing foliage of Sanguisorba ‘Tanna’

countryliving.com/uk

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I needed to plan the garden on a scale that would blend into the natural landscapeâ&#x20AC;?

GARDENING

JO’S FAVOURITE ‘NATURAL’ PLANTS Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ Versatile and easy. Long season and a good foil for other plants. Grows to 1.8m tall, slowly spreading. Full sun is vital. Viburnum opulus The native guelder rose is a dependable native shrub with white lowers and red berries. Grows to 4m. A classic plant of limestone soils, it in fact thrives in a wide range of gardens. Sanguisorba oicinalis ‘Tanna’ A short (40cm) perennial I value for its foliage. It starts early, wears well and hides the edge of the lawn, saving us work. Average to wet conditions in sun.

Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn is very useful for clipped shapes, although cutting twice a year is vital. Potentially grows to 5m. Tolerates a wide range of conditions, including extreme exposure. Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Alba’ Light and ine, this works well in traditional borders. Grows to 1.2m, spreading to form dense clumps, and lowering from August to October. Fertile soil. Cornus alba A sprawling shrub with vibrant red stems in winter. Grows to 2.5m high. Thrives in all soils, but mainly moist and even wet ones.

ABOVE A pot of semievergreen Stipa ichu (syn. Jarava ichu), which Jo grew from seed, forms a feathery screen TOP RIGHT The dark purple flowerheads of Miscanthus sinensis ‘Malepartus’ and the pale brown of Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Overdam’ sit well alongside the bright purplepink flowers of annual Cleome spinosa RIGHT Behind the house is a hillside of oaks, hazels, birch and hawthorn, most of which have been repeated in the garden, often in an ornamental form

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heavier work.” They have developed clever ways of making a bold impact with minimal expenditure of time – the straight paths cut through long grass, for example, create a simple and easy-care graphic efect. In the naturalistic border at the far end are clumps of big robust perennials – close up it looks unreined but it is designed to be seen from afar. Further lines of grasses, particularly Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’, make interesting efects, and only need an annual cut-back, usually in March. “Repetition is important here,” Jo says. “I tend to use the same thing in diferent ways, such as miscanthus, either singularly or in groups.” This is partly artistic rigour but also the fruit of necessity. The garden has been made on a limited budget and home propagation has been vital. “I started of with one plant of ‘Karl Foerster’ from Knoll Gardens in Dorset (knollgardens.co.uk), and the others have come from that, with divisions made in spring.” Favourite shrubs are propagated, too, such as the colourful red-barked dogwoods, which are raised from hardwood cuttings. Clumps of Euphorbia characias and dafodils create a sense of rhythm in spring. Leaving large areas of long grass and letting seed heads stand for as long as possible provides plenty of food and habitats for wildlife. This ambitious garden, displaying a clarity of vision, is unusual, and all the more impressive for being ‘complete’. “We’ve done what we wanted to do,” countryliving.com/uk

Jo says, “so now we can look ater it and enjoy it.” Its balance of contemporary naturalism with a far stronger sense of order than is usually seen in such gardens lags up all sorts of possibilities for a bold new model of country garden design. Poole Cottage is open by arrangement through the NGS until 30 September. See ngs.org.uk for details. Enjoy more gardening features in the CL free weekly newsletter. To sign up, go to www.countryliving.com/uk/newsletter.

TOP Trees in the orchard on the bank have been planted in a grid pattern, highlighted with a criss-cross pattern mown into the grass ABOVE In the front garden, pink-flowered Geranium endressii provides excellent ground cover alongside the browning stems of earlier-flowering Sanguisorba tenuifolia var. alba

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HEART OF OAK Beautiful cratsmanship, natural materials and a distinctive palette bring style and substance to a light-illed contemporary manor house in Herefordshire WORDS BY SUE GILKES PHOTOGRAPHS BY PENNY WINCER STYLING BY BEN KENDRICK

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ery few people can claim to have lived in the oldest and the newest house in their village, but Merry Albright has this rare distinction. Just 250 yards from each other as the crow lies, more than 600 years separate the 14th-century cottage where she was born and the spacious contemporary property that is now her home in Eardisland, in Herefordshire’s Arrow Valley. Though on a very diferent scale, they share a key feature – both have an oak frame at their core. Merry inherited a passion for this kind of traditional structure from her father John Greene, who pioneered the revival of green-oak building in the 1970s. Ater university in Bristol and a brief stint working in London – which “conirmed city life wasn’t for me” – she returned to the countryside, settling down with husband Ben, who also grew up in the area. They both work alongside her father at Border Oak, the company he founded, and enjoyed the perk of living nearby in a handsome cottage that they helped design. But ater the arrival of their second child, Gabriel, now ten (the couple also have a daughter, Minerva, 14), they realised they needed more space – and so, in 2010, Merry began to look for a biger plot suitable for a new project. It would take four years of diligent research, but her persistence paid of when a local farmer agreed to sell them a six-acre ield on the edge of Eardisland, surrounded by meadows and orchards. “It was worth holding out for,” she says. Gaining permission to build on it took a further two years, so it was a huge relief when their design for “a contemporary barn-style house” met with planning approval. Arranged in a horseshoe shape, with a central courtyard, Meadowmead’s coniguration is pleasingly reminiscent of old barns clustered around a farmyard. Thoughtful referencing of vernacular architecture and use of local materials – oak cladding FROM ABOVE LEFT Inspired by those in National Trust properties, the pantry has a period feel; Meadowmead’s exterior features a mix of brickwork and oak cladding; the utility room’s units, walls and ceiling are in Flaxen Grey by Edward Bulmer, while the pigmented concrete sink is by Warrington & Rose

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The solid oak frame is complemented by of-white walls and limestone tiles

Vintage industrial-style lamps from Baileys, positioned over the large wooden dining table, contrast with the line of four tiny copper pendants above the kitchen island countryliving.com/uk

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Walls in a dark smoky green and a natural grey wool carpet give a retro 70s feel to the playroom. A white Eero Saarinen Tulip table has been teamed with old school chairs, while vintage galvanized metal bins make unusual holders for the childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lego. The vintage 1940s American circus print of an elephant was found on Etsy

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and lime-mortar brickwork – has forged a visual link with the village, while its expanses of glass ill the property with light. The result is a stylish modern interpretation of a manor house. In the vast open-plan kitchen, with its run of loor-to-ceiling windows facing the courtyard, the magniicent solid oak frame of the building is complemented by of-white walls, relective pale composite worksurfaces and limestone loor tiles. Passionate about cratsmanship, Merry sought out quality ixtures and ittings from artisans and British companies to suit the handmade integrity of the house. She is particularly delighted by a collaboration with the talented young joiner Louis Ferneyhough of Fernio Furniture near Monmouth, who designed and crated all the cabinetry in the kitchen, pantry and utility room – down to the drawer dividers and doorknobs. Following Merry’s brief to “keep it plain”, the palepainted kitchen units have an elegant Georgian simplicity that is echoed by a central island topped with Herefordian oak. A graphite electric Everhot range cooker provides a strong focal point, while quirky character is supplied by vintage accessories, such as the weathered metal wall clock that adds wonderful texture but keeps rather irregular time. Two striking industrial lampshades from Baileys bring a touch of utility chic to the dining area, where they hang above a chunky wooden country table and chairs – secondhand inds that were sandblasted to give them FROM ABOVE LEFT An alcove in the snug has been turned into a study area. The posters are by Tilley Printing in Ledbury and feature quotes on Border Oak properties by design presenters countryliving.com/uk

such as Kevin McCloud; Ben and Merry in her ofice. Pale walls and a seagrass rug create a calm feel; a vintage basin from English Salvage stands out against inky walls in the cloakroom OCTOBER 2018

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INTERIORS raw rustic appeal. The beautifully simple shapes and colours of her handmade Brickett Davda tableware give Merry pleasure on a daily basis: “I like the way each piece is slightly diferent and the fact they aren’t quite perfect. “We didn’t want the formality that oten goes with a house of this size – it just isn’t our style,” she explains. “Although it’s large, we’ve tried to create a more relaxed feel.” The sitting room – in the middle section that links the two ‘wings’ – is furnished invitingly in earthy shades. Sofas upholstered in mole velvet and grey linen pick up on the subtle natural hues in a custom-made rug of sot plaited jute, while the opulent two-tone peacock blue velvet upholstery of an armchair from a local auction adds a lash of colour. Despite its high, vaulted ceiling, this room is always warm, thanks to a woodburning stove and underloor heating. This features in every room and, together with excellent insulation, keeps the building enery eicient. Sustainability is important to Merry and Ben: the grey wool carpeting upstairs is made from natural undyed leece backed with hessian, and most of their paint is eco-friendly – sourced from expert Edward Bulmer, who is based in the next village. His warm of-white – Whiting – provides a calm backdrop in many rooms, while deeper hues, such as Flaxen Grey, bring a period feel to the pantry and utility room. Colour has been used cleverly throughout, with pale shades enhancing the sense of space in certain rooms, and atmospheric

“We didn’t want the formality that can go with a house this size” darker palettes being employed to make other areas feel more intimate. In the large high-ceilinged main bedroom, furnishings inspired by the rich tones of a dark-green hand-dyed velvet headboard make a real statement and anchor the scheme. Similarly, in its pale en-suite bathroom, a blackened steel washstand, made by a local blacksmith to Merry’s design, provides a striking focal point, with its characterful countertop of pippy oak holding an array of vintage mirrors. Merry loves the foxed glass of older examples and keeps a lookout for them in antiques shops, where she has picked up many wonderful pieces for the house. In the two years they have been at Meadowmead, the family have enjoyed expanding into the space and inding new ways to navigate it. “Minnie is a fan of roller skates and Gabriel prefers a scooter,” Merry laughs. The studio in the wing across the courtyard has become useful for parties, sneaky football practice, cinema nights and Merry’s creative workshops. “This is a special house in a wonderful spot,” she enthuses. “I can’t imagine ever wanting to leave.” For information on Border Oak, visit borderoak.com. For details of craft workshops at Meadowmead, see meadowmeadlocations.com. ABOVE LEFT An arched window salvaged from a Victorian Methodist chapel makes an unusual feature in the guest room. White bed linen

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contrasts with the Oratory paint shade by Mylands on the landing walls and ceiling LEFT In the bathroom, an industrial-style frame supports a pippy oak countertop countryliving.com/uk

A dark, dramatic look anchors the scheme in the main bedroom. The rich tones of a hand-dyed green headboard are echoed by an old painted tack box, used as a bedside table, and a 1970s Healâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s green leather chair found on ebay OCTOBER 2018

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A burst of colour As autumn sets in, Tom Stuart-Smithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experimental garden in Hertfordshire provides an eye-catching pyrotechnic display WORDS BY PAULA MCWATERS PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARIANNE MAJERUS

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eep into Tom Stuart-Smith’s prairie garden in Hertfordshire in midJune and you will be met by a sea of dense, lush green foliage – layer upon layer of texture and varying leaf shape, as the framework of mostly native North American perennials builds. Here and there, the fresh green is dotted with magenta pink as the irst lower heads of Dianthus carthusianorum and Knautia macedonica emerge. The colouring-in has just begun. Return at this time of year, in late September or early October, and you will be mesmerised by the change of scene. It is as if a dozen Impressionists have been hard at work in the interim, artfully daubing it with the sunshine yellows of rudbeckia and silphium; the purples, sky-blues and lavender-blues of asters; the purple-red tri-lobed leaves of Coreopsis tripteris, known as tall tickseed, and the grey of Eryngium yuccifolium. The efect is stunning. Grass paths that curve between the beds have become all but invisible – impassable in places – as the perennials reach for the sky, some having now peaked at close to three metres high, with their heads waving in the breeze. There is no staking to be done, no feeding and not even any weeding (at this stage, at least). The forest of perennials is so thick, there is no room let for interlopers and each plant obligingly supports its neighbours. The whole scene can just be enjoyed for what it is. Landscape designer Tom sowed the prairie in January 2010 and it has fared extremely well since, still earning its place in his

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farmland garden at The Barn near Watford, only a mile or two from the M1 and M25. It continues to be experimental and Tom has been pleased with the efect it creates, especially as it provides such a wealth of lower colour later in the year. “It was quite a challenge to get it established – we had to deal with an explosion of buttercups to start with – and only a year ago I paid two people to pull up excess asters for a whole week in the autumn, just to redress the balance of species, but overall it has been a great success.” Tom relied upon James Hitchmough, professor of horticultural ecoloy at the University of Sheield, who worked on the wonderful planting schemes at London’s Olympic Park, to come up with tailor-made seed mixes. These suit the various soils found on the site, which are mostly sandy and free-draining but with an area of heavy clay at the eastern end. He used a combination of more than 50 species of tough perennials in a relatively high sowing density of between 96 and 130 seedlings per square metre. Tom’s gardener Brian Maslin describes how it was made: “The land, previously meadow grassland and surrounded by hedges, was sprayed of, turned over with a diger and levelled.” Tom had designed a series of sinuous organic shapes, separated by two-metre-wide grass paths and a gravel walkway along the side nearest the house. “Once these were marked out, we loaded each one up with 75mm of sand to discourage weeds ABOVE New England aster ‘Septemberrubin’ and seedheads of Echinacea pallida are an attractive pairing OPPOSITE The

rich yellow of Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii contrasts with the aromatic aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolius countryliving.com/uk

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is as if half a dozen Impressionists have been daubing with sunshine yellows and lavender bluesâ&#x20AC;?

GARDENING and make a free-draining seedbed, then scattered the seed over each area by hand.” The seed had been weighed out and baged up individually for each of the diferent areas and then mixed with large quantities of sawdust so that it could be more evenly distributed. “Of course, it was vital that it was done on a windless day,” Brian adds. Ater seeding, jute matting was spread over the beds and pinned in place, to prevent the seed blowing away and to discourage birds. Over time, this has rotted down and disappeared but it provided useful protection initially. One of the joys (and, perhaps, sometimes one of the frustrations) of this method of garden-making is the randomness of it. “There is no control over the clumps,” Brian says. “They come up where they come up.” An enormous amount of weeding had to be done in the irst year to get on top of invaders such as buttercups and couch grass. Similar prairie gardens (including the one at RHS Garden Wisley) have not been such a great success, which Tom puts down to the sheer challenge of weed management. Even now, seven years on, spring weeding has to be assiduous from February until the beginning of June. “Ater that we can’t get into the beds because everything has grown together, which helps crowd the weeds out,” Brian says. “So we just pull out anything we can reach from the paths.” Once established, CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT The architectural splendour of Eryngium yuccifolium with skyblue aster Symphyotrichum

azureus and ruby S. novaeangliae ‘Septemberrubin’; sunny Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii; Silphium terebinthinaceum

FIVE OF TOM’S PRAIRIE PERENNIALS Silphium laciniatum Grows to 2.80m, with bright yellow lowers. Eryngium yuccifolium Sword leaves and grey prickly lower heads; 80cm tall. Symphyotrichum novaeangliae ‘Septemberrubin’ Ruby-red, daisy-like lowers; 1m tall. Coreopsis tripteris Tall, willowy stems and yellow lowers. 1.80m tall. Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii 60cm tall with yellow daisy lowers.

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ABOVE The leaves of the yellow daisy-like Coreopsis tripteris turn a deep purplered in autumn. It thrives in

full sun BELOW The striking dark brown seedheads of Rudbeckia maxima stand out in low light

the prairie garden pretty much looks ater itself from early June until the end of January, when it is all cut down and either composted or burnt. Before that, in early winter it is alive with locks of goldinches, all vying for the thousands of seedheads that provide them with winter sustenance – a spectacle that Tom and his wife Sue take great delight in. It is a magical place for several months, changing day by day. As the prairie has developed, species come and go at will. Veronicastrums have started to seed into it from adjoining areas of garden. Viola sororia has found its way here, which Tom is very happy about. He has added dieramas (Angel’s ishing rods) and latterly some purple sedums and goldenrod Solidago rugosa, both of which he feels less sure about. For anyone contemplating sowing a similar prairie garden, Tom advises that an area of at least 200 square metres is needed and he feels that a boundary – either a hedge or a wall – is essential to contain and make sense of the planting. Of course, the species he has chosen can still be used in much smaller gardens in more conservative quantities, among mixed planting, to brighten the space in late summer and autumn. Asters (which are now renamed Symphyotrichum) are tough and reliable, and rudbeckia bring a burst of late-summer sunshine, while eryngiums provide long-lasting seedheads to punctuate the borders. The prairie garden has been one of Tom’s test beds. “I felt I had to try it for myself. I design gardens for other people but with this concept I wanted to own it, manage it and watch how it behaves. That’s the way to learn.” Serge Hill Gardens, Watford, Hertfordshire, including The Barn, is open for the National Garden Scheme. Go to ngs.org.uk for dates and times. James Hitchmough’s book Sowing Beauty – Designing Flower Meadows From Seed is published by Timber Press (£25).

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CL PROMOTION

Local heroes

Small independent carpet retailers ofer choice, quality and service

ritain has long been a nation of shopkeepers – nearly a million shops illed bustling Victorian high streets. For many large retailers, 2018 is proving to be a year to forget – but specialists and artisans are thriving. Local independent retailers are oten the lifeblood of communities and, of course, they are all diferent. This applies to independent carpet shops, too. The Carpet Foundation has 450 independent retailers nationwide, selling quality carpets to suit all budgets. Most are small or family owned – many have been in operation for generations, ofering good old-fashioned personal service from people who are genuinely knowledgeable. All Carpet Foundation retailers operate under a Consumer Code of Practice, approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, which guarantees a high level of service. They are the only carpet retailers in Britain allowed to follow this Code of Practice and are monitored to ensure compliance.

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT Pampas Berber Loop, Kersaint Cobb; Highland Saxony, Cormar; Perpetual Textures, Brintons; Portoino, Brockway

SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT CARPET RETAILER Flooring is an important purchase, so buy from a local expert with genuine expertise, who will give you brilliant service and access to a broad range of quality carpets, to ensure you get the right one for your home. The Carpet Foundation is also the only Government-approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) supplier in the UK carpet industry.

The Carpet Foundation is supported by these leading suppliers to the UK carpet industry: Abingdon; Associated Weavers; Brockway; Brintons; British Wool; Cavalier; Cormar; Cloud 9; Crucial Trading; Hugh Mackay; Kersaint Cobb; Kingsmead; Penthouse; Regency Carefree; SEBO; Telenzo; Thomas Witter; Ulster; Victoria; Whitestone Weavers; Wilton Royal

OUT & ABOUT If you enjoy looking for unusual and exotic plants, you will certainly ind them at Borde Hill Garden in West Sussex (01444 450326; bordehill.co.uk), where the endeavours of intrepid plant hunters are celebrated in a lush new area. Young designer Sophie Walker has devised the Round Dell in collaboration with renowned modern-day plant hunters Bleddyn and Sue Wynn-Jones of Crûg Farm Plants in North Wales, selecting intriguing varieties that deserve more than a second glance. The striking arrow-like paths (shown let) that cut through the garden mimic the bow of a boat cutting through the undergrowth.

garden notes

Everything you need to know to get the most from your plot in October

WORDS BY PAULA MCWATERS

VISITING A RURAL PLANT FAIR recently, I was pulled up short by one of the stallholder nurserymen gently chiding me. I was asking about a particularly delectable-looking plant and when he told me its name, I thanked him and said I would look it up. “Well, you can search for it online if you like or you can just ask me – I’m here, I grew it and I can tell you everything you need to know about it,” came his slightly mifed reply. I bit my lip with embarrassment, but who could blame him? While we have all come to rely on online advice, countryliving.com/uk

there is actually nothing to beat hearing it straight from an expert. Specialist nursery growers are a great resource and deserve our devotion. Many strugle to make a living and yet without them the range of plants available to us would be much poorer. If you are looking for independents, try searching at independentplantnurseriesguide.uk and britishplantnurseryguide.co.uk, and see rareplantfair.co.uk and planthuntersfairs.co.uk for events where independents will be exhibiting. I come away from shows and plant fairs laden with purchases but my (justiiable) excuse is that I winkle out unusual things. This year’s haul included some neonpink dahlias and a startling red crocosmia called ‘Hellire’, which is even redder than ‘Lucifer’. Both are still packing a punch.

A GOOD READ There is something romantically enticing about islands, so Island Gardens (White Lion Publishing, £25) is a particular treat. Covering some 7,500 miles, writer Jackie Bennett and photographer Richard Hanson take us from the Hebrides to the Isle of Wight, exploring horticultural havens with wide-open skies, sea views and challenging conditions. Some, such as Tresco, are wellknown, while others, including The Quoy of Houton in Orkney, are undiscovered gems.

WHAT TO DO Prune and tie in climbing roses to prevent wind rock Bring in any green tomatoes to ripen indoors or use in chutney Sow winter lettuce and purslane Move chilli plants into a light, frost-free place to overwinter Weed paths to neaten them Sow broad beans late in the month for autumn planting outside Plant autumn onion sets and garlic for harvesting next year Sow sweet peas and store in a cold frame until next spring Plant new rhubarb crowns (left); lift and divide old ones Pot up amaryllis bulbs to a third of their depth, to give as Christmas presents

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Tip Storing harvested apples in cardboard boxes instead of on racks helps them retain moisture. Check every 3-4 weeks*.

A subtle scent

1 HOUR to make a difference

Phalaenopsis or moth orchids are known and loved for their exotic and long-lasting lowers, and now Hampshire-based nursery Double H has developed three varieties that have a delicate scent. ‘Difusion’ (pink/purple), ‘New Life’ (white/ pink) and ‘Sunny Smell’ (yellow/dark pink, above) have dainty blooms with a light, sweet nectar perfume that seems to be most noticeable irst thing in the morning. Look out for them in Marks & Spencer and Waitrose for about £15. For tips on growing them, see loveorchids.co.uk.

BRUSH UP YOUR TOOLS

Sprinkle some goodness Biochar is an eco-friendly charcoal that can be dug into your soil to enhance its fertility and water retention. In a 40-acre woodland site in East Sussex, community-owned environmental group Sacred Earth is making it in small, ready-touse batches. Added ingredients include comfrey tea, worm casts and seaweed. The biochar comes in a compostable box and liner and, because it is freshly made, Sacred Earth recommends using it within two weeks of receipt. It costs £9.99 for 3kg (sacredearthland.co.uk).

As the autumn weather kicks in, the mud does, too, so this tool-cleaning brush from the National Trust range by Charles Bentley could come in handy for sprucing up forks, trowels, mowers and even hedge cutters before putting them away. The handle is sot grip, which makes it comfortable to hold while you wield the black nylon bristles to clean of layers of mud and plant debris. It measures 46cm long and costs £5.99 (buydirect4u.co.uk).

There is still plenty of time to plant bulbs for next year, and a quick and easy way to do this is in plastic pots that can be dropped into borders and containers later on. Line up a whole series of pots and ill them with a mix of multi-purpose and loam-based compost for added nutrients, plus some grit to aid drainage. For a strong display, plant bulbs closely, until almost touching. Label them and keep in an open position in the garden until they start to emerge. Water occasionally if the weather is dry.

EVENT On 13-14 October, RHS Harlow Carr, North Yorkshire, is holding an Alpine Weekend, showcasing plants with expert advice (rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr). 142

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY; LAURENCE DUTTON; JOHN GLOVER. ILLUSTRATIONS BY MARIANA.IO. *FROM CHARLES DOWDING’S VEGETABLE GARDEN DIARY (CHARLESDOWDING.CO.UK, £12.95)

If time is short, focus on one satisfying task – and the rest of the garden can wait

BRITISH IN PARTICULAR To highlight the delicious, quintessential ingredients that are farmed, ished and grown up and down the country, we meet some of the remarkable producers who help bring them to our table

This month: venison WORDS BY RUTH CHANDLER RECIPES BY HEARST FOOD NETWORK

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FOOD AND DRINK EDITOR ALISON WALKER LOCATION PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANDREW MONTGOMERY

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Local deer farming expert John Fletcher (top left) shares his expertise. Bob and Jane Prentice (top right) own the farm where the deer graze countryliving.com/uk

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The deer have a mainly grass-based diet. The rich soil and northerly aspect of the farm mean that the grass is in plentiful supply when the herd needs it most. John (above) established the first deer farm in 1973. Vikki Banks (opposite) owns Seriously Good Venison

t’s very windy, very wet and very cold at Bob and Jane Prentice’s small hilltop farm near Cupar in Fife on this October morning. The husband-and-wife team are out on their rounds feeding their livestock, which includes a 300-strong herd of beautiful red deer. Having grazed on 15 acres of clover-rich pasture all summer, the animals are now overwintering in two barns, large and airy enough for them to run about in. Jane forks some silage into a ring feeder for an eager crowd of around 40. “They’re still wild-ish, very alert and stick in a group,” she says of the creatures that have been farmed in Britain for less than 50 years. “They can kick with all four legs at the same time and jump from standing, hence our eight-foot-high fences” – not to mention the occasional use of a riot shield – “but they also quieten down quickly under cover and get into the routine.” Traditionally, venison came from stalking only, which takes place in autumn and winter, hence its reputation as a limitededition, seasonal food. It wasn’t until 1973, when the UK’s irst deer farm was established nearby by John and Nichola Fletcher – and others followed suit – that the meat became available all year round. With what many describe as a less gamey, milder and sweeter taste, this cultivated version became popular. While Bob and Jane run the farm, the business side of the venture is looked ater by Vikki Banks. Vikki irst came across the venison raised by the Fletchers when she sold it through her mail-order artisan food company. As a big fan of the enterprise, when the chance came to work for them in 2009, she jumped at it, on the proviso that she irst spend a year gathering knowledge and experience working on a chicken farm. It was deinitely the right career move: such was her passion that ater three years working for the company, she bought it. In order to modernise the business and broaden the meat’s appeal, Vikki rebranded it, changing the name from Fletchers of Auchtermuchty to Seriously Good Venison. With Bob and Jane raising the herd, she, with the help of general manager Jenny Law, oversees the butchery (which also provides services for other small producers), sales and marketing from a base on the

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outskirts of Perth, which overlooks the River Tay. From here, she and Jenny work hard, not just for Seriously Good Venison but also to change the image of deer meat for the whole industry. Among the key messages Vikki aims to convey is that venison’s high price tag is just a perception, not a reality, and quotes a joke that she hears time and again: ‘Venison’s dear, isn’t it?’ “It’s a very illing meat because it is inely grained and dense, and lean so it doesn’t shrink when cooked. You need less of it per person, so 450g in a casserole – which costs £10 – along with your veg, will feed four or ive.” Being young, female and down-to-earth, she and Jenny are quite the opposite of the hunting-shooting-ishing, middle-aged men in tweed many would expect to run a business like this. As part of their eforts to introduce venison to a wider customer base, they spend many of their Saturdays and Sundays serving it in the form of street food (such as burgers, sausage rolls and kota wraps) at farmers’ markets, festivals and weddings, as well as corporate and sporting events, from Bella, a converted 1980s ire service truck. In fact, such is Vikki’s dedication, there have been only three weekends in eight years that she hasn’t worked. Alongside promoting venison’s versatility, Vikki is keen to spread the word about the beneits of what she calls a ‘super-meat’ and ‘wonder food’ – it’s low in fat, very high in protein and a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, iron and vitamins B6 and B12. In fact, she goes so far as to call one of the company’s bestselling products a ‘diet pie’: “Yes, it is made with pastry,” she says, with a smile, “but aren’t all good pies? They’re the healthiest pies you’ll ever eat because inside is the best kind of meat.” It’s obviously fairly convincing – as many as 2,000 can be sold over the course of a single event. The high content of fatty acids in Seriously Good Venison products owes much to the deer’s grass diet, which is only supplemented with potatoes – and a little wheat for the young ones – in winter. Through spring and summer, when they need it to put on weight, the sward grows quickly and the view of the herd free-ranging over the green hills is a scene worthy of a fairytale. The animals lead what must be among the best possible lives for livestock. Bob and Jane don’t use pesticides, fungicides or herbicides on their countryliving.com/uk

FOOD & DRINK

land and they allow the deer to semi-hibernate in winter, resulting in diferent growth rates, while some other farmers put on lights to encourage them to eat when their appetite naturally drops during the shorter days. Buying in weaned calves that were born at the end of May and early June, during the annual autumn rut, from farms in the Aberdeen and Aviemore areas, they raise them for over a year on their land and handle them regularly. On Tuesdays, following a veterinary inspection the previous day, a quick dispatch by stunning and shooting in the ield is fundamental in ensuring the herd experiences as little stress as possible and, therefore, provides meat of superior lavour and texture. In the wild, a kill isn’t always clean and can take two or more shots, potentially causing sufering, which could afect the quality of the resulting product. “With farmed, you know its provenance, the age of the beast, the quality of its feed and the way it was dispatched,” Vikki says in her oice, which illustrates her passion for venison, from the deer-decorated clock and the antlers on display to the photograph in which a white stag is running with a group of hinds. Despite the year-round availability, sales at Seriously Good Venison still peak between November and January, when Vikki does 70 per cent of her total annual business. “The phone rings and rings,” says Jenny, who packs and mails out every order, for which the meat is irst hung for up to 14 days, liaising with Bob and Jane on a weekly basis to keep up with demand. “The last two weeks before Christmas are insane.” Jenny and Vikki exchange a knowing look as they glance at the calendar and begin the countdown to their busiest time of year, then raise their eyebrows and burst into nervous laughter. With a team like this not only producing top-quality venison but championing new ways to eat it and its health beneits, we can be conident that there’ll be an appetite for the traditional meat for years to come. Read on for some delicious recipes with venison. For more information, visit seriouslygoodvenison.co.uk.

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VENISON SAUSAGES AND MASH WITH BLUEBERRY GRAVY Preparation 15 minutes Cooking 35 minutes Serves 4 The fruitiness of the blueberry jam goes wonderfully with the gamey sausages. 700g parsnips, peeled and cut into 5cm chunks 300g Desiree potatoes, peeled and cut into 5cm chunks 1-2 tbsp olive oil 12 venison sausages 1 small garlic clove, crushed 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp cornflour 500ml hot game or beef stock 2 tbsp blueberry jam (or blackcurrant jelly) 100g fresh blueberries 50g butter

1 Put the parsnips and potatoes into a large pan of salted cold water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 20 minutes until tender. 2 Meanwhile, heat the oven to 190°C (170°C) gas mark 5. In a large, wide frying pan, heat 1 tbsp oil over a medium-high heat and cook the sausages for 5 minutes until lightly browned. Tip

into a roasting tray lined with baking parchment and put in the oven for 15-20 minutes until cooked. 3 Add the remaining oil, if necessary, and the garlic to the pan and fry gently for 30 seconds. In a small cup, mix together the vinegar and cornlour. Pour the stock into the pan with the jam or jelly, then whisk in the cornlour mixture. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 3-5 minutes, stirring until thickened. Stir through the blueberries. Remove from the heat. Set aside, covered with a lid or foil to keep warm. 4 Drain the parsnips and potatoes and leave them to steam dry in a colander for 2 minutes. Mash with the butter and seasoning until smooth. Serve with the sausages and the blueberry gravy poured over. countryliving.com/uk

FOOD & DRINK VENISON PIE Preparation 30 minutes Cooking 4 hours Serves 6 Venison replaces beef in this rich combination of classic bourguignon lavours. 150g pancetta or smoked streaky bacon, diced 400g shallots, peeled and halved 1.2kg diced venison 2 tbsp oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tsp juniper berries, lightly crushed 1 tsp allspice 6 tbsp plain flour 275g button mushrooms, halved 650ml red wine 450ml beef stock 1 bay leaf 3 sprigs thyme, leaves picked 200g whole chestnuts 500g block puf pastry 1 medium egg, beaten

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1 In a large pan or casserole dish set over a medium heat, fry the pancetta (or bacon) and shallots for 10 minutes. Scoop out with a slotted spoon and set aside. Season the venison well. Fry in two batches, using 1 tbsp oil for each, until evenly browned all over. Return to the pan. 2 Add the garlic, juniper berries and allspice for 1 minute until fragrant. Add the lour for another minute, stirring constantly. 3 Return the pancetta and shallots to the pan with the mushrooms. Pour in the wine and stock; add the

herbs. Bring to the boil, reduce the temperature to low, partially cover and simmer for 3 hours. Once tender, stir in the chestnuts, remove from the heat and set aside to cool completely. Remove the bay leaf and thyme twigs and discard. 4 Spoon the cold illing into a 1.3 litre pie dish with a rim, mounding it slightly in the centre and adding enough liquid to come just below the pie rim. 5 Roll the pastry out on a lightly loured surface to £1-coin thickness. Cut of a few strips to it around the dish rim. Brush rim lightly with water, press pastry strips on and brush with the eg. Use a rolling pin to lit the remaining pastry over the pie. Trim away

excess, cutting downwards against the edge of the rim. Reserve trimmings. Tap the blade of a sharp knife against the edge of the pastry, separating the layers slightly, encouraging them to ‘puf ’. Scallop the pie edge with the back of your knife and inger. Brush lightly all over with beaten eg. Decorate the pie top with the trimmings and brush with beaten eg. Make two small vent holes with a knife. Chill for 20 minutes. Heat the oven to 220°C 6 (200°C) gas mark 7. Brush again with eg, place the pie on a baking sheet and cook in the middle of the oven for 30 minutes until the pastry is golden. Serve with seasonal vegetables.

FOOD & DRINK

ROAST VENISON WITH A CHOCOLATE CRUST Preparation 15 minutes Cooking 1 hour 5 minutes, plus 20 minutes resting Serves 6 Slightly sweetened or unsweetened dark chocolate provides a mysterious smoky scent that works wonderfully with venison. FOR THE CRUST 150g fresh white breadcrumbs 150g unsalted butter, softened 1 heaped tsp thyme leaves, plus 1 tsp to serve 3 tbsp grated unsweetened or 80% cocoa chocolate pinch of cayenne pepper FOR THE VENISON 1.5-1.7kg boned and rolled haunch of venison 1 tbsp vegetable oil (optional) 1 scant tsp English mustard powder

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50g unsalted butter, softened (optional) redcurrant jelly, to serve

1 Put all of the crust ingredients with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper into a food processor and blitz until the mixture is crumb-like. Press into a dough, place between two sheets of clingilm and roll it out the length and width of the venison joint. Set aside in a cool place.

2 Heat the oven to 150°C (130°C fan oven) gas mark 2. 3 Unless the venison is larded, heat 1 tbsp oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Using a tea-strainer, dust the joint with the mustard and season it with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Sear on all sides until well-coloured. 4 Transfer the venison to a roasting dish that holds it snugly. Unless it is larded, smear the butter over the surface. Roast for 50-60 minutes depending on its thickness, to leave it rare, until it registers 45-47°C on a meat thermometer. If you have smeared it with butter,

baste it halfway through. Loosely cover it with foil and leave to rest for 20 minutes. 5 Heat the grill. Skim the pan juices of fat, peel the top layer of clingilm of the crust, lay it top-down on top of the joint and peel of the second layer of ilm. Press the remaining thyme into the surface and grill for 5-6 minutes or until golden. Thinly carve the venison. Some of the crust will fall of and soak up the pan juices, which is all to the good. Serve with the redcurrant jelly, creamy mashed potatoes or a celeriac mash, and mushrooms. countryliving.com/uk

FOOD & DRINK VENISON CHILLI WITH POLENTA DUMPLINGS Preparation 20 minutes Cooking 45 minutes Serves 6 Venison, like beef, soaks up spicy lavours beautifully. drained and rinsed large handful fresh coriander, optional, roughly chopped FOR THE POLENTA DUMPLINGS 100g instant dry polenta 100g plain lour 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 150g soured cream 1 large egg

1 In a medium-large casserole or ovenproof pan, heat

a medium bowl, mix the polenta, lour, bicarb and some seasoning. Quickly mix in the soured cream and eg until just combined. Drop large tablespoons of batter, spaced apart, onto the chilli mix. 4 Cook in the oven, covered, for 20 minutes (removing the lid for the last 5 minutes) until a cocktail stick inserted into the dumplings comes out clean. Garnish with coriander, if you like, and serve.

RECIPE PHOTOGRAPHS: KRIS KIRKHAM; GARETH MORGANS; PHILIP WEBB; KATE WHITAKER

1 tbsp vegetable oil 1 red onion, inely chopped 1 red pepper, deseeded and inely chopped 1 red chilli, halved, deseeded and inely chopped 750g venison mince 2 tbsp tomato purée 1 tsp smoked or normal paprika 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes 400g tin kidney beans,

the oil over a medium heat and fry the onion, pepper and chilli until they start to soten – about 5 minutes. Turn up the heat, add the mince and fry, stirring, until all the mince is well browned and any liquid has evaporated. 2 Stir in the tomato purée, paprika, tomatoes, kidney beans and lots of seasoning. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 30 minutes. Heat the oven to 180°C 3 (160°C fan) gas mark 4. In

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From TREE to TABLE

Inspired by the beauty and productivity of British orchards, photographer and cookery writer Stuart Ovenden has created a range of recipes for baking with apples and pears

PHOTOGRAPHS BY STUART OVENDEN

ome of my earliest memories are of the orchard in the village with a crab apple tree planted at each end. I oten wondered why the crab apples were there; to me, they seemed to ofer no merit to the casual scrumper nor (and more importantly) the orchard owner. I know now why they

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FOOD AND DRINK EDITOR ALISON WALKER

are planted in commercial orchards; they have a long lowering period in spring and are terriic pollination partners for cultivated apples. The walk to school took us through trees festooned with blossom in spring, heavy crops of fruit hanging of branches in late summer and the muggy ferment of the last days of

autumn, air thick with dust and vinegar. I oten think of an orchard as an almost self-contained environment; thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something appealing about the vivid polarisation of the seasons that it ofers up each year. It feels only natural to want to spend as much time as possible in these beautiful, complex spaces.

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FOOD & DRINK RUSSET AND RUM TARTE TATIN Preparation 15 minutes Cooking about 40 minutes Serves 6 conservatively, 4 if you’re feeling indulgent A decent tarte tatin is one of the cornerstones of the orchard repertoire – I have made countless variations over the years, but this has to be my favourite. If you prefer, the rum can be replaced with Calvados and the results are equally enjoyable, although it does compromise the pleasingly alliterative recipe title somewhat... 4 Russet apples 60g golden caster sugar

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40g light soft brown sugar 50g butter 50ml dark rum 150g puf pastry

1 Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan oven) gas mark 6. Peel, core and halve the apples. For the caramel, melt the sugars on the hob in a heavybottomed, 20cm ovenproof pan. Keep a watchful eye on this; when it starts to smoke, take the pan of the heat and stir in the butter and rum. Mix through quickly and thoroughly. 2 Turn the heat down, return the pan to the hob and cook the apples in the

caramel for 5 minutes or until they start to soten slightly. Arrange the apples curved-side down in the pan and set to one side (of the heat). 3 Roll the puf pastry out thinly and use a 22cm-23cm plate as a guide to cut out a large pastry circle. Drape it over the apples, tuck the edges in around the fruit and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the puf pastry is irm and golden. 4 Let the tarte tatin cool for 5 minutes, place a plate on top of the pastry and carefully turn over. Remove the pan and spoon over any letover caramel. Eat immediately.

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FOOD & DRINK BROWN BUTTER DOUGHNUTS WITH EMBER & BAY-BAKED PEARS & CHOCOLATE SAUCE Preparation 45 minutes, plus rising Cooking about 1 hour Makes 20 I love an autumn barbecue, and baking pears in the remnants of a ire is a great way to cook them. Make sure the embers aren’t too hot, although if the pears catch slightly on the outside, it doesn’t matter – it’s the sot lesh inside that you’re ater. FOR THE DOUGHNUTS 75ml buttermilk 75ml whole milk 7g fast-action dried yeast 60g unsalted butter 250g strong white bread flour 40g caster sugar, plus extra for coating 1 egg, beaten 1½ litres vegetable oil, for deep frying FOR THE CHOCOLATE SAUCE 200g dark chocolate 125ml double cream

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75ml whole milk 2 tbsp golden syrup FOR THE PEARS 10 ripe pears 6-8 branches of bay leaves, about 25cm in length, soaked overnight in water 4 tbsp Eau de Vie Poire William

1 Warm the buttermilk and milk in a pan; remove from the heat and stir in the yeast. Set aside for 15-20 minutes. In a separate pan, heat the butter on a medium temperature until it starts to colour. Watch closely – it should smell nutty. Take of the heat, transfer to a bowl and leave to cool for 10 minutes. 2 Sit the lour into a large mixing bowl then add the yeasty milk, butter, caster sugar, eg and a good pinch of salt. Bring together into a dough and knead on a loured surface for 10 minutes. Lightly brush a bowl with vegetable oil, pop the dough in and cover. Leave in a warm place until doubled in size. Knock

the dough back, chop into 20 pieces, then roll into small balls. Transfer to oiled baking sheets and cover loosely with oiled sheets of clingilm. Leave to prove for 30 minutes. Heat the oil to 180°C, then fry the doughnuts in batches for 2½ minutes on each side until golden. Transfer to kitchen paper, then toss in caster sugar while warm. 3 Melt the sauce ingredients in a small pan, stirring until shiny and smooth. 4 When the embers of your ire are glowing, remove the bay branches from the water and dry with kitchen paper. Lay a sheet of foil on a worksurface, then arrange 3 or 4 branches in the centre. Sit half of the pears on top, gather up the foil and scrunch to create a parcel – spoon in 2 tbsp of the Poire William just before sealing. Repeat with the second parcel, nestle into the embers and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the pears are sot to the touch. Serve with the chocolate sauce.

countryliving.com/uk

PEAR NUSSKUCHEN Preparation 35 minutes Cooking 1 hour 30 minutes Serves 8-10 Half of my family hail from Germany and I’ve eaten plenty of great German cakes over the years – a good Nusskuchen is hard to beat. Each autumn, I contemplate the naïve romantic notion of gathering my own hazelnuts from the hedge of coppiced hazel that leads into the orchard; I’ve yet to get there before the squirrels. 100g hazelnuts, plus a few whole ones to decorate 200g unsalted butter 200g caster sugar 4 eggs, plus two egg whites 200g plain flour 4 tbsp milk 1 tsp baking powder 4 tbsp strong cofee 7 pears 2 tbsp caster sugar countryliving.com/uk

1 star anise 300ml double cream icing sugar, to decorate

1 Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan oven) gas mark 4. Grease and line two 20cm cake tins. Blitz the nuts in a food processor until ine. Cream the butter and sugar together with an electric whisk until pale and lufy, then whisk in the 4 egs, one at a time. With a spoon, mix in the nuts, lour, milk, baking powder and cofee. 2 Whisk the 2 eg whites in a separate bowl until they form stif peaks, then carefully fold into the cake mixture with a metal spoon. 3 Divide the mixture equally between the lined cake tins, then bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and a skewer comes out cleanly from the centre of the cakes. Leave to cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

4 Turn the oven down to 140°C (120°C fan oven) gas mark 1. To make some dried pear slices for the decoration, irstly cover a baking sheet with parchment, then thinly slice 3 of the pears and spread them on the sheet. Bake for one hour, lipping the slices halfway through. Set aside to cool. 5 Peel, core and chop the remaining 4 pears, then add to a pan with 2 tbsp caster sugar, a splash of water and the star anise. Simmer on low for 20 minutes or so (depending on how ripe your pears are) until the pear has sotened but not dissolved to a purée. Cool before using. 6 To assemble, whisk the cream until thick, then spoon over the base cake layer. Spoon a layer of the cooked pears on the cream, then top with the second cake. Arrange the dried pear slices on top with a few hazelnuts, then dust with icing sugar. OCTOBER 2018

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PEAR AND RAISIN CHELSEA BUNS Preparation 40 minutes, plus rising and standing Cooking 30 minutes Makes 7 Choose the ripest pears that you can ind for this delicious Chelsea bun illing. FOR THE FILLING 2 pears, peeled, cored and chopped 100g raisins 75ml Calvados or pear brandy 35g butter, softened 50g soft brown sugar FOR THE DOUGH 220ml whole milk 50g butter 400g white bread flour 7g fast-action dried yeast 45g golden caster sugar 10g fine salt 1 egg, beaten

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TO BAKE/GLAZE 1 egg, beaten 3 tbsp sieved apricot jam 3 tsp demerara sugar

1 To make the illing, tip the pears, raisins and Calvados or pear brandy into a small bowl and set aside to soak. 2 To prepare the dough, gently warm the milk in a pan, then stir in 50g butter; once it has melted, remove from the heat. Mix the lour, yeast, caster sugar and salt together in a large mixing bowl, then stir in the warm milk and beaten eg. Tip the dough onto a loured surface and knead for 5-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Brush a clean bowl with oil, sit the dough inside and cover with a tea towel. Leave in a warm place to rise until doubled in size. 3 Knock the dough back on a lour-dusted surface, then roll out to a 20cm x 30cm

rectangle – about the size of an A4 sheet of paper. For the illing, use the back of a spoon to spread the sotened butter out evenly onto the dough, then scatter over the soaked fruit and brown sugar. Roll the dough into a Swiss roll shape from one of the long sides, then cut into 7 pinwheels. Line a large tray with baking parchment and arrange with a 1cm gap between each bun. Cover with a tea towel and leave for a second prove – until roughly doubled in size again. 4 Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan oven) gas mark 6. Brush the buns with beaten eg and bake on the middle shelf for 20-25 minutes until golden. While they are cooling, heat the jam in a small pan until runny, then brush over the buns. Sprinkle over the demerara sugar and leave for 15 minutes. They will keep for a few days in an airtight container, but you can’t beat them just baked. countryliving.com/uk

FOOD & DRINK BAKED TOFFEE APPLE CHEESECAKE Preparation 35 minutes, plus chilling Cooking 40 minutes Discovery has to be one of my favourite eating apples. It’s an early one; I’ve picked them in late July ater long, hot summers and found them to be perfectly ripe. The lesh has a vibrant magenta blush when cut, while the taste is crisp, sweet and refreshing in the still heat of a sun-baked aternoon in the orchard. This apple variety is a natural partner for sticky tofee and works brilliantly in this baked cheesecake recipe – good eaters, such as Cox or Braeburn, are more than worthy alternatives if you’re unable to ind them. 75g butter 200g ginger biscuits 6 Discovery apples 600g cream cheese

100ml double cream 150g caster sugar 50g plain flour vanilla essence FOR THE TOFFEE SAUCE 300ml double cream 100g light brown sugar 75g butter a few drops of vanilla essence

1 Grease a 23cm spring-form cake tin with butter and line with parchment. Blitz the biscuits in a food processor until ine and tip into a bowl. Melt the rest of the butter and add. Spread the biscuit mix onto the bottom of the tin; use the back of a spoon to latten it into an even layer. Put in the fridge to chill. 2 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan oven) gas mark 4. Peel, core and inely chop two of the apples. Whisk the cream cheese, double cream, caster sugar,

lour and vanilla essence together, then stir in the chopped apple. Pour the mixture over the biscuit base and bake for 30-40 minutes, ater which the centre of the cheesecake should have a uniform wobble when gently shaken. Turn the oven of and leave the cheesecake in the oven until it has cooled. 3 To make the tofee, melt the cream, sugar, butter, a pinch of salt and a few drops of vanilla essence together in a pan. Bring to a low bubble and keep stirring until the liquid is a thick, golden tofee colour. Spoon a thin layer of tofee onto the cheesecake. Core, slice and arrange the remaining 4 apples on top. Use a pastry brush to thinly coat the apple slices with tofee (this will create a seal and stop them going brown). Drizzle over the remaining tofee before serving.

CL BOOK OFFER Extracted from The Orchard Cook: Recipes From Tree to Table by Stuart Ovenden (Clearview, £25). CL readers can order a copy for the special price of £20, including p&p, until 31 December 2018. Call 01256 302959, quoting the reference QN1.

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CL PROMOTION

Worldly treasures Handmade items tell a more compelling story, says lifestyle brand Nkuku, which believes ethical business is good business

TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY. SEE ONLINE FOR DETAILS. OFFER VALID UNTIL 31ST OCTOBER 2018.

ten, the best part of a journey is arriving home – that small part of the world you’ve made your own. And the items we choose to ill our homes with connect us to the wider world, weaving a story about who we are, where we’ve travelled and what we stand for. Nkuku (Nuh-ku-ku) connects customers with cratspeople like Harlal, a leather cratsman from Rajasthan, and Puru, a potter from Tamil Nadu, ensuring each handmade piece – from armchairs to tableware – is made sustainably, using methods that don’t harm our planet. It may span continents but Nkuku’s home can be found in the rolling hills of the Devon countryside - a heartland for traditional crat. Whether items are made in far-lung locations or just down the road, each piece is designed and crated with a commitment to trading fairly. From locally made furniture to handmade journals from Rajasthan, each individual piece is crated using traditional methods speciic to the region in which they were created. Discover the full collection online at Nkuku.com.

D I S C OV E R A D I F F E R E N T WAY Like many great stories, Nkuku’s started with an adventure. Founders Alex and Ali Cooke were travelling the world when they discovered the wonderful makers who now form a vital part of their family-run business in Devon. Early on, the duo decided that the natural character of the raw materials they use should shine through – from the Kamba cushion covers woven on a traditional handloom, to the Baru armchairs upholstered in hand-woven jute and the reclaimed and reimagined Chakala coffee table (all shown above) – meaning that each piece is as individual as the person who made it.

ENJOY 20% OFF Discover unique handmade homeware at NKUKU.COM and enjoy 20% of your order*. Simply enter the code COUNTRYLIVING at the checkout.

Take a deep breath

WORDS BY KATE LANGRISH. PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES. *THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE THE DIAGNOSIS OR TREATMENT OF A DOCTOR. IF YOU NOTICE MEDICAL SYMPTOMS OR FEEL ILL, CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Most of us don’t pay much attention to our breathing, but taking some time each day to focus on it could help to improve our health. Firstly, it’s important to do it correctly – not the shallow breaths we take without thinking, but slow, deep breaths in through the nose that fill the bottom of the lungs and make the stomach rise. These help to release endorphins, the body’s feelgood hormones. Studies have found that simple breathing exercises can slow the heartbeat, regulate blood pressure, calm the mind and even reduce depression. Sit or lie down somewhere quiet, close your eyes and place your hands on your stomach. Focus on the rise and fall, breathing in for five, pausing, then out for five.

BEAUTY BUZZ

HAND BALMS

Autumn walks and weekends spent clearing the garden in readiness for winter call for a more nourishing treatment for hands. Oil-based balms form a protective layer without feeling too greasy, which is ideal for the changing seasons. Best for sensitive skin Botanicals Soothing Salve (£17.50, botanicals.co.uk), with lavender and camomile, is perfect for those with chapped skin or who sufer from eczema. Best for gardeners Daylesford Organic Rosemary Hand Balm (£10, daylesford.com) keeps hard-working hands nourished with olive and sweet almond oil. Best for grey days With upliting essential oils, Neom Organics Nourish, Breathe & Energise Hand Balm (£15, neomorganics.com) is a pick-me-up and skin sotener. Best for your handbag MOA The Green Fairy Hand & Lip Balm (£13.50, moa.co.uk) contains candelilla wax to protect, and absinthe extract for its antibacterial qualities.

health notes NEW FAVOURITE

Made with floral and herb extracts, including rose, lavender and wild pansy, Flora & Curl Flower Garden Hair Butter Concentrate (£26, floracurl.com) tames frizz, leaves hair glossy and also donates £3 from each sale to The Pink Ribbon Foundation.

countryliving.com/uk

Boost your wellbeing the natural way with our round-up from the world of health and beauty

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO BREAST CANCER – How to Feel Empowered and Take Control (Vermilion, £14.99) is packed full of information the authors (both doctors and themselves breast-cancer survivors) wish they’d known when they were irst diagnosed, including how to stay healthy during and ater treatment, and coping with the emotional efects. EACH SEASON BRINGS ITS OWN DEMANDS ON YOUR HEALTH, so Hello Day has developed a range of tailored vitamins and supplements. The Autumn Box (£79, hello-day.com) contains a selection to help boost enery levels and maintain a strong immune system as coughs and colds start to increase during winter. WHITENING TEETH DOESN’T HAVE TO MEAN using strong chemicals that make them feel sensitive. Pearl Drops Pure Natural White Toothpolish (£6.99, boots.com) uses white clay to gently brighten teeth over two weeks. For more tips and products, visit netdoctor.co.uk.

NATURE’S MEDICINE CABINET Linseeds They may be tiny, but linseeds (also known as flaxseeds), are packed with nutrients. They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for a healthy heart and brain, and also beneficial for the joints and eyes. Their high soluble fibre content means they can help lower cholesterol levels, as well as make you feel fuller for longer. Linseeds also contain phytoestrogens and some women find taking a daily serving helps reduce night sweats and hot flushes associated with the menopause. The hard shells mean it’s best to grind or sprout the seeds in water overnight before adding to muesli or smoothies. Use the oil to drizzle into jacket potatoes, but don’t fry with it as it’s not heat stable.* OCTOBER 2018

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Find your

BALANCE Feeling tired, irritable or craving sweet things? Use these natural ways to keep hormones in check and restore your inner harmony WORDS BY DAISY GOUGH

S T R E S S E D A N D BA D -T E M P E R E D When you’re under pressure, cortisol is released, along with adrenaline, to give you a spike of enery. However, too much stress over a sustained period means that cortisol levels remain high, which can lead to irritability, anxiety, fatigue and tension. We can’t always eliminate stress from our lives, but we can help reduce its efect on the body. “If your blood sugar levels luctuate (as they do for most women), your body will be releasing adrenaline and cortisol, which are the same hormones it releases when you’re under stress,” says nutritionist Dr Marilyn Glenville. Try eating something every three hours during the day to help keep blood sugar and enery levels stable, and avoid too much cafeine, which has a stimulating efect and trigers the release of cortisol and adrenaline. Taking a mix of vitamins and herbs can also help to reduce stress levels, says Dr Glenville – B vitamins, especially B5, for stress relief and enery; magnesium, which is oten referred to as ‘nature’s tranquilliser’, for relaxation and sleep; chromium for balancing blood sugar; Siberian ginseng, which acts as a tonic to the adrenal glands; and L-Theanine for reducing stress and anxiety. Try NHP Tranquil Woman Support (£24.77 for 90 capsules, naturalhealthpractice.com) contains all of these in one handy supplement. countryliving.com/uk

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RESTLESS SLEEP The hormone melatonin helps to control our sleep/ wake cycle, so it’s no surprise that smaller volumes are linked to poor sleep and mild depression. “Melatonin is also an antioxidant, and having low levels can afect the brain, skin, heart, eyes and immune system,” says nutritionist Nina Omotoso. It is only available on prescription in the UK, but there are natural alternatives that may help. “Supplements of tart cherry or asphalia (a mix of wheat and barley grasses) could help to rebalance your system,” she continues. Increasing your levels of the amino acid tryptophan helps to kick-start melatonin production in the body. It’s found in sunlower seeds, spirulina, salmon and egs, so try including these in the last meal of the day. “Melatonin is only produced in the dark,” Nina Omotoso adds, “so switch of your phone, TV and laptop, and dim the lights at least one hour before bedtime.” Try Cherry Active (£12.95 for 30 capsules, revital.co.uk).

C O N S TA N T C R AV I N G S

“Melatonin is only produced in the dark, so dim the lights at least one hour before bed” 170

OCTOBER 2018

Ghrelin is the hormone that tells the brain when you’re hungry, and leptin passes on the message that you’re full. When the two don’t work in harmony, it’s easy to over-eat. A good night’s sleep is key to keeping this balance. In one clinical trial, where the sleep of volunteers was restricted, leptin levels decreased and the desire for carbohydrates and sugary foods increased by a massive 45 per cent. Eating soup before a meal may also help to reduce the number of calories you consume overall. “This is because soup stops cells in the stomach from producing ghrelin, which turns of your appetite,” explains Dr Glenville. Also try taking a zinc supplement, such as Boots Zinc (£6.99 for 180 tablets, boots.com) – a study discovered that it increases levels of leptin. Other research found that a combination of ish oils and chromium helped to curb any cravings. Try NHP Omega 3 Support (£29.77 for 60 capsules, naturalhealthpractice.com) or Lamberts GTF Chromium (£10.99 for 100 tablets, naturalhealthpractice.com). countryliving.com/uk

FINANCE PROMOTION

Your safer guide to equity release Whether you want to fund your inancial future, help children get onto the property ladder or need to pay for care, equity release could release cash from your home to provide some inancial flexibility. Here are ive rules to stick to... 1 . U S E A N A P P ROV E D P ROV I D E R Any proposal should include a ‘no-negative equity’ guarantee and the assurance that you will maintain ownership of your property for life – these are standard with an Equity Release Council-approved provider – so don’t be sold these safeguards as added-on extras.

2. A SK FOR A LIFETIME MORTGAGE It’s a long-term loan secured against your property and can provide a number of lexible options to suit you.

3. K N OW YO U R G OA L S Think about what you want to achieve with your money and know the costs involved.

4 . P RO T E C T YO U R E Q U I T Y Some plans will allow you to put aside some of the equity release for you to dip into at a later stage.

5. A LWAY S G E T E X P E RT A DV I C E Equity release is not something you should say yes to online or over the phone. It’s vital you talk to an adviser and go through a qualiied advice process. You should be able to talk to an adviser on a no-obligation basis, so get as much information as possible.

To find out how much you could receive, or to request a FREE guide to equity release, call 0808 281 9399, quoting reference code CNL01212

This article is in association with Responsible Equity Release. A lifetime mortgage may reduce the value of your estate and afect your entitlement to means-tested state beneits. To understand the features and risks, ask for a personalised illustration. Responsible Equity Release is a trading style of Responsible Life Limited. Only if your case completes will Responsible Life Limited charge an advice fee, currently £1,295.

THINNING HAIR

“Head out for a walk in the countryside. Even a brisk walk, ive times a week, will help to manage menopausal symptoms” 172

OCTOBER 2018

Testosterone dominance oten happens when levels of female hormones drop. “This isn’t just conined to the menopause, but also happens cyclically for some women,” pharmacist Shabir Daya says. “Symptoms can include acne, depression, weight gain and thinning hair.” Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a compound that is formed in your body during the digestion of foods that contain the nutrient indole-3-carbinol, which is found in cruciferous vegetables. It is thought that DIM may help to promote a healthy balance of oestrogen and testosterone, so increase your intake of vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, kale and Brussels sprouts. “Studies indicate that drinking two cups of spearmint tea a day may help to reduce male hormones, including testosterone,” Shabir Daya adds. Try Pukka Three Mint Tea (£2.99 for 20, pukkaherbs.com), or you could make fresh mint tea if you grow your own herbs.

HOT FLUSHES Around the time of the menopause, it’s natural for oestrogen levels to fall and for you to experience hot lushes, mood swings and joint ache. “The trick is to use herbs to help levels fall gradually over time, preventing oestrogen crashes and allowing you to acclimatise to the changes,” explains Monica Wilde, director of Napiers the Herbalists. She sugests sipping cooled sage tea made with an infusion of fresh leaves to calm hot lushes, or taking a supplement, such as Dried Sage Leaf (£5.75 for 100g, napiers.net). Many women also use agnus castus, black cohosh or red clover to help balance hormones during the menopause. Regular exercise is a must, so head out for a walk in the countryside. “Even a brisk walk, ive times a week, will help to manage menopausal symptoms. Resistance training [with hand weights or resistance bands] is great for maintaining bone density and reducing your chances of osteoporosis,” Monica Wilde adds. Try Napiers the Herbalist Midlife Mix: Black Cohosh and Sage (£12 for 100ml, napiers.net). countryliving.com/uk

PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES. CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS VARY FROM PERSON TO PERSON. CONSULT YOUR GP ABOUT ANY SPECIFIC CONCERNS BEFORE FOLLOWING MEDICAL ADVICE IN THIS FEATURE

H E A LT H & B E AU T Y

next month in Our November issue is on sale from 3 October

Warm and welcoming

Taking inspiration from rich colours

SEASONAL GARDENS

LOCAL PRODUCERS

TEAS FOR WELLBEING

NEVER MISS AN ISSUE Turn to page 144 to see our latest subscription or renewal ofer countryliving.com/uk

OCTOBER 2018

175

where to buy Stockists in this issue

A AMARA amara.com ANLABY anlaby.life

D E F

ANNIE SLOAN 01865 803168; anniesloan.com ANTA 01862 832477; anta.co.uk ARRAN ST EAST arranstreeteast.ie ASTRID DE GROOT astriddegrootspooncarving.com BAILEYS 01989 561931; baileyshome.com BEYOND FRANCE beyondfrance.co.uk BLACK BOUGH 01584 877948; blackbough.co.uk BLITHFIELD blithfield.co.uk BONFIELD BLOCK-PRINTERS bonfieldblockprinters.com BOROUGH KITCHEN boroughkitchen.com BRIXTON POTTERY brixtonpottery.com BROOK STUDIO brook-studio.co.uk BUSY LITTLE THINGS 01629 540386; busylittlethings.co.uk CAROLA VAN DYKE 01424 425920; carolavandyke.com CARPETRIGHT 0330 333 3444; carpetright.co.uk CARRIER COMPANY 01328 820699; carriercompany.co.uk CHARNWOOD 01983 537777; charnwood.com THE CONRAN SHOP 0344 848 4000; conranshop.co.uk COX & COX 0330 333 2123; coxandcox.co.uk CRESSIDA BELL cressidabell.co.uk DFS 0808 273 9429; dfs.co.uk ENAMELAMA 07766 065642 ETSY etsy.com FARROW & BALL 01202 876141; farrow-ball.com FFOREST coldatnight.co.uk THE FUTURE KEPT thefuturekept.com GARDEN TRADING 01993 845559; gardentrading.co.uk GOOSE HOME AND GARDEN goosehomeandgarden.com HABITAT habitat.co.uk HEAL’S heals.com HEDGEHOG 020 8964 9331; hedgehogshop. co.uk HOBBYCRAFT 0330 026 1400; hobbycraft.co.uk HOME BARN homebarnshop. co.uk HUNTER 0330 333 4290; hunterboots.com IAN MANKIN 020 7722 0997; ianmankin.co.uk INDIGO & ROSE 01628 531555; indigoandrose. co.uk ISABEL HAINES isabelhaines.com JACKIE HENDERSON 07896 104405; jackiehendersonart.co.uk JOSIE WALTER 01629 823669; josiewalter.co.uk JOULES joules.com JUDY LUMLEY judylumleyprints.bigcartel.com KASASAGI kasasagidesign.com KENSINGTON DESIGN kensingtondesign.com KITTY CLOGS kittyclogssweden.co.uk LAYLA ROBINSON 01497 831733; @LaylaRobinsonDesign

LEWIS & WOOD 01453 878517; lewisandwood. co.uk LINDSAY ALKER lindsayalker.com LINWOOD linwoodfabric.com LITTLE GREENE littlegreene.com LOAF 0345 468 0697; loaf.com LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM SHOP ltmuseumshop.co.uk LORFORDS ANTIQUES lorfordsantiques.com THE LOVING CHAIR COMPANY thelovingchaircompany.com M MELIN TREGWYNT melintregwynt.co.uk MUJI muji.eu N NATIONAL TRUST SHOP shop.nationaltrust. org.uk THE NEW CRAFTSMEN 020 7148 3190; thenewcraftsmen.com NICHOLAS MOSSE nicholasmosse.com NKUKU 0333 240 0155; nkuku.com NOT ON THE HIGH STREET notonthehighstreet.com O THE OLD HABERDASHERY theoldhaberdashery.com OLLI ELLA olliella.com THE ORIGINAL MUCK BOOT COMPANY muckbootcompany.co.uk P PAINT & PAPER LIBRARY paintandpaperlibrary.com PEACEABLE KINGDOM CUSHIONS peaceablekingdomcushions.co.uk PENFOLD PRESS penfoldpress.co.uk PINCH 020 7622 5075; pinchdesign.com PIPII 01342 823921; pipii.co.uk PURE LIVING COLLECTION purelivingcollection.com Q QUINTON CHADWICK quintonchadwick.com R REASON SEASON TIME reasonseasontime.co.uk ROWEN & WREN 01276 451077; rowenandwren.co.uk S SCUMBLE GOOSIE 01453 731305; scumblegoosie.co.uk ST JUDE’S 01603 662951; stjudesfabrics.co.uk SITTING FIRM 02476 407930; sittingfirm.co.uk SO SOUK sosouk.co.uk STYLE LIBRARY stylelibrary.com SUE BINNS suebinnspottery.co.uk T TOAST toa.st/uk TOM RAFFIELD tomraffield.com TOPPS TILES toppstiles.co.uk V V&A SHOP 020 7942 2000; vam.ac.uk/shop VANESSA ARBUTHNOTT vanessaarbuthnott. co.uk VICTORIAN CERAMICS 01952 743345; victorianceramics.com VQ 0333 123 4601; myvq.com W WROUGHT IRON & BRASS BED COMPANY wroughtironandbrassbed.co.uk

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NATIONWIDE

BRING OUT THE BEST IN YOUR WOOD FLOORS! The Bona Spray Mop and Cartridge System – the easy, safe and efective way to keep your wood loors clean. Recommended by wood loor professionals, this award winning mop is always ready to go without a bucket! Just squeeze the triger to release a mist of Bona Wood Floor Cleaner and simply wipe away the dirt. Awarded “Best Wood Floor Cleaner” in independent tests, it gives a professional quality, streak free clean. Kit includes: Spray Mop, reillable Bona Wood Floor Cleaner Cartridge and washable Microiber Cleaning Pad. Find your local stockist or shop online at bona.com

Make the most of your garden this autumn with a bespoke awning from Nationwide. Providing a fresh appearance to your home’s exterior, you can stay protected from the sun at the push of a button, and enjoy a cool and comfortable shady retreat. Nationwide ofer a variety of styles and inishes, custom made to suit your property, with full installation service and ive year guarantee. Nationwide is currently holding an autumn sale, with discounts of up to 30%. For a free brochure, visit nationwideltd.co.uk or call 0800 825 0548.

Stylish living For your dream home

STYLISH GARDEN SAVINGS – £300 OFF! Make the most of your garden with this luxurious California garden lounge furniture from Out & Out. Generously sized to seat ive. Normally £699, now available at an incredible £399. To receive your £300 discount quote code CL4SEP at checkout www.outandout.com before 04.10.18 or call 02037 728 752. Available in Taupe & Dark Grey.

EXTENDABLE 4-SEATER DINING SET WITH £200 OFF! The extendable Dansk table built in solid oak has a scratch resistant white top. Its compact design is perfect where space is a premium. The four Bojan resin chairs feature comfortable padded seats. Available in white or grey. Was £499, now £299 when you quote CL4SEPA a saving of £200! Visit outandout.com or call 02037 728752 by 04.10.18

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A TOAST TO THE PAST A stupendously eclectic mix of antiques and curios from a bygone era. UK and International shipping. Peruse, come and say hi! Matthew John Cook Tel / Text: 07584 320401. www.etsy.com/shop/atoasttothepast

MOSNEY MILL Add a touch of Country inspired luxury to any meal. From a quintessentially British aternoon tea to a laid back family breakfast, Mosney Millâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ine china ranges have something to enchant any country lover. For a truly coordinated look why not visit www.mosneymill.co.uk to view our range of superior quality, British made kitchenware, gits and home decor. Quote CL15 to enjoy a iteen percent discount exclusive to Country Living readers.

Home sweet home Where the heart is

DOVEDALE CERAMICS Unique, functional and decorative pieces made by On a Wick & Prayer artisan candlemakers and ceramic decorators. Inspired by the wonderful landscape of the Peak District all of our pieces are designed to be both cherished and used daily. View the full range online at www.onawick.co.uk or visit our workshop in the Peak District village of Tissington, Derbyshire. For more details about our products phone the workshop 01335 390639.

POOKY HUTTON AND BROWN Find original items from the past. Take a look into our facinating online shop. Individual antique, vintage and quirky items for that special git or a treat for yourself and home. www.etsy.com/shop/huttonandbrown

POOKY creates spectacular lights that look like they cost a fortune, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Their range of beautiful lamps, colourful lampshades, pendants, wall-lights, mirrors, chandeliers and more is easily browsed at www.pooky.com and delivery and returns are free. Email hello@pooky.com or call them on 020 7351 3003 and their customer services team will help however they can.

advertisement feature TIMELESS JEWELLERY FOR ALL OCCASIONS

BADMINTON BEAUTY COUNTRY FAIR ISLE Made on hand knitting machines – Navy base 100% wool – £119.00 + p&p Michael Ross Made in England Tel: 01635 867165. www.originalblues.co.uk

This stunning freshwater pearl bracelet is inspired by classic equestrian styling with a fresh, contemporary take on ine jewellery design. Featuring a vintage-inspired stirrup charm, the Badminton Bracelet has a pedigree with a winning streak. We say trot on with this beautiful piece this season. RRP: £210. www.sylviakerrjewellery.com

Eternal Collection ofers beautiful costume jewellery and accessories at prices you will love. They have a fantastic selection of Swarovski crystal, enamel, metallic, exquisite pearl, semiprecious and Venetian glass jewellery to suit all tastes and a vast range of clip-on and pierced earrings. No quibble guarantee and free returns. For your FREE catalogue call 03453 707071 or visit www.eternalcollection.co.uk 10% OFF your irst order when you QUOTE CL18. * Excluding Postage & Packing. Not valid with any other promotion.

Treat yourself For you and your home

TRULY PLUS SIZE LUXURY TIGHTS THE DEFINITIVE GO ANYWHERE JEWELLERY We are delighted to be showcasing this brilliantly contemporary range of nickel free silverplate jewellery. Necklaces are from £17.50 each and earrings £9.50 a pair (plus p&p). Why not buy a set as a git and one for you too! You will ind beautiful gits, including a stylish range of faux leather handbags, for you and your home at www.cratworksgallery. co.uk or ring us on 01434 634500.

The Big Bloomers Company are specialists in plus size hosiery, from UK14 to UK42. Made in Italy, their tights are comfortable, lattering and durable. They slide on with no efort – no coaxing each bit of fabric up the leg, these are just straight on. Ultrastretch technoloy means superior all-over quality and it, and a waistband that doesn’t dig in or roll down. Your search for truly plus size tights is over. Call 01326 373268 or order securely online at www.thebigbloomerscompany.co.uk

CLASSIC AND ELEGANT CUTLERY DESIGNED FOR MODERN LIVING This delightful range is Old English mirror inish stainless steel with dishwasher safe cream handled knives. Exclusive price – Set for six people at £300, this includes six seven-piece place settings (as shown) and two table spoons. A set for four people costs £220. Prices include VAT and UK delivery. www.glazebrook.com Tel: 020 7731 7135.

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FROM THE WORKSHOP

JAMES BARTHOLOMEW

Our Map Boxes are beautifully crated from birch plywood and feature an engraved map of your chosen place. A thoughtful, personalised git for a map owner to treasure. www.fromtheworkshop.co.uk Tel: 0114 4389239.

See James Bartholomew’s vibrant and contemporary take on animals across his whole range of limited edition prints by visiting his website: www.jamesbartholomew.co.uk New editions now added. Pictured: Spring Hare framed in black ash

EBSWORTH POTS Professionally hand thrown pottery made in Wales UK. Yarn bowls are the perfect git for any knitter. No more chasing that ball of wool around. It stays in the yarn bowl while you knit or crochet. ebsworthpots.com

Home comforts This month’s essentials PLUG IN FOR A DEEP CLEANING BOOST…

WILVERLEY

KENTCHURCH BUTLERS A perfect git that will last forever. Ideal for that birthday, wedding, anniversary or retirement present. Hand made and painted, these wooden side tables are fun pieces of furniture to rest your drinks etc on. To order: telephone 01803 732 933 or visit our website www.kentchurchbutlers.co.uk

The Absolute King of Swing! Made for the British summer, the Idler Swingseat from Wilverley is a traditionally upholstered swinging garden sofa. Choice of colours, washable marine canvas (all loose covers), spring cushions and a 100% stainless steel foldable frame, so no tools required. The Idler isn’t just a fairweather friend! £1995. One week delivery. Call 01843603462 or visit www.wilverley.com Worldwide shipping.

The SEBO X7 Pet Boost glides over loors and can easily tackle stubborn dirt with its deep cleaning boost function and, as opposed to cordless models, it gives unlimited full power. It goes lat to clean under furniture and with its LED Search Light, dirt really has nowhere to hide. Made in Germany it is backed by a free iveyear guarantee. Call 01494 465533 or visit www.sebo.co.uk

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STYLISH WIDE FITTING SHOES

ABSOLUTE COLLAGEN AWARD-WINNING DRINKABLE SKINCARE! Just £1.92 per day for subscription and free delivery! Fight the ageing process with the menopause-must-have supplement! Help bones, joints, ligaments, nails, hair and skin with the most convenient collagen product out there. Containing eight grams of marine collagen, ready to take, to hydrate and plump the skin. In fact 91% of women in a clinical study saw skin improvement ater eight weeks! NEW TASTE! To order visit www.absolutecollagen.com or call 020 3494 4944. Quote CL for 10% of with this ad.

DISCOVER BEAUTIFUL SKIN WITH REGENTIV (Retinol) TM

Minimise lines and wrinkles, crepey eyes and neck, sun and skin damage with The Specialist Serum’s advanced retinol, vitamin E and aloe vera. Look Younger LongerTM with the antiageing serum professionals are raving about. From £29.95 to £149 with FREE UK p&p. To receive exclusive 10% reader discount, apply code CL10 at checkout. www.regentiv.co.uk or Tel: 01923 212555 for advice or to order. See website for full range and special ofers.

Wider Fit Shoes Ltd ofers stylish, afordable shoes to it you perfectly – whatever your width. Today, they are the leading supplier of wide-itting shoes in the UK, ofering footwear from EE through to 8E ittings. Their entire range of shoes and slippers are adjustable, durable, lightweight and lexible and every purchase is backed by their no quibble guarantee. No wonder they’re recommended by foot health professionals nationwide. For a free, colour catalogue or more information please call 01933 311077 or order securely online at www.wideritshoes.co.uk Please quote CLX1836M for 10% of your irst order.

Look good, feel great Health and well-being FINE FASHION – MADE IN ENGLAND We all want to look and feel fabulous, and it’s never been easier to achieve, thanks to David Nieper’s stunning new collection. Each garment is lovingly made in their Derbyshire studios from the inest quality fabrics and yarns. Expert designers and seamstresses create each piece with the greatest of care for comfort, it, quality and style. Cosy Reversible Liberty Gilet £165, style 5334. Shop online at davidnieper.co.uk or call 01773 83 6000 for a catalogue. Quote code CL18.

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR STRESS INCONTINENCE WITH A PELVICTONERTM Embarrassing leaks are a symptom of a weak pelvic loor – the good news is they can be stopped with simple exercises. This is where the PelvicToner can help. It is clinically proven to help strengthen your pelvic loor, NHS approved and available on prescription. It can also be purchased without prescription for only £29.99 delivered. Designed to be used at home without supervision, it comes discreetly packaged with everything you need to start exercising straight away. So what’s stopping you? To ind out more, or to purchase a PelvicToner™, visit pelvictoner.co.uk or call 0117 974 3534 today.

CREATE BEAUTY FROM WITHIN TODAY – PURE HA NEW ENHANCED FORMULA Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is found naturally throughout the body but most abundantly in the skin where it helps create a smoother plumper appearance. As we age, our HA levels reduce. By taking PureHA liquid food Before supplement daily, you are naturally helping to top up your bodies HA levels. Join the ight against ageing today and create beauty from within with PureHA. 17mg of HA in every sachet and now with added Vitamin C. Simply add to water Ater and drink. As sold in Waitrose. Order online at pureha.co.uk, use coupon code CL25 and get 25% of your order or call us on 01480 869 456.

AUTUMN COLLECTION Photo: Yeshen Venema

BRUME

SUZY HAMILTON

EMILY-KRISTE WILCOX

Brume window film replicates the look of etched glass and is perfect for windows where you need privacy but don’t want to sacrifice natural light. Easy to apply, made to measure or by the metre. www.brume.co.uk

We specialise in dresses and complete outfits designed and made in the UK using fabrics of the highest quality including silks, linens, brocades and cotton. Many of our frocks give more than a nod to the spectacular and glamorous styling of the 1950s and 60s. Visit our boutiques in Holt and Harrogate. www.suzyhamilton.co.uk

These handbuilt ceramic vessels by Emily-Kriste Wilcox exude calm and balance. Panels of clay are treated with layered coloured slips to achieve the desired depth of surface, making reference to the English landscape. www.emily-kriste.co.uk

TAKE A MOMENT FOR YOU!

JUDIT ESZTERGOMI CERAMICS

BLACK MOUNTAIN BEARS

Join us at our art school in Oxfordshire for wonderful art and craft workshops run by experienced, renowned artists. Learn the basics or develop your art skills in a friendly, knowledgeable environment, where everyone is encouraged to be creative and original. Visit www.pureartworkstudio.co.uk or call us on 01295 812469.

Wheel-thrown and hand-carved tableware and functional ceramics. www.juditesztergomiceramics.com

Beautiful hand knitted original collectable Artist Bears, with stories to tell, for you to treasure. Create your very own Black Mountain Bear, with our knitting kits and patterns. Beautifully presented, step by step, easy to follow instructions to knit and knit again! www.blackmountainbears.co.uk

POTTER AND MOOCH

PERILLA

CROWN COTTAGE SOMERSET

Explore our brand new collection of Ear Wings climbing earrings designed for a single piercing. Each pair is handmade in England on 925 Sterling Silver, 14ct Rose or Yellow Gold Filled wires with SWAROVSKI Elements. From £22 per pair. www.potterandmooch.co.uk Tel: 07703 785527

Keep toes toasty in 90% alpaca bed socks in pastel shades or bright purples and red. These make a wonderful present for any age group. Made in Britain. £18.00. Perilla.co.uk 01886 853 615.

We specialise in antique and vintage furniture, hand painted in the unique style best suited for each piece – Scandinavian, French, Country Chic, Rustic etc. Visit us on www.crowncottagesomerset.co.uk or call 07766 567065.

FOR DETAILS OF CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING PLEASE TELEPHONE 020 3728 6260 OR VISIT WWW.HEARSTMAGAZINESDIRECT.CO.UK

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IDYLLIC ESCAPES

DART VALLEY COTTAGES

TINTERN ABBEY COTTAGE

Dart Valley Cottages ofer a superb collection of self-catering holiday cottages in South Devon on and around the River Dart, Dartmouth and Dittisham, surrounding rural and coastal villages. Perfect locations for couples and family holidays. Discover great coastline, award winning beaches and beautiful countryside. Dog friendly properties. 01803 771127 www.dartvalleycottages.co.uk

Across from the magnificent Abbey, unsurpassed idyllic Wye Valley views. Fully renovated, warm 18C cottage. Sleeps up to 6 in 3 bedrooms. Two smart bathrooms, whirlpool bath, lavendered linens, cosy woodburner, CH incl., range cooker, sheltered garden, parking, WiFi. Easy M4/M5, numerous all year activities and attractions. Stroll to pubs/ eateries. Excellent walking. Pet welcome. Visit Wales 5 star & winner Best Self Catering again for 2018. Summer holidays , Autumn/Winter/Spring Breaks. Christmas. Credit cards. www.monmouthshirecottages.co.uk 01600 860341

WILDERNESS COTTAGES THROUGHOUT SCOTLAND

LUXURY COTTAGES NORTHUMBERLAND

Quality self catering cottages, houses and apartments, throughout Scotland. Countryside to seashore, rustic to 5 star luxury. Short breaks available & pets welcome. Brochure Available.

An outstanding selection of hand picked holiday cottages in prime locations along the beautiful Heritage Coast and amidst the majestic hills and National Park inland.

BRECON BEACONS HOLIDAY COTTAGES For that perfect break, we have over 350 great cottages in superb locations in and around the Brecon Beacons National Park, Black Mountains and Wye Valley. Romantic cottages for 2 people, rustic farmhouses and large country houses some sleeping 20, with oak beams and open fires. Pretty villages, good pubs, hill walking, pony trekking, mountain biking and fishing. Pets Welcome. www.breconcottages.com 01874 676446

RURAL RETREATS Over 500 luxury self-catering holiday properties sleeping 2-24 in the UK and Ireland. A Rural Retreats property has been carefully chosen for its beautiful interior as well as idyllic setting. From cosy cottages to country houses and lighthouses to windmills, there’s sure to be a property that will be perfect for you and your family. Dogs welcome. Request your FREE 2018 Brochure now. www.ruralretreats.co.uk 01386 897 959

Tel: 01463 719219 www.wildernesscottages.co.uk

www.luxury-cottages-northumberland.co.uk www.northumbria-cottages.co.uk 01665 830783

NORTHUMBERLAND SELF CATERING

COAST & COUNTRY COTTAGES

THE ART OF GREAT HOSPITALITY

Choose from around 400 holiday properties in Salcombe, Dartmouth and throughout South Devon. From romantic hideaways and beautifully renovated farmhouses, to luxury waterside apartments and cosy thatched cottages, we can help you choose the right one for your holiday. Call 01548 843773 or book online coastandcountry.co.uk

To order gift vouchers or your free hotel directory call Freephone 0808 163 3764 or visit www.prideofbritainhotels.com

from the county’s first & only Visit England Quality Accredited Agency, www.staynorthumbria.co.uk. Choose & book with confidence from a selection of over 90 properties to suit all tastes and pockets, from: coastal fisherman’s retreats for 2, to a converted Mill for 36. Dogs & kids welcome too. For Winter, Spring & Summer breaks of 2 to 7 nights, a brisk walk on the beach, a castle or two to visit, and afternoon tea in front of the fire to return to. Visit our website or ring us on 01665 721380 – what could be simpler?

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Pride of Britain Hotels, Britain’s leading luxury & boutique hotel collection, have selected and approved 50 of the best independently owned hotels and spas around Britain for you to enjoy.

FOR DETAILS OF CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING PLEASE TELEPHONE 020 3728 6260 OR VISIT WWW.HEARSTMAGAZINESDIRECT.CO.UK

COUNTRY DIRECTORY House & Garden

Back from Black Beam Renovation Ltd RENOVATING BEAMS SINCE 1997

BEAMS RENOVATED WITHOUT MESS! A UNIQUE PROCESS - NO BLASTING

Tel: 01797 458508 WWW.BEAM-RENOVATION.CO.UK

Wipe Easy Tablecloths Keep your home beautiful with our stylish range of wipeable tablecloths.

www.theheadboardworkshop.co.uk or call us on 01291 628216 Headboards & Beds | Ottomans & Stools | Sofa Beds & Chairs

TREAT YOURSELF TO A MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION TODAY! FOR DETAILS OF CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING PLEASE TELEPHONE 020 3728 6260 OR VISIT WWW.HEARSTMAGAZINESDIRECT.CO.UK

SHOP SECURELY ONLINE TODAY AT

BEST PRICE GUARANTEED

hearstmagazines.co.uk OR CALL 01858 438838 Phone lines are open weekdays Mon-Fri, 8am-9:30pm and Saturdays, 8am-4pm.

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01509 234000- www.floorsofstone.com enquiries@floorsofstone.com

What makes your Albion bath unique? We can paint your chosen bath in any colour get ultimate exclusivity in your bathroom. Request your brochure on: 01255 831605 or go to: www.albionbathco.com

Makers of Fine Leather Furniture for Generations

ASPEN 3 SEATER SOFA WAS £1769 NOW ONLY £1249 Great British Furniture

● Made in our own UK factory ● Direct from the factory prices ● 21 day money-back promise ● 2 year guarantee ● British and European Standard

The wood burning stove perfected

tested and approved CLEARVIEW SHOWROOMS Ludlow, Stow-on-the-Wold & Whitchurch, plus stockists throughout the UK Manufactured at More Works, Bishops Castle, Shropshire SY9 5GB Brochure Line: 01588 650 123 www.clearviewstoves.com

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To view our entire range or to order your free colour brochure call 01443 771222 or visit

www.thomaslloyd.com

FOR DETAILS OF CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING PLEASE TELEPHONE 020 3728 6260 OR VISIT WWW.HEARSTMAGAZINESDIRECT.CO.UK

GREAT BRITISH SOFAS DELIVERED DIRECT TO YOUR HOME AT FACTORY PRICES

SOFAS FROM ONLY £299 AND CHAIRS FROM ONLY £199 Over 60 models to choose from . No risk 21 day moneyback home trial . 5 year hardwood frame guarantee . Direct from the manufacturer

RATED EXCELLENT BY TRUSTPILOT

OVER 2250 REVIEWS

For a FREE colour brochure call 01495 244226 or visit www.sofasofa.co.uk

Thoughtfully made functional furniture

VICTORIAN kitchen. All cabinetry of average sized kitchen around £7,000.

Commissions fulfilled throughout UK, Europe & worldwide. Hope House

High Street

www.unfitted.co.uk

Moreton-in-Marsh info@unfitted.co.uk

Glos

GL56 0LH

www.creamerykitchens.co.uk Lynx Trading Estate, YEOVIL BA20 2HL T: 01935 434700

FINANCE AVAILABLE

CL02_OCT18

Whether its traditional or classic, fitted or freestanding, our kitchens and bathrooms are refreshingly different. Register online for a brochure and free no obligation design service.

For full details see: www.oldcreameryfurniture.com/finance

01608 650065

FOR DETAILS OF CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING PLEASE TELEPHONE 020 3728 6260 OR VISIT WWW.HEARSTMAGAZINESDIRECT.CO.UK

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Sales & Restoration 14 Oliver Park, London NW10 7JB www.jamesbarclay.co.uk

020 3174 2427

Direct from the manufacturer

Monaco sofa now only £299

Oakridge Sofas

• NO RISK 21 DAY HOME TRIAL • 5 YEAR FRAME GUARANTEE • FACTORY DIRECT PRICES FERNSBY HALL TAPESTRIES

www.oakridgedirect.co.uk Tele 01685 844944 188

OCTOBER 2018

Tapestry kits produced by Diana Fernsby from the original paintings of Catriona Hall. Kits from £55. FERNSBY HALL Please quote Ref.FHT1. www.fernsbyhall.com TA P E ST R I E S Tel: 01279 777795 kits@fernsbyhall.com

FOR DETAILS OF CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING PLEASE TELEPHONE 020 3728 6260 OR VISIT WWW.HEARSTMAGAZINESDIRECT.CO.UK

S “Extraordinary CUMB LE name.

GOOSIE Extraordinary furniture.”

TRADITIONAL BRITISH UPHOLSTERY DIRECT FROM OUR UK WORKSHOP

01453 731305

www.scumblegoosie.com

21 day home trial 5 year hardwood frame warranty direct from the manufacturer

The finest of British Country Outbuildings

www.kirkdale.co.uk Call for your free brochure 01495 243999 Oak Fronted Carriage Houses & Stand Alone Timber Garages ALSO GARDEN STUDIOS EQUESTRIAN BUILDINGS AND S P O RT S PAV I L I O N S

Est 1909

High Street, Strood, Kent ME2 4DR

Tel: 01634 290033

w w w. p a s s m o r e s . c o . u k • i n f o @ p a s s m o r e s . c o . u k

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

T UES REQ UR YO URE CH BRO

Handmade in Nottinghamshire

01777 869 669 | revivalbeds.co.uk

Tuscany Sleigh Bed

COVELLI TENNANT Vintage Textiles & Bespoke Upholstery

07855 256 007 07971 043 916 www.covellitennant.com

catalogue available

01225 851577

garden-requisites.co.uk

FOR DETAILS OF CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING PLEASE TELEPHONE 020 3728 6260 OR VISIT WWW.HEARSTMAGAZINESDIRECT.CO.UK

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189

Björk Haraldsdóttir Contemporary Handbuilt Ceramics

www.ceramicsbybjork.com

Order your free fabric samples at

thefootstoolworkshop.co.uk

For details of classified advertising call 020 3728 6260

01443 831 981 Beautiful. Practical. Customisable.

General Interest Photography

Property

KATHARINE DAVIES PHOTOGRAPHY Based in Sherborne, Dorset. Specialising in natural reportage, lifestyle and portrait photography.

Like to live in an idyllic Cardiganshire landscape? This is the place for you. Surrounded by beautiful beech trees and its own good stock rearing grassland and buildings, this delightful 53 acre farm has much to offer. Additional tenanted land with lake and outstanding viewpoint also available. Near the sea and good communications.

PLANT SUPPORTS & Garden Artefacts

First to see will buy. POA. 01570 470310

Made in England

Pets & Livestock

www.leanderplantsupports.co.uk Tel. 01773 550495

For animals with sore, broken & itchy skin. Promotes natural healing.

Beautiful designs for perennials, roses, shrubs & climbers

CAMROSA OINTMENT

+44 (0)1892 783240

www.camrosa.co.uk

Betty’s Buddies Dog Grooming 01935 813374 info@katharinedaviesphotography.co.uk www.katharinedaviesgraphy.co.uk

TREAT YOURSELF TO A MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION TODAY! 190

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193

L OV E O F T H E L A N D

ROGER PHILLIPS The writer, artist and legendary forager talks about adventures in search of wild flowers and man’s fascination with our origins When I learnt you could eat things gathered from the wild, it changed my life. I was living on my grandparents’ farm in Hertfordshire at the time, having been evacuated there in the War with my brother. We went to a tiny school, there were babies in the crèche and my job was to feed them a pulp made of nettle tops.

During the War, people would hunt and forage because food was rationed. My father was a pretty good shot and when he visited at weekends we’d go out hunting rabbits, pigeons and pheasants. There was no pre-packaged, preprepared food like there is now, and no needless waste either.

I was adamant my son Sam wouldn’t grow up to be a ‘townie’, more concerned by whether his shoes were clean than anything else. So, when he was ive or six and we were living in London, I thought: ‘Right, I’m going to take him out into the countryside and show him a thing or two.’ For the next eight years we’d venture out, rain or shine, snow or frost, to learn about wild plants and how to cook lunch on a campire. Word soon spread and, before long, Sam’s friends and their parents would come along, too – there would be a little mob of us.

to write Wild Flowers of Britain. I found, beyond the 100 or so lowers my grandmother had shown me, there were a great deal I didn’t recognise. I spent a year tearing around the UK gathering samples, which I’d transport in clinking milk bottles back to London to be photographed.

“It’s vital to have an emotional and philosophical connection with your natural surroundings” 194

OCTOBER 2018

It’s vital to have an emotional and philosophical connection with your natural surroundings. Nowadays, children are glued to their mobile phones, more likely to know about Pokémon than British plants and lowers. But when I did a tour at The Good Life Experience festival in Wales last year, the kids loved it – they were racing around inding mushrooms before any adults could get their hands on them.

Nearly everything you grow is edible – from dahlias and lilacs to roses and cosmos. My latest Instagram post is of my granddaughter showcasing a loral salad on a plate.

We are fascinated by the origin of things and all have a naging feeling that one day we’d love to revert back to a natural way of living. That’s why there’s been a resurgence in foraging, which I hope I’m a little bit responsible for… People like to think they’d know what to do if disaster struck and they had to go and live in a tree and collect their own food. Roger’s next book, Wild Cooking, will be published by Unbound, a crowdfunding publisher. To donate, visit unbound.com/books/wild-cooking. countryliving.com/uk

INTERVIEW BY LAURAN ELSDEN. PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY IMAGES; NASREEN AND DAVID NORBERT

Working with children provided the inspiration for my book. It was during one of those trips that I had the idea

Decorating WITH WALLPAPER, FABRIC & PAINT

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DECORATING WITH WALLPAPER, FABRIC & PAINT Contemplating any decorating project is exciting and daunting: the possibilities are endless and therein lies the challenge â&#x20AC;&#x201C; how do you get started? Style and colours will be dictated to some extent by how you plan to use the space and thus whether you want it to feel restful or invigorating. Then a piece of furniture, fabric sample or a favourite painting can form the basis of your colour scheme. After that, you need to decide whether to paint or paper walls, lay hard or soft flooring, hang curtains, add shutters or leave windows bare. This mini magazine is packed with ideas and divided into sections to help you narrow down your options. Happy decorating.

Editor-in-chief Words Ben Kendrick Homes and style editors Ben Kendrick; Alaina Binks Creative director Anton Jacques Art editor Roger Browning Designer Jack Melrose Chief sub-editor Michele Jameson Picture director Patricia Taylor Photographs Alamy; Caroline Arber; Vanessa Arbuthnott; Jan Baldwin; Tim Beddow; Adrian Briscoe; British Standard; Alun Callender; Charlie Colmer; Brent Darby; Farrow & Ball; Gap Interiors/Mark Nicholson; Catherine Gratwicke; Huntley Hedworth; Emma Lee; Loupe Images/Debi Treloar, Simon Brown and Jonathan West, Emma Mitchell and Rachel Whiting; James Merrell; Alex Ramsay; Ingrid Rasmussen; Nassima Rothacker; Mark Scott; Nato Welton; Rachel Whiting; Penny Wincer

CONTENTS 4

DECORATING WITH WALLPAPER Choose designs to bring warmth and charm to your rooms

DECORATING WITH FABRIC Introduce pattern and personality with curtains, upholstery and cushions

DECORATING WITH PAINT Create impact in your home with the latest shades and techniques

HOW TO CREATE A MOODBOARD Collate ideas and inspiration to see how everything works together

DECORATING DIRECTORY Where to buy

Published with the October 2018 issue of Country Living Magazine ÂŠ The National Magazine Company Ltd trading as Hearst UK 2018. Published by Hearst UK, 30 Panton Street, London SW1Y 4AJ (Reg no 112955). All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, without the prior written permission of the copyright holders. Printed and bound by Precision Colour Printing Limited.

DECORATING WITH WALLPAPER, FABRIC & PAINT

Decorating with

WALLPAPER Choosing wallpaper is more of an investment and commitment than paint, but nothing else lends such a sense of warmth and charm to a room. Many papers now come in a paste-thewall option, which is much easier to hang. Small-scale designs are easy to work into an interior and combine readily with other patterns. But, for impact, a large-scale trailing repeat, or even a mural, can look distinctive. Bespoke designs are now widely available and many companies do wide-width papers, so you can cover more wall with a bigger, more decorative repeat (they may need trimming). Architectural features often allow you to use paper in a section, above tiling in a kitchen or bathroom, above dado height in a hall or above wainscot panelling. Alternatively, use behind a bedhead or sofa to create a focal point.

TEAM COLOURS SYMPATHETICALLY. A William Morris paper on an upstairs landing has been efectively paired with rich green woodwork and graphite-grey colourwashed walls

WALLPAPER IN THIS BEDROOM IN THE EAVES, a small-scale patterned paper has been used in a section to add interest but not overpower

AN ENERGETIC FLORAL PATTERN is best seen in a small area and looks less strident when broken up with pieces placed in front of it. Remember to bear this in mind at the planning stage

IN TIGHT SPACES, a botanical paper helps the proportions, making the end wall advance and preventing a long, ‘tunnelling’ efect

CREATE A NOSTALGIC EFFECT by using paper on walls and ceilings. It’s easiest to achieve in larger spaces and with a single-colour print design like toile du Jouy

DECORATING WITH WALLPAPER, FABRIC & PAINT

WALLPAPER

COMBINING WALLPAPER DESIGNS COULD BE CHALLENGING but, provided they accord in design or colouring, they can create a cohesive, stylish interior (above) OFFCUTS CAN BE TURNED INTO A GALLERY in a hallway or by the stairs when put in a collection of old wooden frames from junk shops and markets (above right) CONTAINING WALLPAPER TO A SMALL AREA is always an efective way to bring a decorative focus to a room, much like an artwork. This splatter design backing a glazed cupboard enhances the pieces in front of it (right) Papers from a selection, Sandberg, and the Emma Bridgewater Collection by Sanderson at Style Library

DECORATING WITH WALLPAPER, FABRIC & PAINT

PAPERING OVER BUILT-IN FURNITURE can have an intriguing efect. This wardrobe has been carefully decorated with a smart bluegreen and white botanical design by Farrow & Ball

VINTAGE WALLPAPERS CAN STILL BE SOURCED in small quantities, such as this 1950s Sanderson floral, which the owner of this Sussex house used to great efect on one bedroom wall. Coordinating bedding and accessories match single colours picked from the paper

WALLPAPER INTRODUCE PATTERN AND COLOUR by backing storage boxes with uplifting designs. Similar papers, Laura Ashley and Harlequin

USE A PAPER TO ‘ZONE’ an open-plan room. Here, a built-in workspace has been lent a definite focus with a small-scale spot design from Vanessa Arbuthnott

IMPRESSIONISTIC DESIGNS on a bigscale mural can evoke the elegance of a faded fresco, yet remain calm and relaxing. Faded Passion wallpaper, Sandberg

A BESPOKE TROMPE L’OEIL HEADBOARD cut into an interesting shape from a one-colour paper is an inexpensive and efective decorating trick. Wallpaper, from a selection, Peggy Angus Collection from Blithfield

DECORATING WITH WALLPAPER, FABRIC & PAINT

WALLPAPER SEVERAL PAPERS NOW MIMIC surfaces and textures so efectively that you can use them as if they were the medium itself, and add texture and depth to a room (below). Peeling Planks wallpaper, Clarke & Clarke A BATHROOM ISN’T AN OBVIOUS PLACE FOR WALL COVERINGS, but you can use paper on a part-panelled wall where it can avoid being splashed. Finish with decorator’s flat varnish (below right). Chestnut wallpaper, Marthe Armitage AN OVERLAPPING COLLAGE OF PAPER SWATCHES creates an individual artwork. Repeating designs across the wall helps create calm and continuity to original efect (right)

DECORATING WITH WALLPAPER, FABRIC & PAINT

MANY PAPER DESIGNS are best treated like artworks, where their intricate detail is appreciated close up and therefore is most efective in smaller areas. Flora and fauna parchment wallpaper by John Derian for Designers Guild

Decorating with

FABRIC Choosing a fabric design of more than one colour gives you a palette to work from. Think about the material and where you are going to use it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; curtains, upholstery or cushions. Sometimes, however, you can break the rules, using a dress-weight denim, for example, for curtains or inexpensive utility fabric for upholstery or loose covers. Most companies give out a certain number of free swatches, but it is far better to go to a showroom to select fabric (rather than on the internet) to get a sense of scale, texture and true colour. Nothing beats placing swatches or larger returnable pieces together in situ to see how they work.

RE-COVERING A BEDHEAD with a detailed design, like this rich printed velvet, will dramatically ring the changes in your decoration, and can be made as a simple slip cover, which can be easily removed. Fabrics, from a selection, Liberty, Rapture & Wright and Linwood

FABRIC

BIGGER-SCALE DESIGNS WORK WELL as a fabric banner and have great impact in a room. These are easy to make with a sleeve at the top to run a pole through. Fabrics, from a selection, Linwood, Rapture & Wright and Sanderson at Style Library

A LARGER-SCALE PICTORIAL FABRIC suits a wall canvas, which can work as an artwork or bedhead, made with a simple wooden frame and staple gun

SHEERS COME IN EXCITING DESIGNS, so use them to introduce pretty decoration rather than going for functional, plain fabrics DECORATING WITH WALLPAPER, FABRIC & PAINT

FABRIC A VOILE CAFÃ&#x2030; CURTAIN lends privacy at a window if overlooking a street. Suspend on a plastic-covered wire for easy removal

DETAILED DESIGNS such as Morris & Co Strawberry Thief are great on a single piece of upholstered furniture in an otherwise pale scheme, updating and refreshing a classic Arts & Crafts look

FOR A SOFTER, MORE ROMANTIC FEEL, place a vintage floral fabric where a bath panel would usually be

CONSIDER RECYCLING FOR SMALLER SOFTFURNISHING PROJECTS. Cushion covers can be created from unwanted knitwear such as cable-knit jumpers and cardigans

DECORATING WITH WALLPAPER, FABRIC & PAINT

AN UNDERSINK CURTAIN hides unsightly cleaning products and is quick and easy to make â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you could conceal modern appliances in the same way. It also helps to soften the hard surfaces in a kitchen, along with this upholstered chair, for a prettier finish

LIFT TIRED UPHOLSTERY by making simple, boxy, loose covers for a set of dining chairs, a custom popular since the Georgian era. Make sure they can be easily removed for cleaning

FABRIC UNDER-CUPBOARD CURTAINS add colour, pattern and an element of charm to a kitchen â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a small frilled pelmet has a similar efect in a room where you might not need a working blind or curtains. Similar fabric, Cath Kidston

HARDWEARING CLOTH with a utilitarian heritage is great for loose covers as it is durable. Wash the fabric before sewing

FOR A CURRENT LOOK, decorate with floral prints by using them as accents on cushions or perhaps a bedroom chair rather than on larger expanses

A CHARACTERFUL ASSORTMENT of designs feels more current in a country home than a matching set. For loose covers or upholstery, choose varied patterns with a similar thread of colour. Fabrics, from a selection, Sanderson at Style Library, Inchyra and Colefax and Fowler. Carpet from the Country Living Collection at Carpetright DECORATING WITH WALLPAPER, FABRIC & PAINT

FABRIC YOU CAN EASILY MIX FABRICS if you keep a continuity of colour â&#x20AC;&#x201C; simplest when you partner pieces from the same company and collection, such as this stripe and floral from Cabbages & Roses (left) ANTIQUE AND VINTAGE TEXTILES can make elegant, detailed window dressings. Here, a section of an old embroidered and drawnthreadwork cloth makes a delicate pelmet (below) ADD A PLAYFUL FINISHING TOUCH by having fun with cushion styles (below left). A fancy frill will dress up the plainest chair

DECORATING WITH WALLPAPER, FABRIC & PAINT

BLANKETS AND THICKER WOOLLEN FABRICS can make great door curtains, window coverings and upholstery covers, and are a good way to recycle old favourites

Decorating with

PAINT

Versatile, flexible and relatively inexpensive, paint is the easiest way to create impact in your home. Choose from a number of finishes, from high gloss, eggshell and durable floorpaint to chalky, matt and light sheens for walls. Specialist paints include durable types for exteriors and distemper, a breathable paint that is designed to be used on old horsehair plaster. You can break the rules and have a soft gloss on the ceiling or on part of the wall, or use gloss rather than eggshell on furniture for vintage appeal. Try before you buy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; testers and swatches, seen in situ and at both day and night, are essential. CARRY A DARKER SHADE across a door for a playful efect that breaks with tradition

PAINT TURN A FLOOR INTO AN ARTWORK by painting boards with floorpaint in toning shades

IN THE COUNTRY LIVING HOTELS, a fashionable blueblack – Lost Lake by Dulux – has been used on a wall, door and furniture. Breaking it up with a built-in headboard prevents it becoming oppressive

THE WARM TONES of natural materials, such as wooden furniture and woven baskets, look great against a dark wall. Navy blue and soft charcoal tones are currently popular for a modern rustic style

BLACK BEAMS CAN FEEL HEAVY and oppressive. Try painting them in a pale shade or a charcoal grey for a more up-to-date look, which is much less work-intensive than stripping them back to the natural wood

DECORATING WITH WALLPAPER, FABRIC & PAINT

PAINT

SMALL, DARK ROOMS are best painted in rich colours, as pale shades can often appear cold and watery (above) PAINTED FLOORS are a cool, fresh and inexpensive treatment. Use floorpaint for best results in low-trafic areas, with rugs on thoroughfares (above right) UPDATE A KITCHEN with a bold shade of charcoal, teal or petrol blue to give it a contemporary feel (right)

DECORATING WITH WALLPAPER, FABRIC & PAINT

DRAMATIC FURNISHINGS in this modern rustic kitchen suit a monochrome palette of of-white and charcoal grey

FOLLOW THE LINES OF ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES in your home to efectively frame sightlines. Really bold colour combinations work here to lead the eye into a kitchen that has pale, calmer colours

PAINT USE A PAINT SHADE TO DEFINE AN AREA. A grapey purple unites this functional hallway with a random collection of colours and objects

A CHEQUERBOARD FLOOR, reminiscent of marble, can be achieved with floorpaint. Mark out carefully with masking tape before you begin

KEEP IT SIMPLE. The window and French door frames in this summerhouse are painted green to create a unified feel and to connect with the garden outside

A VIBRANT GREEN BEDROOM can have a tranquil and harmonious feel when similar shades are carried throughout

DECORATING WITH WALLPAPER, FABRIC & PAINT

PAINT PICK OUT AN AREA BEHIND SHELVING or inside a cupboard to highlight a collection of curios and small artworks (right) STENCILS CAN BE CURRENT AND DECORATIVE if you use them sparingly to create a border or a simple linear design (below right) VARIATIONS OF SCALES (lighter and darker tones) of the same shade is always a winning combination, especially in this cheery sunny yellow breakfast room (below)

DECORATING WITH WALLPAPER, FABRIC & PAINT

WHEN THERE IS LOTS ON DISPLAY to delight the eye in a room, such as this collection of china from Susie Watson, a combination of pale neutral shades on walls and doors is always a good choice, so as not to overwhelm. Painting a door frame in a pale chalky colour also adds subtle contrast and originality

MOODBOARD styling by Ben Kendrick. Photographs by Nato Welton. Clockwise, from top left Card Room Green emulsion; Calke Green emulsion, Farrow & Ball. Kintyre check sage linen-mix and Carlton check sage wool, Ian Mankin. Pure Bramble embroidery, Morris & Co at Style Library. Angus stripe Nordic red linen and Nairn check peony linen-mix, Ian Mankin In the bowl Quercus Autumn leaf wool-cotton mix, Linwood Opposite Fabrics and braids, from a selection, Cabbages & Roses, Jane Churchill and Vanessa Arbuthnott. Woodland Chorus wallpaper by Sanderson at Style Library

How to create a

MOODBOARD

PLANNING THE DECORATION IN YOUR HOME MIGHT SEEM A DAUNTING TASK, but it is made much easier once you start to collate ideas and inspiration, to build a visual reference and see how things will work together. Magazine images can be useful at this stage, or you could collect diferent types of media, perhaps illustrations, artwork and photography, that show colour combinations or a style you ind appealing. Remember that you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get the true colour of a paint swatch from a digital printout and wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t appreciate the full texture of a carpet sample unless you have the real thing in your hand. Once you begin to put samples from paint charts or tester pots next to fabric or wallpaper swatches, things will soon take shape. Place them all together on a pinboard or in a journal, so everything is in one place and you can see if the shades, materials and pattern scales complement each other.

DECORATING WITH WALLPAPER, FABRIC & PAINT

DECORATING DIRECTORY WALLPAPER BLITHFIELD blithfield.co.uk (as seen, right) Timeless collection of wallpaper and fabric including a collection by Peggy Angus. COLE & SON cole-and-son.com Diverse range of papers from historic prints to modern subjects, many in strong, pictorial styles and collections from renowned designers. DESIGNERS GUILD designersguild.com Contemporary and painterly styles, including large-scale florals and murals, modern geometrics and plains, often in its signature colourful palette. HANNAH NUNN hannahnunn.co.uk Leafy prints or meadow silhouettes on gentle coloured grounds, greys, blues and putty shades. LAURA ASHLEY lauraashley.com Classic wallpapers with botanical and floral prints. MARTHE ARMITAGE marthearmitage.co.uk Creates unique patterns that start as hand-drawn designs, which are then hand-printed. THE PAPER PARTNERSHIP thepaperpartnership.co.uk Small company based in West Sussex, which specialises in quality papers including a historic collection derived from archive drawings from Oxford University featuring botanical, architectural and trompe l’oeil designs. ROMO romo.com Large collection of textiles from plains and upholstery weaves, geometrics and prints for every taste, some at more affordable prices. SANDBERG sandbergwallpaper.com Swedish paper specialist, which produces historic Scandinavian designs to modern murals. Arts & Crafts inspired, plus botanicals, texture and stripes. STYLE LIBRARY stylelibrary.com Six brands under one roof including Morris & Co, Sanderson, Zoffany and Harlequin. Wide range of patterns, prints and styles with many floral and botanical designs, plains and historic prints. SURFACE VIEW surfaceview.co.uk A wide range of distinctive murals made to measure. VANESSA ARBUTHNOTT vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk Stylish and easy-to-use wallpaper and fabric designs, many with a country theme in pretty colourings. WALLPAPER DIRECT wallpaperdirect.com Website stocking a huge range of papers from a wide range of companies and sells them at competitive prices. A one-stop wallpaper shop.

FABRIC BENNISON bennisonfabrics.com Beautiful collection of handprinted historic designs from tea-stained florals to one-colour block prints.

classic floral patterns and Scion’s Scandi-inspired artworks, this company has a huge range of styles to suit all tastes.

PAINT

CABBAGES & ROSES cabbagesandroses.com English florals, stripes, checks and toiles all beautifully printed on fine linen. CATH KIDSTON cathkidston.com Colourful designs from ditsy florals to quirky animal prints with a vintage flavour. COLEFAX AND FOWLER colefax.com Historic brand with classic styles. DESIGNERS GUILD designersguild.com Great selection of plain-coloured linens, silks, wools, sheers, upholstery weights and patterns, prints and florals, many in uplifting colours. IAN MANKIN ianmankin.co.uk Fabrics inspired by hardwearing, utility classics including cottons and linens, plains, stripes and checks; durable materials at reasonable prices. INCHYRA inchyradesigns.co.uk Edited collection of natural fabrics with pretty small-scale designs from florals to checks. JANE CHURCHILL janechurchill.com Wide range of fabrics for curtains and upholstery, including lots of classic stripes and checks, embroideries, prints and weaves. LIBERTY libertylondon.com Distinctive florals, patterns and prints, many on an intimate scale or in multicolours with a bohemian/artistic style. LINWOOD linwoodfabric.com Good selection of textured and plain linens, plus prints and weaves. RAPTURE & WRIGHT raptureandwright.co.uk Collection of handprinted textiles on quality linens that are all produced in Oxfordshire. ROMO romo.com Large range of textiles, many mid-price range, geometrics, weaves and upholstery choices, plus patterns and prints in a variety of colours and styles. ST JUDE’S stjudes.co.uk Collection of printed designs on both cottons and linens by artists. STYLE LIBRARY stylelibrary.com From William Morris prints, which rework medieval designs, to Sanderson’s

DECORATING WITH WALLPAPER, FABRIC & PAINT

ANNIE SLOAN anniesloan.com Popular range of chalk paints that can be diluted for walls or used full-strength as durable and easy-to-use wood paint. Lots of gutsy Mediterranean colours. Website contains videos and workshop details. CASSANDRA ELLIS cassandraellis.co.uk 28 colours in subtle or delicate shades that are dense in pigmentation, have a luminous quality and are great to use. DULUX dulux.co.uk Huge range of paint with shades of every kind. Stocked throughout the UK in DIY stores and decorator shops. EARTHBORN earthbornpaints.co.uk Range of ‘green’ paints, which are breathable and don’t contain oils and acrylics. 72 paints in several finishes. EDWARD BULMER edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk Based in Herefordshire, this company offers high-quality, natural paints in a well-chosen collection that is eco-friendly. Nursery collection free from VOCs and chemicals. FARROW & BALL farrow-ball.com 132 historic shades, plus its archive of colours, which can be recreated. Paints made to traditional methods in Wimborne, Dorset. FIRED EARTH firedearth.com Appealing selection of 120 colours in several finishes, including outdoor masonry paint. ISLE OF SKYE PAINT COMPANY isleofskyepaintcompany.co.uk 32 shades in five finishes inspired by the island. Made using natural and sustainable materials including seaweed. LITTLE GREENE littlegreene.com High-quality paints in a good range of finishes mainly on historic lines. Finely graded colour scales collection with degrees of tone and a new collection of appealing period shades with the National Trust. MYLANDS mylands.com Collection of bright and more subdued historic shades in several finishes. Robust floorpaints, plus oils, stains and waxes. PAINT & PAPER LIBRARY paintandpaperlibrary.com 180 beautiful calm shades, including lots of pale tones. Several finishes such as a chalky, flat matt for walls and an oil eggshell. SANDERSON stylelibrary.com A wide range of shades in quality paint in various finishes, including oil and acrylic eggshell. ZOFFANY stylelibrary.com Good-quality paint in historic shades, many in mineral and jewel tones.

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