Absolutely London Chiswick, West & Richmond February 2023

Our Winter Design Sale has begun, and you can save 15% off on a wide range of furniture and accessories to order, as well as up to 50% off on our premium ex-display items. We can help you make the most of your space with our free interior design service. You’ll receive a consultation in-store or at home, as well as 3D renderings of your space. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit us in-store.

STAY IN BED

The ultimate luxury is taking time to unwind in a bed so comfortable that you never want to leave

Bed: Sandö I Fabric: Designer´s Guild Rothesay Zinc I Carpet: Soft Greige I Bed Linen: Storm Shell I Bedside table: Holme I Headboard: Rivö I Bed legs: Reling MADE BESPOKE WITH FABRICS FROM AND

EDITOR IN CHIEF

PENDLE HARTE

MAMA EDITOR CARLY GLENDINNING

ART DIRECTOR PAWEL KUBA

SENIOR DESIGNERS

MIKE ROBERTS, SUZETTE SCOBLE

MIDWEIGHT DESIGNER CARMEN GRAHAM

JUNIOR DESIGNER JOE MUNSEY

PRODUCTION MANAGER DANICA BRODIE

GROUP SALES MANAGER JOSEPH HAISMAN

SENIOR MEDIA CONSULTANT STELLA ADAMS

FINANCIAL DIRECTOR JERRIE KOLECI

CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER ALEXANDRA HVID

DIRECTORS

CRAIG DAVIES, LEAH DAY, JAMES FUSCHILLO

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HUNTER MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT

LETTER Editor’s

ABSOLUTELY’S February issue highlights

For many people, February isn't one of the year's highlights. It's cold, it's dark, it feels as though the worst of winter should be over, but suddenly there's another burst of spiteful weather. And for most people with small children who aren't going skiing, February half term is a bleak week. But still – there is a bright side. This February is proving to be an exciting month, culture-wise: we're looking forward to a dance performace at Sadlers Wells that interprets Leonard Cohen's words and music in movement, as well as the excellent Cirque Beserk's programme at Riverside Studios and the endless brilliance of Matilda The Musical. And without leaving the house, we're focusing on healthy eating with some excellent recipes from the Detox Kitchen, while we plan our summer holidays (our advice this year: the Languedoc, or Sardinia), and consider whether this is the month to decide on new wallpaper. Enjoy February.

Donut stop

Parlour games

Wallpaper

Valentine's Day

It's here. This year's chocolate offerings are better than ever.

Body moving

PENDLE HARTE EDITOR

We admire reinvented patterns from the National Trust.

The humble donut, but make it fashion at Donutelier

Dance Me - Music by Leonard Cohen at Sadler's Wells

Kate Watson-Smyth worked on these fabulous apartments for wine experts Berry Bros & Rudd

COMPILED BY PENDLE HARTE

OPAL FRUIT

This classic drop necklace has a beautiful smooth round 10mm Pink Opal semi-precious stone bead held in place by a claw covered in Pavé set diamonds. £295 kirstielemarque.com

SWEET PEA

The SweetPea fabric quilt features a beautiful scallop design entirely patched from fi ve Liberty prints in a new sweet pea pattern. Hundreds of delicately hand cut patches are sewn together to make these quilts, £190. projektityyny.com

HEART BREAK

Pierre Marcolini combines crunchy Piedmont hazelnut and Japanese charred sesame with hazelnut praline and sprinkled with hazelnut chips in this Valentine's treat. marcolini.com

IN BLOOM

Delicate and pretty, the Vintage Blush bouquet mixes amnesia rose, pink mondial rose, hanoi clooni ranunculus, pink lisianthus, pink wax fl ower and seasonal foliage. wildatheart.com

PINK LADY

PICK

For the Lady Dior Art Project, 11 artists from around the globe contributed designs for one bag. This one is by Minjung Kim. dior.com

10 things we Absolutely love

OH DAISY

Basak Baykal's darling Daisy Pink earrings are made in 14k gold with diamonds, cut citrine and handpainted miniature details, £2,125. basakbaykal.co.uk

CLUTCH IT

The Bucket Bag is a classic silhouette featuring supple full grain leather, rope top handle, with a removable and adjustable leather strap, styled with the sky-high Kiki boots from Marc Jacobs Runway. marcjacobs.com

SKIN DEEP

For the ultimate in Valentine's lingerie, visit Amelie's Follies for the fi nest in delicate pink pieces and more. ameliesfollies.co.uk

EVERYTHING'S ROSY

instantly fi ll your home with the luxurious and elegant scent of hundreds of Turkish roses with Ostens' Illumination candle, £65 ostens.com

PINK FIZZ

Pommery Rosé's fi ne and fruity pale pink champagne is distinguished by its fl eshy note while remaining lively, fresh and highly subtle. A blend of rosé and Pinot Noir of Bouzy Grand Cru. champagnepommery.com

BOX FRESH

Ottolenghi's Valentine's hamper is full of delicious sweet treats, including heartshaped shortbread biscuits and Tahini Linzers, plus brand new products especially for Valentine's Day. ottolenghi.co.uk

A MILLION MILES

FROM EVERYDAY

The rural retreat. A twist on tradition. The clatter of hooves. The English countryside. The miles of possibility. The feeling of home. Coworth Park.

CIRQUE BESERK, RIVERSIDE STUDIOS 9 FEBRUARY - 11 MARCH; CIRQUEBESERK.CO.UK

The Agenda

EVENTS NOT TO MISS IN LONDON

THEATRE

NT Live: The Crucible

7 February

PICTUREHOUSE CENTRAL

Raised to be seen but not heard, a group of young women in Salem suddenly find their words have an almighty power. As a climate of fear, vendetta and accusation spreads through the community, no one is safe from trial.

Pictured: Eileen Walsh as Elizabeth Proctor. ntlive.com

Light Festival

UNTIL 5 MARCH, BATTERSEA POWER STATION

Returning for its third year, the free Light Festival at Battersea Power Station will be brightening up the dark winter evenings with the largest collection of installations to date. Eight spectacular pieces of artwork, curated in partnership with Light Art Collection, will be on display both outdoors and inside the iconic Grade II* listed Power Station.

batterseapowerstation.co.uk

Alice Neele: Hot off the Griddle

16 February - 21 May

BARBICAN ART GALLERY

The UK's largest exhibition to date of the work of American artist Alice Neel (1900–1984). Neel painted figuratively during a period in which it was deeply unfashionable to do so. She persisted with her distinctive, expressionistic style, even though it meant that for most of her life she lacked critical recognition. barbican.org.uk

ART

SPECTACLE

ART

Atta Kwami: Maria Lassnig Prize Mural

Until September 2023

SERPENTINE GALLERY

A public art mural by the late painter, printmaker, independent art historian, and curator Atta Kwami (1956-2021). The mural is painted on wood – the surface Kwami used for outdoor constructions – by artist Pamela Clarkson, Kwami’s widow, and designer Andy Philpott, his friend and collaborator. serpentinegalleries.org

DANCE ME – MUSIC

BY LEONARD COHEN

SADLERS WELLS

Dance Me is inspired by the rich and profound work of poet, artist and songwriter, Leonard Cohen. Three contemporary dance choreographers were entrusted with putting movement to Cohen’s legendary songs. Scenic, visual, musical, dramaturgical, and choreographic elements pay tribute to him. robomagic.com

Special Event

DESIRE FAIR

10-12

This stunning mixed media jewellery and silversmithing event enables visitors to purchase direct from contemporary designer makers selected from the best in the UK. Desire o ers visitors a choice of individual jewellers and contemporary silversmiths who have been selected for their superb and innovative craftsmanship and have a genuine passion for the work they create. desirefair.com

Streets of New York at the David Hill Gallery is an exhibition of Big Apple life, as captured by five masters of their craft. The show includes work from the late 1940s through to the early 1970s, the period generally considered the golden age of street photography. Featuring exceptional photography from Werner Bischof, Mario Carnicelli, Harold Feinstein, Larry Fink, Marc Riboud. Until 3 March. davidhillgallery.net

Take home an original mini masterpiece in support of the Hepatitis C Trust from 23 February via Art on a Postcard, who is hosting its fourth International Women’s Day auction. This year they have invited seven female curators to each curate a show featuring 25 female artists. The curators include Beth Greenacre, whose clients have included David Bowie and more recently the allfemale members club Allbright, Liminal Gallery’s Louise Fitzjohn and Mollie Barnes of She Curates plus Carrie Scott, Lee Sharrock, Bakul Patki and Sandra De Giorgi. This is an opportunity to acquire a highly collectible, original artwork by a series of leading international female artists at a very reasonable price, with bidding starting at just £50. artonapostcard.com

A fresh perspective on New York and postcard perfection take centre stage

TO WATCH

CARNICELLI NY NURSE'S GEAR 1966

BETHANY CZARNECKI UNTITLED, 2023

MARCH CHELSEA OLD TOWN HALL

This LITTLE GIRL

Absolutely goes behind the scenes at Matilda The Musical

Even as an adult, I’m excited to meet the cast of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical. The show has been playing in the West End since 2011 and its unforgettable songs are played on repeat in countless households. There’s hardly been an empty seat in the house since it opened, and now a new film is attracting even more fans – because it’s a timeless show that people of all ages return to again and again for its anarchic spirit and unique style.

Clearly, the show has a special energy behind the scenes as well. A new cast change brings Rakesh Boury and Amy Ellen Richardson to the roles of Mr and Mrs Wormwood, and they were both fans before they’d been cast. “I saw the original at Stratford and I remember thinking, there’s nothing else like this. I laughed, I cried,” says Richardson. We’re in the theatre’s Circle Bar in the afternoon, where tables are already set up for the children’s supper later. For them it’s a tight schedule – they spend the day at school, then rush to the theatre for the evening performance. “It’s a well-oiled machine,” says Boury.

There are currently three teams of children who perform in turns, and Boury and Richardson are blown away by their talent. “They’re so unbelievably good,” says Boury, who has four-year-old twin daughters who are deep into their Matilda fan phase. Richardson has been acting since she was 10, so seeing the children on stage reflects her own life. “What an experience it is for them,” she says. “And they’re so good that they make you up your game.”

For a long-running show, it’s unusual to have so many of the original team still involved, but Matilda The Musical is very much a passion project for pretty much

everybody. Writer Dennis Kelly, composer and lyricist Tim Minchin, director Matthew Warchus, musical director Laurie Perkins and choreographer Peter Darling have all been hands-on since the beginning, and the show adapts to each new wave of actors. “We were encouraged to bring our own interpretations to the roles,” says Richardson. “We do feel that they’re our roles, which is great when you’re taking on an existing role,” says Boury. “The team genuinely wanted us to find our own versions, which is great – I’ve done shows where they insist on you doing everything a certain way. But every Wormwood there’s ever been has been their own.”

Plainly, they both love the show and feel lucky to be part of it. “We’ve done 140 shows but we still feel like the new cast,” says Boury. And the energy comes from the audience too. “When I finish work, 1200 people applaud me. That feeling can keep you going. Just this week there was a 40-year-old man in a Matilda The Musical t-shirt standing up at the end, bawling his eyes out. It’s the power of the arts, isn’t it.” He’s right – this show stays with everyone it touches. Long may it continue.

matildathemusical.com

AMY ELLEN RICHARDSON AS MRS WORMWOOD

RAKESH BOURY AS MR WORMWOOD

“A timeless show with an anarchic spirit and unique style”

FRIGHT FRIGHT

NIGHT

By EVE HERBERT

An exhibition at Somerset House is dedicated to understanding modern Britain through the world of horror. Absolutely is enthralled

There’s still time to see Somerset House’s unusual exhibition dedicated to horrow. The Horror Show!: A Twisted Tale of Modern Britain is an unlikely exhibition exploring how ideas rooted in horror have informed the last 50 years of creative rebellion. The show looks beyond horror as a genre, instead taking it as a reaction and provocation to our most troubling times, and recasting thelast five decades of modern British history as a story of cultural shapeshifting told through some of the country’s most provocative artists.

So it’s a heady ride through the disruption of 1970s punk to the revolutionary potential of modern witchcraft, showing how the anarchic alchemy of horror – its subversion, transgression and the supernatural – can make sense of the world around us. Horror not only allows us to voice our fears; it

gives us the tools to stare them down and imagine a radically di erent future. Featuring over 200 artworks and culturally significant objects, this landmark show tells a story of the turbulence, unease and creative revolution at the heart of the British cultural psyche in three acts – Monster , Ghost and Witch. Each act interprets a specific era through the lens of a classic horror archetype, in a series of thematically linked contemporaneous and new works. Monster begins by delving into the economic and political turbulence of the 70s and the high octane spectacle and social division of the 80s. Against a backdrop of unrest and loud uprising, it charts the origin story and ascent of the individuals who will go on to disrupt, define and destroy British culture, while exploring the monsters which plague society today. Punk prophet Jamie Reid opens the show by conjuring his Monster on a Nice Roof (1972), painting a prescient picture of the dark skies gathering over Britain.

Chila Burman ’s If There is No Struggle, There is no Progress - Uprising (1981) and Helen Chadwick ’s Allegory of Misrule (1986) refigure social discontent and anxiety in the image of horror, as the socio - political and monstrous collide. In a jarring dislocation of British cultural identity, Guy Peellaert ’s David Bowie, Diamond Dogs (1974) and the otherworldly creatures captured by Derek Ridgers ’ nightlife photography point to the

TROJAN & MARK AT TABOO, LONDON, 1986. © DEREK RIDGERS. COURTESY OF DEREK RIDGERS EDITIONS

JAMIE REID, MONSTER ON A NICE ROOF, 1972. (C) JAMIE REID. COURTESY OF JOHN MARCHANT GALLERY

TIM ETCHELLS, ALL THE THINGS, 2020. IMAGES COURTESY OF THE ARTIST © PAWEŁ OGRODZKI

JEREMY MILLAR, SELF PORTRAIT AS A DROWNED MAN (THE WILLOWS) , 2011. © JEREMY MILLAR. COURTESY OF THE ARTIST.

JAKE AND DINOS CHAPMAN, RETURN OF THE REPRESSED3, 1997 2007

emergence of the cultural provocation and rebellion that defined an era. Monster revels in a resoundingly British spirit of nonconformity, with a spectacular display of Pam Hogg ’s new Exterminating Angel (2021) and works by Gareth Pugh and the late visionary Leigh Bowery . Elsewhere, Noel Fielding’s Post-Viral Fatigue (2022) shows how the imagery of horror resonates still in our Covid-ravaged contemporary reality. As the nightmarish and otherworldly fill the gallery, a newly commissioned mural by Matilda Moors sees the walls dramatically clawed at by a monstrous hand. The show’s second act, Ghost, marks the collapse of hyperinflated 80s culture

into an uncanny temperature change that presided over the 90s and early 00s. It traces an unsettling path through to the global financial crisis of 2008, a turning point in time between a century of old and new, at the dawn of a digital age of faceless audiences and invisible cyber wars. Derek Jarman ’s last feature and magnum opus, Blue (1993), o ers a profound evocation of the artist’s final days, marrying comforting connection with disconnection from the world, warmth with coldness, as Jarman poetically narrates his approach towards death. A stunning sound installation from Nick Ryan highlights the strange frequencies of an age that saw the emergence of trance

music and readily accessible sampling machines. Works from Jeremy Millar and Gavin Turk unsettle with a paradoxical clash of ghostly presence and absence, familiarity and otherness. Cornelia Parker ’s map, scorched with a heated meteorite fragment, tells a tale of apocalypse for the end of the millennium and the fear of the unknown.

The exhibition’s final act, Witch, focuses on a Britain spanning 2008’s financial crash until the present day, and celebrates the emergence of a younger generation and their hyperconnected community – a global coven readily embracing a dynamic grounded in integration and equality. Linder ’s The Goddess Who has Sky as Hair (2019) and Zadie Xa ’s Three Thousand and Thirty High Priestess of Pluto (2016) forgo the patriarchal occult and druidism of old, in favour of a new sorcery rooted in ecology and bodily autonomy.

THE HORROR SHOW! continues until 19 February somersethouse.org.uk

“THE CREATIVE REVOLUTION AT THE HEART OF THE BRITISH CULTURAL PSYCHE ”

KERRY STEWART, THE BOY FROM THE CHEMIST IS HERE TO SEE YOU, 1993. COURTESY OF KERRY STEWART

PENNY SLINGER, PENNY RED DAKINI, 2019, COURTESY OF RICHARD SALTOUN GALLERY, COPYRIGHT THE ARTIST

ANNA BUNTING - BRANCH, W.I.T.C.H. (“WE INVOKE THE CULTURE OF HERETICS”) , 2015 . © ANNA BUNTING - BRANCH

MARTIN AT BILLY'S, LONDON, 1978. © DEREK RIDGERS. COURTESY OF DEREK RIDGERS EDITIONS

RAY STEVENSON, THE BROMLEY CONTINGENT , 1978 (C) RAY STEVENSON

& DRINK

PERFECT PAIRING

RARE CHAMPAGNE

Announcing a new Rare Pairing series, Rare Champagne have enlisted top French chef, Mélanie Serre, to create new menus for the season. "I am delighted to explore, discover, create and compose menus for which I had a carte blanche," she says on the partnership. rare-champagne.com

WHAT TO DRINK SPIRIT news

Whisky choices for the month

By BERRY BROS. & RUDD

Sherry Cask Blended Malt Scotch Whisky  £40

Enticingly dark in appearance, the Sherry Cask is invitingly seductive, and the bouquet has classic dark Sherry and prunelike notes. The palate gives sweet, well-balanced fruit on a Sherry bed, with a long, satisfying finish.

Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky  £40

The Islay Cask encapsulates the powerful Islay style with tarry, peaty and oceanic notes bound in a blanket of honey and yellow fruits. The fruitiness works excellently to di use the peaty and smoky influencers, carrying them on a creamy textured wave into the long finish.

Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky  £40

The Speyside Cask delivers the essence of the region in a playful yet complex way. There is much fruitiness, mingled with fresh grassiness and honey sweetness which binds the flavours as they swell. Every element is balanced .

BERRY BROS. & RUDD

Berry Bros. & Rudd is Britain's oldest wine and spirit merchant, having traded from the same shop since 1698. Today the company also has offices in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong, a Wine School and an exclusive fine wine and dining venue in St James's. bbr.com

TASTING

NOTES

London’s food news and most exciting openings this month

By PENDLE HARTE

Modern love

GANYMEDE

Throughout the week, Belgravia's Ganymede serves up a delicious menu of modern British classics, in the most stylish of settings. Created by Head Chef Charlie Miller and Owner Chef Director Oliver Marlowe, must tries on the menu include crab and basil ravioli with mussel velouté and chives; aged beef and smoked eel tartare with creamed horseradish and sourdough crostini. ganymedelondon.co.uk

Donut Atelier

DONUTELIER

Dedicated to the most luxurious doughnuts that London has ever seen, Charing Cross Road's new destination store, Donutelier by Roladin is inspired by the intricate craftsmanship of the world’s greatest fashion ateliers and set to showcase each step of the intricate doughnut making and designing process. donutelier.co.uk

AT HOME

Eat in with these excellent deliveries

DISHOOM

Dishoom's new lunch pots offer the best of Dishoom, in a small pot for one that can be delivered to your desk. We love the chicken ruby and rice – a working lunch treat. dishoom.com

ISRAEL EXPRESS

MIZNON

Tel Aviv's favourite eaterie has arrived in London and opened in Soho and Notting Hill. Renowned across the globe for quirky dishes such as Baby Whole Roasted Cauliflower Melted Into Its Own Crown, Bag of Green Beans and Run Over Baked Potato, the Notting Hill site will o ers London exclusive pitas as well as all the favourites. miznon.co.uk

Dry living

PENTIRE

Pentire was founded with a simple mission: to enable clarity of mind so that drinkers can enjoy meaningful experiences outdoors. the idea is that alcohol-free drinks are conducive to having a run, doing some yoga, taking a walk in nature and making conscious choices. And it tastes delicious too.

pentiredrinks.com

OFFICINA

If you like pasta, you'll love making it, says Officina. Sign up for a workshop and bring home all the ingredients – and the skills – for making your own fresh pasta. officina00.co.uk

PHOMO

All you need to throw together your very own Pho in minutes: just choose your broth and your protein, unpack and assemble. Phomo's meal kits are easy and delicious. phomouk.com

INDIAN VIBES

EMPIRE EMPIRE

Opening imminently in Notting Hill is Empire Empire, which takes inspiration from the Indian disco era. Reminiscent of old-school curry houses, Empire Empire will have music at its heart, kitted out with a custom-made Marshall jukebox to play Bollywood bangers throughout service.

gunpowderlondon.com

A RARE BREED

Take one globally acclaimed chef, pair with Rare Champagne, and you have recipes that will dazzle and delight

Rare Champagne o ers carte blanche to chefs whose talent reveals a diamond in the rough, fresh and with an exceptional future ahead. Now, Rare Champagne has entrusted chef Mélanie Serre with their new Rare Pairings series.

In Megève, St. Barts, Monaco, and Paris, chef Serre approaches her work with a joyous heart, while creating tailormade dishes that show a deep respect for the terroir and nature. Because of her philosophy, Rare Champagne have entrusted chef Serre with this new Rare Pairings series. Rare Champagne allows her to explore her creativity, linked to each of the Rare Champagne Millésimes, for a unique sensory experience. Chef Serre, a Gault & Millau Young Talent Award winner, is also listed among the “1,000 Women Chefs who Count in the World” and is one of the six French female chefs recognized for their personality, as much as their culinary art, by Le Parisien magazine. Serre’s first position was as chef at Atelier Etoile Joël Robuchon, a two-star Michelin restaurant in Paris, where she became executive chef one year later. She now o ciates at Louis Vins restaurant, near Notre Dame in Paris.

Her Rare Rosé Millésime 2012 spring/ summer menu features: Razor clams in parsley sauce with pine nuts and basil for an amuse bouche; Fresh tomato soup with black cherry, goat's cheese ice-cream and crushed pistachios as a starter; a vegan course of salad of green beans with raspberries, almonds and date vinaigrette; fillet of red mullet with edible scales, young courgette and bouillabaisse sauce for mains; and a dessert course that is featured right.

rare-champagne.com

NAGE OF SPICED FOREST FRUIT A ND SPECULOOS BISCUITS

INGREDIENTS

• Water

• Sugar

• Vanilla

• Fresh basil cinnamon

• Speculoos biscuits

• Fresh forest fruit

PREPARATION

1 Prepare a syrup with water, sugar, basil and the stick of cinnamon;

2 Prepare the Speculoos biscuit paste and cook. While still hot, shape it as desired;

3 Wash, sort and prepare the forest fruit;

4 Place the forest fruit on a plate. Once cold, add the syrup and the basil;

5 Add some Speculoos biscuits to the side of the plate. Place the rest on the sliced forest fruit.

Words JACKSON BOXER

Beetroot Soup with black beans & crispy shallots

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

For the ginger & turmeric oil (this will make more than you need but stores well in the fridge)

• 50g ginger, peeled and chopped

• 5g garam masala

• 1.5g turmeric

• 1g salt

• 250ml veg oil

For the mushroom broth

• 1L filtered water

• 50g dried mushroom

• 10g fennel seed

• 5g star anise

• 50g peeled ginger, sliced thin

• 2 cloves crushed garlic

• 50ml white soy

• 10g Dashi Powder

For the soup

• 2 leeks, whites only, sliced fine

• 2 shallot, sliced fine

• 10g,button mushroom, sliced fine

• 2 sticks celery, sliced fine

• 2 cloves garlic, sliced fine

• 50g extra virgin olive oil

• Tsp Maldon salt

• 2 large beets or 400g beetroot

• 2g coriander seed

• 2g cumin seed

• 2g smoked paprika

• 2g ground cinnamon

• 700g mushroom broth

For the black bean topping

• 250g black beans, drained

• 50g red chilli, deseeded and brunoise

• 50g shallot brunoise

• 50g ginger, peeled and brunoise

• 50g chives, finely sliced

• 50g dill fronds, finely chopped

• 50g coriander stem, finely sliced

• 5g cumin, toasted and ground

• 5g ground black pepper

• 10g Maldon salt

• 1 lemon, zest of

• 50g crispy onions

METHOD

1 Make the ginger & turmeric oil by adding everything to the thermo at full speed for 8 mins until smooth. Pour o and leave to cool gently. Ideally, rest overnight, but you can also use it once cool.

2 Make the broth by adding all the ingredients to a pan and simmering

for half an hour. Steep for 4 hours, till cool. Strain and gently press.

3 Use a sharp mandolin to cut the shallots into 1mm rings, moving top to bottom. Submerge them in cold rapeseed oil in a pan, and gently bring up the heat. As the oil heats, stir every few minutes to avoid shallots clumping. Fry until the shallots turn a nut brown colour. Use a spider spatula to remove from the oil, and put on a towel lined tray to dry. They will continue to darken, to a golden colour. Store in an airtight container.

4 Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius. Wash the beetroot, rub with olive oil and sea salt, wrap in foil, and bake until the beetroot for 45-60 mins, depending on their size. Allow to cool, remove skins. Cut down into 3cm chunks.

5 Sweat the leeks, shallots, mushrooms, celery, garlic, in extra virgin olive oil and salt until softened but not coloured, around 30 mins.

6 Add the beetroot and spices. Continue to cook for a further 5 mins or so. Add the celeriac and mushroom broth and bring up to a simmer. Blend to a smooth puree.

7 Preheat the oven to 160 degrees. Strain the beans and hang to remove water. Toss beans in extra virgin olive oil and toast in the oven for 15 mins. Allow to cool. Fold together with all remaining ingredients.

8 Serve by adding the soup to a bowl, add the bean topping and finish with a sprinkling of crispy shallots.

Carrots with quinoa, mojo verde and

hazelnut sauce

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 200g quinoa

• 50g chopped almonds

For the carrots

• 1kg carrots

• 10ml olive oil Maldon salt

• Cracked Black pepper

For the mojo verde

• 15g cumin seed

• 5g cayenne

• 4 cloves garlic, crushed

• 3 bunch coriander, leaves 1 bunch chives, chopped 5g Maldon salt

• 50g sherry vinegar

• 150g extra virgin olive oil

For the hazelnut sauce

• 1 shallot sliced

• 1 chilli seeded and sliced

• 10g ginger minced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced 15ml extra virgin olive oil 50ml gluten-free soy sauce 150ml coconut milk

• 20g honey or maple syrup

• 150g hazelnut butter

• 10g mild curry powder

METHOD

1 Preheat the oven to 220 degrees celsius.

2 Place the carrots on a baking tray and toss in the oil, salt and pepper. Roast in the oven until they are tender but still retain their bite.

3 Cook the quinoa according to the instructions on the packet, you can tell it’s done when the seed separates from germ. Drain and set aside.

4 Make the mojo verde by blending the cumin, cayenne, garlic, coriander, chives, vinegar to a thick paste. Dribble in the oil.

5 Make the hazelnut sauce. Sweat the shallot, chilli, ginger, garlic in oil until softened.

6 Add the soy and reduce by half. Remove from heat, add coconut milk, curry powder and honey. Transfer to a blender with nut butter. Pulse until smooth, then pass through a chinois.

7 Serve by mixing the roasted carrots with the quinoa. Plate up and then add a generous drizzle of the mojo verde and hazelnuts sauce. Finish with a sprinkling of chopped almonds.

Delica Squash & Braised Cavolo Nero

• 100g spinach

• 5g Maldon salt

For the braised cavolo nero

• 1 shallot, chopped

• 100g shiitake, chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 50g extra virgin olive oil

• Tsp Maldon salt

• 500g cavolo nero, sliced fine

• 1 orange, zest and juice

• 1 lemon, zest and juice

For the green olive salsa

• 100g jalapeno oil

• 50g shallots, diced

• 50g chopped chives

• 50g minced green olive

• 4g ground white pepper

• 4g Maldon salt

METHOD

1 Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celsius.

2 Make the jalapeno oil by blending all ingredients at high speed, until smooth. Set aside, you’ll need this when you make the green olive salsa.

3 Rinse the brown rice in cold water. Cover with 1 litre of cold fresh water in a pan, and bring up to a simmer. After a few minutes, when no longer crunchy but not yet soft, still with a bit of chew, strain and rinse with cold water, and leave to cool and dry on a cloth lined tray.

4 Using a hand blender, blend the miso and vinegar together. Stream in the oil slowly to form a thick emulsion. Cover the squash wedges in the emulsion, then roast in the oven for 12 mins.

5 Sweat shallot, shiitake, garlic, chicory in extra virgin olive oil and salt, until softened but with no colour, around 30 mins.

6 Add in cavolo nero, saute for a few minutes until the cavolo nero is slightly wilted. Cool for a further 30 mins until totally soft.

7 Add the citrus juice and zest, and cook until juice has reduced to a syrup.

INGREDIENTS

• 400g short grain brown rice

• Delica Squash, cut into 90g wedges, deseeded.

• 50g white miso

• 50g apple cider vinegar

• 75g extra virgin olive oil

• 70g pine nuts

For the jalapeno oil (this will make more than you need but stores well in the fridge)

• 100g jalapeno (deseeded save 1)

• 1 spring onion

• 200g neutral oil (rapeseed)

8 Make the green olive salsa by blitzing the jalapeno oil and all the other ingredients together in a blender until it forms a chunky mixture.

9 Turn the oven down to 140 degrees celsius and toast the pine nuts in an even layer for 30 minutes.

10 Serve by adding the brown rice and braised cavolo nero to a plate, top with the squash followed by the tapenade, and lastly the toasted pine nuts.

with a green olive tapenade

FASHION

FANTASY FASHION

SOMERSET BY ALICE

TEMPERLEY

Somerset by Alice embodies all of the hallmarks of the Temperley aesthetic –whimsy; unabashed femininity and wild prints. The dress that floats from office to after hours. The cornerstone white blouse. The cut-to-the-bone jumpsuit. It’s every day – but for escapists who dream of fresh air and wild spaces. somersetbyalice.com

Tradition with a twist at Apujan 36 • Love tokens 42

House ART

A conceptual, cinematic collection from Apujan

Tokens of affection

Perfect pieces to dazzle your true love

By CARLY GLENDINNING

MARLO LAZ

CAROLINA BUCCI

Rainbow Pavé Cuore Ring

18k Yellow Gold, £8700 carolinabucci.com

PIAGET

18k Rose Gold Sunlight Ring with Brilliant Cut

Diamonds and Pink Sapphires, £9500 piaget.com

14k Yellow Gold Spiked Heart Pavé Necklace, £11,000 marlolaz.com

MELISSA KAY

18k Yellow Gold Lenox Bracelet with Hot Pink Sapphires, £5300 melissakayejewerly.com

DEBORAH PAGANI

JEMMA WYNNE

18k Yellow Gold Connexion Pink

Spinel Charm Necklace, £15,600 jemmawynne.com

8k Gold and Diamond Honey Huggies, £2100 deborahpagani.com

ALISON LOU

Heart Shaped Cocktail Stud, £349.21 per stud alisonlou.com

SUZANNE KALAN

Yellow Gold and Diamond Ivy Eternity Band, £2124 harrods.com

LOQUET LONDON

Diamond Baguette Amour Locket, £8000 loquetlondon.com

& BEAUTY

STEP OUT

CALLEN OLIVE

Looking after our legs and feet is usually a summer priority. However, cold temperatures reduce the moisture in the air, leaving winter skin dry and itchy. Developed by the multi-award-winning podiatrist Maggie Trevillion, the luxurious range of products from Callen Olive helps to keep your legs and feet in top condition. callenolive.com

BEAUTY

NOTES

The latest in luxury makeup and skincare

By CARLY GLENDINNING

EVOLVE ORGANIC BEAUTY

Evolve Organic Beauty has launched a new product: the True Balance Gel Cream. This certified organic, lightweight daily moisturiser naturally balances and detoxifies oily and combination skin, leaving acne-prone complexions clear, hydrated and healthy. £24. evolvebeauty.co.uk

IN THE CLEAR PLANT POWER

VINTNER’S DAUGHTER

Vintner’s Daughter is launching its third product in 10 years, the Active Renewal Cleanser™. Delivering full-spectrum nutrition, the plantintelligent formula pH balances the skin, removing make-up, sunscreen and daily build up with a double cleanse. Leaves the skin feeling plump, so , and glowy. £95. cultbeauty.com

GLOW WITH IT

ILODY

Dating back over 5000 years, the kansa wand is the Ayurvedic version of gua sha. Beautifully handmade from wood and bell metal, Ilody’s facial massage tool glides intuitively over the skin, giving you a natural face lift. The kansa wand is said to o er many benefits from boosting lymphatic drainage, to balancing the skin’s pH levels. £69. ilodyskincare.com

GUSTAV FOUCHE

W

inter isn’t kind to hair. I’ve been having highlights for so many years now that instead of looking subtly sunkissed, my hair is brassy and blonde, usually with thick roots, and now it’s also got that awful winter frizz. I’m at Gustav Fouche in Westbourne Grove for a a new look, and South African-born Gustav is an expert. I’m here for highlights, assuming that we’d revive the blonde shades that were growing out, but immediately I’m advised that my blonde is just a smidge too blonde. Am I willing to try a shade or two darker? Of course I am. He transforms my hair by toning down the blonde and revealing my natural brown, making it shine with clever blonde accents. Now I look subtly sunkissed, just like I always wanted, thanks to an intricate application of freehand clour in all the right places. One thing about Gustav is that he’s a believer in the dry cut – “because you can actually see what you’re doing” – so he starts of by giving my long straggly locks a proper trim, taking a good inch o and adding much more than that in health and fullness. He’s a fast worker, applying colour swiftly and skilfully, and he’s enthusiastic about everything he does, down to his own range of hair products launching this month. A true professional.

GUSTAV FOUCHE

82 Westbourne Grove, W2 gustavfouche.com

EDITOR’S PICK

A professional approach to hair

callen olive

A splash of indulgence for your legs and feet

Formulated to help you take clinic-level care of your legs and feet while enjoying a dose of every day luxury. All our products contain the finest naturally derived ingredients for safe use on all skin types and proven efficacy.

Experience leg and foot care like no other callenolive.com

DRUNK ELEPHANT O-Bloos™ Rosi Drops, £31 drunkelephant.co.uk

ERE PEREZ

Coco Crayon, £23.50 naturisimo.com

LANEIGE

Lip Sleeping Mask, £19 cultbeauty.co.uk

ANGELA CAGLIA

Rose Quartz Eye Mask, £110 net-a-porter.com

CRA-YON

Passport Amour Eau De Parfum, £75 trianglestore.co.uk

CALLEN OLIVE

Bare To Impress Nail & Cuticle Oil, £22 callenolive.com

HABIT COSMETICS

Nail Polish, Dollhouse, £16 zeitgeist.london

VON NORTEN

Smoothing Rose Face Cream, £44 vonnorten.se

THE

LOOK OF LOVE

AVIELA

Pure Shea Butter, £30 avielaskincare.com

EMOLYNE

Velvet Lip, Casablanca, £23 emolyne.com

The best Valentine's-ready beauty products

By CARLY GLENDINNING

PICK

PATRICK TA

She's Extra Setting Fan, £21 cultbeauty.co.uk

REN Moroccan Rose Body Oil, £38 renskincare.com

GLOW RECIPE

Watermelon Glow AHA Night Treatmemt, £36.50 cultbeauty.co.uk

Top five tips for fi nding

MINDFULNESS

Mindfulness is a practice that involves focusing your attention on the present moment. For many people, one of the biggest barriers to practising mindfulness is time – there never seems to be enough for busy families.

Mindfulness asks for an attitude of acceptance and open-mindedness, which in turn brings self-awareness and self-assurance. Evidence suggests that brain changes can occur when people practice mindfulness: stimulating

creativity and improving attention, problem solving and memory.

There are countless studies about the benefits of mindfulness and meditation – from stress and anxiety to pain relief. Mindfulness is, as Ben Horton, team mental health nurse for Bupa Global & UK, explains, “an awareness that you develop by paying attention to the present moment and try to treat everything nonjudgmentally. So, for example, if you’re walking down the street, you try not to focus on thoughts that leap up like ‘there’s so much litter,’ and instead you try to see everything around you for what it is.”

THESE ARE FIVE TOP TIPS FOR FINDING MINDFULNESS

MORNING ROUTINES: start the day by concentrating on your breathing or notice the beauty of nature on the school run or when going for morning walks.

BREATHING: regulated breathing keeps awareness focused on the present, reducing anxiety, and helping with sleep.

WELLNESS JOURNAL: keeping a daily gratitude journal.

MEDITATION: improving focus and being kinder to ourselves.

MINDFUL EATING: observing the di erent colours and textures of your food or eating more slowly are also small actions that can benefit from mindfulness.

With Private Client by Bupa, feeling good isn’t good enough. Our ambitions for health and wellbeing go much further. Private Client by Bupa is a premium service providing expertly curated health and wellbeing plans insured by Bupa Global. With the Ultimate health plan, a Bupa Private Client has their very own Lifecare Concierge Manager, who helps manage the health journey. This is an approach to healthcare designed specifically for Bupa members and their families’ lifestyles. The Ultimate health plan helps protect and preserve health with preventive benefits such as naturopathy, cryotherapy, and vitamin treatments, combined with award-winning medical cover at home and abroad, and direct access to any recognised private hospital, medical provider, or clinic.

PRIVATE CLIENT BY BUPA

Apply

How Private Client by Bupa members enjoy high standards for health and wellbeing

Sport Arena

Cross M Elliptical Cross Trainer

Ideal for beginners and cardio fans that just want to get moving quickly, the Kettler Cross M Elliptical is fitted with a 12kg rear flywheel, a magnetic brake system with 8 levels of resistance and a 15-inch stride length.

Cycle M Exercise Bike

A great space-saving option for home gym users, the Kettler Cycle M Exercise Bike delivers a smooth, low-impact ride. It comes equipped with 8 levels of resistance, vertical seat adjustments and a 6kg flywheel.

TOP PICKS

PLANET-FRIENDLY WORKOUT WEAR

WASH LESS

UP activewear uses an eco-friendly, anti-odour technology, allowing you to wear it more and wash it less. Top, £40. up.clothing

FITNESS NOTES

By CARLY GLENDINNING

MAGICAL MUSHROOMS

REUSE, RECYCLE

Perfect for training outside in colder weather, this thermal base layer from ARKET is made using recycled polyester. £59. arket.com

LIMITED RUNS

Sustainable workoutwear brand SILVERWIND tackle overproduction by keeping their inventory low. HeyCloud Leggings, £47.40. mysilverwind.com

We meet author and wellness expert Katia Narain, and nutritionist and author Michael Isted, co-founders of Phyto Nectars

Q How did you come to launch Phyto Nectars?

A The idea was planted several years ago in the Nectar Cafe Triyoga, where we worked on the therapeutic drinks o ering. We wanted to create a multidimensional delicious drinking supplement that could be easily enjoyed. From there the formula and brand organically developed into Phyto Nectars.

Q What makes mushrooms so powerful for wellness?

A Medicinal mushrooms are packed with powerful bioactive therapeutic compounds, which we extract to increase therapeutic potential. These mushroom compounds have a wide range of health and healing benefits, ranging from their regenerative powers, to cognitive enhancement, skin

nourishment and nervous system relaxing e ects.

Q How important is sustainability to the brand?

A Very. We work directly (where possible) with our producers, growers and communities, supporting sustainable practices at a grass roots level and ensuring that regenerative farming practices are supported, and communities are paid fairly for their work. However, we are always striving to improve our sustainability credentials.

Q How are your supplements developed?

A Our supplements are developed by qualified phyto therapists, nutritionists and drink experts. We also work with our global network of scientists, who are on the cutting edge of technology

when it comes to plant and mushroom extraction. We take a holistic and targeted approach to each blend (focusing on a need state such as stress, immune funtion etc) and formulate blends of plants, mushrooms, vitamins and minerals to best support those needs. We then make them taste great with the addition of nutrient dense, therapeutic fruits.

Q Tell us about fermented biotechnology?

A We integrate and use futurefacing fermentation methods to enhance nutrient content and absorbability of our ingredients. The fermentation biotechnology enhances the health boosting prebiotics, probiotics and parabiotics as well as bioavailable therapeutic molecules, minerals, and antioxidants.

HEALTH FIRST

Start your journey to better health with King Edward VII’s Hospital

STOP LIVING IN PAIN AND START LIVING YOUR LIFE

Many of us are guilty of putting up with daily aches and pains for too long. These can impinge on your quality of life and stop you from doing the things you love. Whether it’s sports, a skiing holiday, or even just climbing the stairs without pain, we can help you start your journey to better health today.

King Edward VII’s Hospital brings traditional values alongside the latest medical technology to provide a unique o ering in a central London location. With diagnostic packages starting from £380, and access to world-leading consultants within as little as 24 hours, you can start dealing with your medical worries at a time that suits you.

The Hospital’s new state-of-the-art outpatient and diagnostic facility, King

Edward VII’s Medical Centre o ers an impressive array of cutting edge diagnostic technology. All your tests can be carried out under one roof in one visit, o ering convenience in a five-star facility.

“My stay at the King Edward VII's Hospital was superb. The treatment is second to none, the nursing and all other sta are remarkable, the catering is first class and the overall service is wonderful.”

Feedback from a prostate patient via Doctify, October 2022

TRULY PERSONAL CARE TAILORED TO YOU

With Centres of Excellence in Women’s Health, Digestive Health, Urological Health and Musculoskeletal Health, King Edward VII’s brings together worldleading consultants, specialist radiologists,

physiotherapists and clinical sta nurses to give you multidisciplinary care that is tailored especially for your needs. In a recent patient satisfaction survey 98% of patients told us that their overall quality of care was ‘good’ or better.

With just 56 beds, King Edward VII’s Hospital o ers truly personalised medical care that means your health and comfort is our number one priority. You’ll be able to recuperate from your treatment in a peaceful and private environment where everyone from the consultants and nurses, to the doormen and chefs are ready to help make your stay as comfortable as possible. All of our patients receive a bespoke service in an independent, innovative and forward-thinking hospital.

KING EDWARD VII’S HOSPITAL

Find out how King Edward VII’s Hospital can help you get back to better health by calling 020 4571 2097 (Mon-Fri) or visit kingedwardvii.co.uk

World-class medical treatment. Truly personal care.

Treatment centred around you

At King Edward VII’s Hospital, modern medicine and traditional values are combined to provide the very best individualised care. From the warm welcome patients receive at reception to the reassurance we give them as they leave, we aim to make every patient feel like our only patient.

The experts in your condition

Our primary areas of clinical excellence are Musculoskeletal Health (joints), Women’s Health, Urology Health, and Digestive Health, where our renowned specialists and highly skilled teams will create a uniquely tailored care plan to help you get back to better health.

123 years of patient centred care in the heart of London.

SLEEP MODE

Exercise could be the solution

By EVE HERBERT

Those who sleep for five hours or less have a 30% greater chance of developing chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease or cancer, according to a recent study by PLoS Medicine.

While many Brits struggle to sleep, the cost-of-living crisis is also seeming to make our sleeping habits worse. A recent study by Sun Life showed that two in five adults (41%) are struggling to sleep at night due to worrying about money, with those aged 50 plus are worrying the most.

However, regular exercise can have huge benefits on your sleeping habits. Light-to-moderate exercise before bed can increase sleep quality by reducing sleep onset (the time it takes to fall asleep) and decrease the amount of time you awake in bed during the night. Here are five cost-e ective light exercises that may help you to fall asleep easier this winter, leaving your finances and health in tip-top condition.

1. YOGA

Yoga is a gentle, e ective way to wind down after a busy day, and practising yoga at night can help you relax before

you go to bed so you can sleep better. Yoga can help you practise slow, controlled breathing which stimulates your vagus nerve. This nerve a ects your parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which controls your body’s rest function, making it easier to switch o . Yoga can also lower your heart rate and improve digestion as well, all qualities for a good night’s sleep. Plus, you don’t need to break the bank to practise yoga. All you need is a yoga mat and a clear space in your home, preferably not in your bedroom. You can also find videos to follow on YouTube. Practise for 30 minutes an hour before bedtime to see improvements in your sleep.

2. WALKING

With the cold, dark winter nights creeping up on us, it’s tempting to stay indoors and shut out the world. However, going for a walk in the evening can help send you o to sleep, plus, it’s completely free. Walking can reduce stress and improve mental health, meaning it can help clear your mind of any anxieties before you head to sleep. Regular walking can also help to strengthen the immune system and prevent conditions such as high blood pressure. A healthy body means better sleep. Try going for a light walk for 1 to 2 hours before bed. If the cold weather seems unappealing to you, bring a flask of chamomile tea. The antioxidants will calm the mind and help you sleep better.

Do you struggle to sleep?

3. CYCLING

Many of us have a bike stu ed away in a garage that we never use. But, like walking, going for a light cycle in the evening can help improve sleep quality and is also completely free. A light cycle can improve overall health. It can burn calories and energy, meaning your sleep won’t be as disrupted throughout the night. It can also greatly improve lung health, which can help with any respiratory problems. A quick 20-to-30-minute cycle a day can be hugely beneficial. You can also plan a cycle route through a park or near the countryside. Getting into an open space, away from the hustle and bustle of a city can have huge improvements on mental well-being. Just make sure to wear reflective clothing and have a torch installed onto the front of your bike.

4. SWIMMING

If you’re lucky enough to live near a local swimming pool, try going for a swim in the evenings to see how it can improve your sleep quality. Swimming outdoors is invigorating and makes a positive contribution to mental health, though evening swimming outdoors is probably only possible in summer. Swimming at night burns o left-over energy and releases feel-good endorphins that reduce stress and provide a calming e ect that helps you fall stay asleep. Light techniques, such as breaststroke, are an e ective way to burn energy without overdoing it. Aim for 30 minutes, a couple of nights a week, 2 to 3 hours before you head to sleep. Having a hot shower after your swim can also help to relax your body, making it easier to drift o .

5. AEROBICS

Aerobics is another cost-e ective way to get some exercise before heading to bed. Regular aerobic exercise can improve sleep quality and reduce excessive daytime sleepiness for those who su er from insomnia. Moderate aerobic activities can also decrease the severity of sleep-disordered breathing conditions like obstructive sleep apnoea. Aerobics is also great for fitness and strength. There are hundreds of videos online for you to discover, ranging from 15 minutes to an hour. Just find an open space in your home and practice for up to an hour before sleeping.

bedkingdom.co.uk

“A QUICK 20-TO-30MINUTE CYCLE A DAY CAN BE HUGELY BENEFICIAL”

Love at first listen.

Whatever your taste, there’s a speaker to match –each with sublime sound that will make you fall in love with your music all over again.

INTERIORS

BOLD SHADES

FARROW AND BALL

New colours in the Farrow and Ball palette include Bamboozle and Templeton Pink, pictured here looking fabulous together. Templeton Pink is an earthy, terracotta shade – not quite pink, nor brown, while Bamboozle is a bold red that works in traditional as well as modern homes. farrow-ball.com

NOTES INTERIORS

Ideas, designs and styles for your home

By PENDLE HARTE

PURE WOOL

ROGER OATES

Roger Oates has launced a custom service, o ering the brand's signature handtufted rugs and runners in bespoke shapes, sizes and colourways. Each 100% wool hand -tufted rug is expertly made in the UK by a team of skilled craftspeople making and hand-finishing the rugs in a specialist production unit in Devon, and samples are on show at the Chelsea Wharf showroom.

rogeroates.com

POT HEADS

BERGS POTTER

Established in 1942 Bergs Potter makes pots, vases, and tableware to last for generations. Each product is designed in Denmark and cra ed at small potteries in Tuscany and Porto using premium Italian clay to make the raw terracotta pots strong, and durable for optimal growing conditions. bergspotter.com

NEW LOOK

HAY

Originally designed by Friso Kramer and Wim Rietveld in 1950, the Result Chair has been put into reproduction by Hay. This armchair version is supplemented by elevated armests that bring additional comfort and functionality to the design. £313 wearemaven.co.uk

Storage jars TAKE FIVE

JOHN LEWIS

Rattan is a fast-growing cane that is easy to harvest and transport. In the forests where rattan is grown, timber companies value it highly, o en regarding it as more ethical and sustainable than timber logging. So these lovely laundry baskets are entirely guilt-free. johnlewis.com

STRANGER

Contemporary, reliable and expertly crafted swimming pools.

For over forty years, Lagoon Pools have provided families and property developers with swimming pools that are reliable, expertly constructed and built to last.

We pride ourselves on a dedication to embracing both the classic designs of swimming pools as well as the modern aesthetics of a luxury entertaining space, with stunning finishes that make each project unique from the last.

If you are looking to add a new swimming pool feature to your home, please call us today on 01932 569569 to speak to a member of our team or email us at info@lagoonpoolsltd.co.uk.

229 Chertsey Road Addlestone Surrey KT15 2EW 01932 569 569 info@lagoonpoolsltd.co.uk www.lagoonpoolsltd.co.uk

SEPIA

By PENDLE HARTE

WALLPAPER: BRIAR ROSE – GREEN VERDITER

Compressing two centuries of decoration into a single collection of wallpapers is no small task. National Trust Papers III is an authentic collection of eight historic wallpaper designs adapted and recoloured for use within the modern interior, comprising 45 colourways in designs created from original source material belonging to the National Trust and put into production by Little Greene.

The collection focuses on pieces found at three historic houses: Oxburgh Hall and Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk and Newark Park in Gloucestershire, with the addition of one design that has been recoloured and revived from the Little Greene archive. Employing traditional methods of printing that have remained unchanged for over 100 years, there is an array of hand-painted birds, stylised florals and scrolling trails, as well as a traditional Toile de Jouy.

This marks a new approach to pattern colouration within the Little Greene collections, reinterpreting the colour-drenching paint trend that has led to enveloping, intimate interiors, with many of the wallpapers featuring bold tonal colourways. These designs include Poppy Trail in shades of Masquerade pink, and Hoja in four colourways, including Hellebore and Air Force Blue.

Words EVE HERBERT

A new collection of wallpapers revives historical designs from the National Trust archive

WALLPAPER: VOLIÈRES – FRENCH GREY

WALLPAPER: LOVERS’ TOILE – PUCK

This is part of a campaign to support the National Trust’s work – for the sale of each roll of wallpaper, a contribution is made in support of the National Trust’s important work caring for 500 places, including 780 miles of coastline, historic sites, 250,000 hectares of countryside and green spaces. Ruth Mottershead of Little Green says: “Our collaboration with the National Trust allows us to uncover incredible designs and colours that can be shared with the nation through new wallpaper and paint collections. The contributions made from the sale of every roll of National Trust wallpaper and each tin of paint goes towards supporting the National Trust’s conservation work, to ensure the nation’s historic houses, gardens and landscapes can be enjoyed for years to come.”

Equally, for the National Trust, Becky Stanford, adds: “Little Greene undertakes research into our original wallcoverings, designs and colourways, allowing us to learn more about the collections in our care.”

Bird and Bluebell c.1830-1870 is an elegant mural, featuring birds, bees and bluebells has been created from remaining fragments of wallpaper found at Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk. Originally on a striped background, the remaining source material has been adapted, transformed and recoloured to suit the contemporary interior. Volières

c.1950, is a more contemporary find, featuring 1950s style doves, ribbons and flowers is a reimagination of an 18th-century design. Found at Oxburgh Hall, an archived photograph revealed the location of this wallpaper in one of the bedrooms in the private family quarters. The wallpaper is thought to have been a visible reminder of Oxburgh’s last days under family ownership, having been put up for sale just months after the wallpaper was produced. Poppy Trail, c.1890-1900 is a flamboyant floral design featuring large, stylised poppies is a classic example of those in production during the late 19th century. Briar Rose, c.1845-1915, is characterised as being in the ‘Arts and Crafts’ style, evident in the densely stylised natural motifs, this wallpaper was originally designed by children’s book illustrator, Walter Crane. Many of Crane’s drawings became nursery wallpapers and ‘Briar Rose’ began its life as the background to a wallpaper called ‘The Sleeping Beauty’, which featured characters from Sleeping Beauty among the roses. Found at Oxburgh Hall, little is known about where in the house the wallpaper was used, as much of the original exists today only as loose samples. Upper Brook St. c.1920, features brightly coloured kniphofia flowers, commonly known as torch lilies or red hot pokers (African in origin but named after German horticulturalist Johan Hieronymous Kniphof). They were recorded as having been hand-painted and stuck over a pre-hung wall covering in a late 18th century Upper Brook Street house as a bespoke decoration. Lovers’ Toile c.1950, a contemporary take on a classic pattern is a post-WWII reinterpretation of an 18th-century French Toile de Jouy design. Featuring vignettes of people in activity including fishing, dancing and gardening, this single colour design has been printed in five modern colourways. Dahlia Scroll c.1890-1900, is a scrolling floral design reminiscent of the early work of Voysey. Coloured in seven di erent ways, including elegant neutrals, bold blue and vibrant yellow, this pattern would have originally been block printed, possibly by Je rey & Co

Price range £102 - £118 per roll, £244 per panel littlegreene.com

WALLPAPER: BRIAR ROSE – GREEN STONE

WALLPAPER: BIRD & BLUEBELL – PEA GREEN

HANDS ON ARMAC MARTIN

Made from solid brass in Birmingham, all Armac Martin products are finished by hand. The MIX Cabinet Knob with Backplate brings a striking industrial look to interior cabinetry. £70.80 armacmartin.co.uk

WATER WORKS

GROHE

The Essence tap has a slim architectural shape, enhanced with organic design elements. Choose between a swivel spout and a solid metal pull-out spray, in a choice of two great-looking finishes. grohe.co.uk

MODERN TOUCH

JUNG

Jung’s classic LS990 switch looks great in gentle pink Rose Pâle, part of Le Corbusier's colour system.There are also wall paints, tiles and other accessories in the same colour. From £69 swtch.co.uk

SWITCH UP

DOWSING & REYNOLDS

Add interest to a high contrast interior with toggle switches. Each switch is unique, and you can personalise them further with a choice of toggle finishes. From £39 dowsingandreynolds.com

ON THE BOIL

WODAR

From sleek and modern to timelessly traditional, Wodar has a tap to suit. Having instant boiling water, alongside filtered cold and warm water -all from a single tap - is convenient and prevents water waste. wodar.com

CASE STUDY

Inside

in

Words EVE HERBERT

the new apartments

St James owned by wine giant Berry Bros. & Rudd

Interior design guru Kate WatsonSmyth is behind these fabulous new apartments in St James, which are set to appeal to wine enthusiasts. These are rental properties, and their landlord is none other than 300 yearold wine dealer Berry Bros. & Rudd. Individually designed to reflect the distinctive character of the building, each apartment combines vintage decor alongside eco-conscious modern furnishings and fittings which have been curated by developer Obbard together with interior design consultant Kate Watson-Smyth. A unique proposition that celebrates both the heritage of St. James’s, as well as providing modern amenities and services - including a wine concierge service - this is a truly unique central London living experience.

Acting on behalf of landlords Berry Bros. & Rudd, Obespoke - Obbard’s inhouse design studio - has overseen the redevelopment of the five-storey grade two listed building with an interior concept that pairs sensitively considered interior design and responsibly-sourced furnishings with modern amenities and technology.

Collaborating with architects Anthro Architecture and interiors expert Kate Watson-Smyth, the interior scheme was inspired by local grade-listed architecture

and interiors, including those of No.3 St James’s, which has been on site since 1698.

Individually designed and curated, each unique apartment incorporates a mix of reclaimed furnishings, textiles, antiques and artworks, including items from Berry Bros. & Rudd’s own archive. These have been layered alongside modern fittings and finishes from studios and brands that have a responsible approach towards their environmental impact. “Sustainable interior design is an increasingly important issue within the industry and our focus was to create apartments that not only made a statement aesthetically but that also demonstrated how we should - and can - be designing that not only made a statement aesthetically but that also demonstrated how we should - and can - be designing responsibly with our environment in mind and how we can all try and make a di erence,” says Kate Watson-Smyth. “A key part of this was sourcing vintage and

“A mix of reclaimed furnishings, textiles, antiques and artworks”

reclaimed furnishings instead of buying new, working with well-made heirloom pieces that will continue to stand the test of time, instead of opting for cheaper fastfurnishings that will ultimately end up in landfill. Where we needed new technology – appliances, mattresses, sofas, paint, kitchens – for comfort and servicing, we’ve made sure to work with premium brands that have made responsible and ethical design key parts of their manifestos.”

Vintage furnishings were sourced from both London antiques markets and online via Vinterior, with antiques sourced from Berry Bros. & Rudd own archive which are layered alongside lighting and fireplaces that have been reclaimed from London properties undergoing demolition. Ecological paints from Graphenstone were used throughout with bespoke colours created for No.1 St James’s in mind. A focus has also been on incorporating quality made British brands such as The Cornish Bed Company, Love Your Home and Handmade Chesterfields.

Repurposed textiles come from Haines Collection with vintage rugs throughout all apartments. A curated selection of artworks has also been chosen from Berry Bros. & Rudd’s archive which includes historical documents, sketches and paintings. "We wanted this development to appeal to those that are attracted and inspired by the heritage of this neighbourhood, so we have purposefully avoided creating ultra-modern interior schemes, instead curating spaces that will have a timeless longevity to them due to their consideration of surrounding listed architecture,”says Patti Patrick, Head of Design & Development at Obbard. “No.1 St James’s is a stunning historic property set in an unparalleled location, and we wanted this re-development to celebrate just that, so we’ve spent our time creating individual interiors that will continue to add to the narrative of this unique building.”

obbard.co.uk

“Individual interiors that will continue to add to the narrative of this unique building”

KATE WATSON-SMYTH

By PENDLE HARTE

KITCHEN

OF THE MONTH

By PEARL BOYD

This kitchen has a separate bar area, combining practicality and fun

This stunning home has undergone a large refurbishment, completely transforming the ground floor of the property with a new open plan design.

Flowing seamlessly from one side of the house to the other, the space includes an open-plan kitchen and separate bar area, formal living room and utility space.

Interior designer Laura Jackson welcomed new energy into the home

for a family that likes to entertain by combining the best of contemporary design with everyday comfort. Thanks to clever use of natural materials like wood and marble, and pairing them with colour palette of dark blue and sage green, the house exudes contemporary elegance with a personable touch.

The parquet flooring is a central focus in this room. Havwoods’ Pallido from The Italian Collection was laid throughout the space, creating a cohesive look that perfectly complements the abundance of natural light. Adding depth and charm, the herringbone design creates a freeflowing feel and has been paired with a Scandi-inspired aesthetic including soft wood furnishings and brass accents.

In the kitchen, the warm undertones of the flooring works beautifully with the sage green cabinetry, reflecting the greenery from the garden outside. As the floor continues into a separate bar area, the rooms are divided by a Crittall door and di ering colour scheme. Unlike the kitchen, the bar has been decorated in rich, dark blue floor to ceiling storage, complemented with a velvet armchair. Whilst the glass separates the two rooms, the herringbone floor subtly brings the spaces together.

The separate area works not just as a bar but also as a pantry, with storage space for everything allowing the rest of the main kitchen to retain an uncluttered, spacious feel. A

marble island creates a focal point and is a practical addition, making for a sociable zone and a useful workspace. With its sleek silhouettes and natural elements, this home boasts a clean and inviting aesthetic, perfect for modern family life. Parquet flooring perfectly accentuates the scheme, injecting texture into the space, as well as implementing quality to both the look and feel.

BRIGHTEN UP

By EVE HERBERT

One of the most impactful ways of incorporating orange hues into your interior is by going bold and investing in a statement piece of furniture. Adding a pop of sunset colour into any space can instantly add warmth, and by choosing a standout furniture piece to feature the hue, you can ensure a showstopping display.

Sam Baldry, Head of Design at Swoon, comments: “When you find a colour you truly adore, it is very easy to go all out and plaster your interior with it. However, it is often more impactful to choose one statement piece of furniture to feature the tone, and then work your accessories to complement and emphasise it. In a living space, I love the idea of a burnt orange sofa, complete with orange-toned pillows

and a matching throw blanket, paired with brown and brass furniture and accessories. The delicate contrast between the bright orange, neutral brown and muted brass allows the sofa to become a centrepiece of the space, creating visual interest without overwhelming the senses.”

So, when choosing your showstopper ‘statement’, consider which furniture pieces stand out in your space. Beds, sofas, desk chairs, and even feature walls created with vibrant orange paint are all great examples.

If bold displays of a ection for the nation’s current favourite colour seems a little too theatrical for your liking, there are more subtle ways to show o pumpkin hues in your home. Consider using small pops of the tone to feature in lesser-used areas, such as hallways, landings, and bathrooms. Being selective can create a cohesive aesthetic throughout your abode, without overpowering your entire interior.

Orange is one of the shades of the moment. Here’s how to bring it into your home

Sam Baldry says: “A great way to add lashings of orange into your abode without overdoing it is to select refined spaces such as hallways, conservatories, and downstairs lavatories to subtly embellish. I love the idea of recurring accents of orange paint on selected walls around the home – this thoughtful feature truly ties the entire interior design together for a well composed finish.

“For a renter-friendly way to integrate sunset tones into your home, hanging wall art and mindfully placing accessories are great, less permanent alternatives to painting surfaces. Curating a collection of vases, candles, rugs, and hardware in orange and golden tones to disperse into a space such as a hallway creates a chic,

monotonal vibe that will be sure to impress guests as they first enter your home. One of my favourite ways to integrate colour artfully is by replacing uninteresting or tired chrome hardware such as door and drawer handles with beautifully bold substitutes.”

If you're not ready to commit to an allout orange aesthetic, updating your soft furnishings is an ideal alternative. This way, as each season rolls around, you can simply switch out your throws, cushions, curtains and bedding for a more seasonally appropriate replacement, and store the old one away for its return later in the year.

“Reinventing your interior style doesn’t have to come with a 12-month minimum commitment contract. To easily achieve a consistently seasonally appropriate home, simply rotate your soft furnishings a few times a year. During the summer months, keep your furnishings light and breezy using materials such as linen and cotton. When the weather begins to cool down, heavier fabrics such as velvet and boucle will help to transform your current interior to form a cosy space for the colder months.

“Consider updating your bedding to a chic burnt orange and crisp white combination, adding texture and pattern through decorative pillows and throws. Combine this with co-ordinating curtains, which will help to keep the heat in, and a sunset-toned rug to keep your feet warm and comfortable – and just like that, you’ve created a wonderfully seasonal and weather appropriate boudoir space.”

“Consider using small pops of orange to feature in lesserused areas”

By PENDLE HARTE

Embracing E-LEARNING

Sitting in the classroom isn’t the only way to improve yourself…

E-learning – it's a phrase that few of us had even heard of a couple of years ago. But since a global pandemic forced schools and universities to move online, E-learning has become a mainstay of education for people all over the world.

Like most sudden changes in education, E-learning has been met with some scepticism. But rest assured, as the world continues to change, learning online is here to stay. Rather than trying to deny it, we should be embracing it as a tool which makes education easier to achieve for many people. Here’s why…

IT FITS AROUND YOUR LIFE

Remember, E-learning isn’t just for school children. Plenty of adults have turned to online classes to earn qualifications or satisfy their thirst for knowledge. In the busy worlds of adulthood and parenthood, it can be di cult to find time to attend in-person classes. Learning online in your own home solves this problem by removing the commute and making sure all the materials you need can be accessed at the click of a mouse.

IT REMOVES ANY GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES

Found the perfect course, but it’s only taught at an institution hundreds of

miles away? This is no longer a problem with E-learning. By moving online, education has become accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live.

This isn’t solely an issue of convenience either. People from developing countries can now access education online that wasn’t previously available to them. All they need is a laptop and an internet connection.

IT PREPARES YOUNG PEOPLE FOR REMOTE WORKING

Just as children have always been taught how to dress for job interviews and behave in an o ce environment, they now need to be coached on how to act in a remote working environment. Zoom meetings may have been new, unfamiliar territory for those already in the workforce, but for people who’ve grown up with E-learning, the challenge of meeting and working with people through a camera is a familiar one.

NO MORE SNOW DAYS

School children may bemoan this point, but E-learning will save countless hours of lost schooling. Things that once might have blocked children from attending lessons (snow, floods, chicken pox etc.) are a thing of the past. E-learning means no one ever has to miss out on their education due to factors outside of their control.

Of course, E-learning isn’t completely infallible. To learn online you need a fast, reliable broadband connection – one that won’t cut out during a class discussion on Zoom or bu er during a streamed lecture.

With Swish Fibre you can get lightningfast Full Fibre broadband throughout your home, no matter how many devices are connected. So you can be learning online while others in your home are watching TV or gaming – you'll still be able to work and learn without disruption or delay.

To find out more, visit swishfibre.com

TRAVEL

KING OF THE CASTLE CHATEAU CAPITOUL

How a restored 19th century chateau in the Languedoc was transformed into a stylish and sustainable holiday destination designed to appeal to anyone with a love of wine, food and the outdoors. chateaucapitoul.com

Chateau life in the Langeudoc 94 • Family time in Sardinia 98

&DINE WINE

By PENDLE HARTE

What makes up the perfect day? For me, a dream day would go something like this. Wake up in the south of France

to blue skies in a beautiful 19th century chateau. After coffee, cycle a scenic, carfree route to the beach for a swim in the sea, followed by a leisurely seafood lunch – and then another gentle cycle back to the chateau to sample some local wines. Sounds good? If so, a trip to Chateau Capitoul in the Langedoc might create your perfect day too.

Chateau Capitoul is the kind of place that combines simplicity with luxury in a carefully designed way. The site was taken on by charismatic Irish hotelier couple Karl and Anita O’Hanlon and they’ve approached it with huge passion. They took a neglected, rundown chateau attached to a family-run

vineyard and a pine forest and made it into a smart destination that features a hotel, two restaurants, a spa, a pool and a working vineyard, along with a collection of holiday homes. The location, in a natural park on the edge of the Massif de la Clape in the heart of the Languedoc, is an area of great natural beauty; it’s a short distance to the beach and within easy striking distance of Narbonne, Beziers and Montpellier.

The new builds are carefully designed to blend into the landscape while creating luxurious residences that feel almost like a village. The model is clever – these holiday homes are all privately owned, and the estate takes care of the holiday lets on behalf of the owners, who generally visit for a few weeks each year. Everything has been designed with careful consideration – the restoration of the chateau, the hotel’s impressive new reception building, the pools and the gardens. Particularly the gardens:

How Chateau Capitoul in the Languedoc became a stylish holiday destination combining wine, nature and wellbeing

“Everything has been designed with careful consideration”

when they first bought the site, there was concern from local environmentalists that construction would negatively impact the area’s biodiversity. The area is home to at least one type of endangered lizard as well as bats and countless birds, and any development of the land had to take that into account. And in fact, the new estate and its grounds have more biodiversity now than it did before, thanks to protective measures and a sensitive approach. There are lizard hotels and bat caves, and bird numbers are up. Another concern was water – how

to create a newly landscaped plot without using vast quantities of water? The genius solution: a Mediterranean dry garden. There are no sprinklers here, because Capitoul is now home to Europe’s largest dry garden, thanks to a method of encouraging roots to grow so deep that once established – after a year – they require no watering at all. And what to do here? On the estate there’s a pool and tennis courts (most of the villas have their own private pools too) as well as a spa o ering a full programme of relaxing facials and massages as well as

a pool, sauna and hammam. Take a bike out – there are regular ones for the cruise to the beach, and electric mountain bikes to take the other way, into the hilly Massif de la Clape. Gruissan is a sweet beach town with a lively market and the seafront is notable for its pink salt flats – don’t miss the excellent salt museum with its brilliant shop selling an enormous range of flavoured sea salts as well as various salted caramels and lots of salt-related bath and beauty products. The huge sandy beach with its huts on stilts might be familiar as

CHATEA CAPITOUL POOL AND VIEW

the location for the film Betty Blue, and busy seafood restaurant La Cambuse du Saunier is an improbably dreamy spot –rustic and informal but delivering the most delicious array of oysters, razor clams and more, all accompanied by perfectly crusty baguette and crispy, salty chips as well as chilled white wine from Chateau Capitoul. It’s right on the seafront, and there are even tables on a jetty overlooking the pink lake. Back at the estate, take a tour of the winery and learn about the entire grape-tobottle process. The Bonfils family has been producing wine here for 150 years, and vines have grown here since the 14th century. Wines in the La Clape appellation are a blend of at least two varieties: main grape varieties are Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah for red, and Bourboulenc for white. The O’Hanlons are committed environmentalists and everything is considered. There’s not much beef on the menus – instead they’ll recommend the excellent Black Pork from the Pyrennees. There are Nespresso machines in the rooms, but only because, on balance, they result in less wasted co ee per room, as carefully calculated. They’re also keen collectors and their eye for antiques and decor can be seen in the chandeliers, artworks and furnishings in the chateau and the residences. My room in the chateau’s former attic is spacious, stylish and luxurious, with impressive views across the vineyards and the pine forest. It’s a dreamy spot as a place to linger as well as a base from which to explore the region. There’s more to the south of France than Provence: the Languedoc is beautiful and varied, and Chateau Capitoul o ers the very best of the region. It's a place fir a perfect day, and more.

chateaucapitoul.com

“The new estate and its grounds have more biodiversity now than it did before”

INSIDE A VILLA

THTE CHATEAU

VIEWS ACROSS

THE NATIONAL PARK

SARDINIA

amo

How our writer fell for the beautiful Italian island

By ROB MCGIBBON

My two previous holidays to Sardinia did not go well.

The first was in 1977 as part of an annual exchange with a French family. I was 12, lonely and lost to the language of my hosts and the country, so two weeks in paradise felt like hell. But then I fell for a pretty Italian girl with a perm.

One problem - she was 15 and I looked about 10. Oblivious to the fact that I had no chance, I researched the vocab’, then blurted out the immortal words in the hotel’s junior disco: “Ti amo!”. I love you, no less. I deserved a passionate kiss for courage, but she muttered “Grazie,” and patted my arm as if consoling the recently bereaved. Sardinia unfairly su ered for this rejection.

I ventured back there in 2014 with my wife, Emma, and our son, Joseph, but this trip was ruined by a rotten apartment in the middle of nowhere. We spent most of the week in the car getting lost. Sardinia got the blame again.

But today my love a air with this jewel of an island has finally blossomed. I am stretched out on the netting at the bow of a 1927 wooden sailing boat called Pulcinella. Our energetic and chatty deckhand Leonardo has just released the burgundy sails and we are gliding across the most exquisite turquoise sea I have seen this side of the Maldives.

Joseph, now 14, is next me and staring out in silent awe at the islands of La Maddalena Archipelago in the far north. Emma is sipping chilled Vermentino local white wine beneath a canopy. This is the last day of our holiday and, without doubt, Sardinia has delivered la dolce vita dream. Mama mia, where to begin?

In summary, Sardinia has everything: perfect weather, endless sandy beaches, crystal-clear water, delicious cuisine and a friendly welcome wherever you go. It is blessed with charm, authenticity and variety. You can slump under the sun and do nothing, or you can venture o to explore local culture and discover something historical or rustic. Amazingly, all this is just two hours from Gatwick.

We have been in the embrace of Delphina, one of Sardinia’s most respected hotel groups. It was founded in 1992 by two

vita dream”

Sardinian friends - Francesco Muntoni and Salvatore Peru - and is still run by both men and their families. Today, it has eight properties scattered across the north. It repeatedly wins a clutch of awards in the annual travel biz Oscars, not least the prestigious 2022 title of World’s Leading Green Independent Hotel Group.

All hotels are run on 100% eco energy and follow an impressive list of planet-friendly initiatives. There is no greenwashing here. Delphina is also driven by using all things Sardinian, from local food and sta to the handwoven wicker bins and rainbow rugs that add splashes of colour throughout the hotels. Even the tiny bright mosaic tiles that are stylishly inlaid everywhere are hand-painted and kilned locally.

Our trip began with two nights at Cala di Falco, one of Delphina’s smaller hotels

on the famous Costa Smeralda. Its simple tranquility is an ideal place to quickly decompress from London stress. The sea is just across a track from the pool and the lively town of Cannigione is a 15 minute stroll away. Perfect for an aperitif or dinner.

From here, we drove north to the oasis of luxury that is Valle dell’Erica, a five star resort in the Gallura region. This sits discreetly in 28 hectares of unspoilt hillside studded with huge grey granite boulders and swathes of wild flowering bushes and herbs.

Erica is bordered by the most gorgeous coastline that looks out to the islands of the archipelago and Corsica. Our first few days drift by in easy, self-imposed seclusion. We hit La Licciola beach most mornings, then retreat in the afternoons to one of the many swimming pools (all salt water), or the spa.

Then we have one last sun-downer dip in the small private pool by our luxury duplex room on the hill before changing for dinner.

One recurring treat at Erica is undoubtedly the food. From day break to nightfall, it is sensational and never falls short. Instead of tables of pre-prepared food, there are multiple chefs on hand to cook freshly for you. Whether it is the huge catch of the day, langoustines, fillet steak, lamb chops, pasta, seared tuna or octopus, nothing is too much trouble. These aren’t bu ets, they are banquets.

It is hard to tear yourself away from the dell’Erica resort, but we set o exploring on many occasions. We visited Porto Cervo, the mecca for glitz where superyachts drop anchor, the street markets at Palau, and wandered among the stone houses in the old village of Aggius.

An unforgettable day for me was hiking with Jospeh at the most northerly point of the island at Santa Theresa Gallura - stupidly, during the height of the midday sun. We picked our way over and between enormous shapes of granite that looked like dinosaur vertebrae until we reached the sea. There, we dipped our tired feet in the cool water and sluiced our burning faces, to then gaze at the coast of Corsica seven miles across the Straits of Bonifacio. Wonderful.

It had taken me 45 years, but it felt good to put my hand on my heart and say: Sardinia - ti amo!

delphinahotels.co.uk

“Without doubt, Sardinia has delivered la dolce

ROOM AT VALLE DELL’ERICA

CANOEING AT VALLE DELL’ERICA

VALLE DELL’ERICA POOLS

VALLE DELL’ERICA

Embracing an innovative, modern approach whilst keeping traditional values at its core, Kew House School takes an exciting stance on 21st century education. With state-of-the-art facilities, a broad curriculum and excellent pastoral care, Kew House is a place where you would want to be – a place of learning and discovery, laughter and friendship.

BROOMWOOD HALL SCHOOL

Broomwood Hall Upper School provides a forward-thinking, holistic education in a beautiful setting, tailored to the needs of the modern world. It's big enough to stretch and stimulate, yet small enough to support each girl as an individual. northwoodschools.com

A thriving independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11-18

Scan here to access our prospectus, or contact: admissions@stgeorges-ascot.org.uk to reserve your space on one of our regular, tailored open mornings

www.stgeorges-ascot.org.uk

CENTURY OF Excellence

St George’s Ascot begins celebrations of 100 years in girls’ education with a glowing Independent School Inspectorate report

This is a special year for the St George’s School, Ascot community, marking 100 years of excellence in girls’ education, after the purchase of the school by Miss Anne Loveday in 1923. Prior to this the school had been a boys prep school and then a finishing school. This was the start of the modern, progressive educational establishment for girls we know today.

The 1920s, following on from World War I, were a time of enormous change for girls and women in terms of their status in society, their accessibility to education and work, and the perceived value they brought to the world. St George’s was later recognised by the Department for Education, in 1927, and thus began the educational journey that they continue to this day.

The pupils, sta and governors were delighted to commence their centenary year by receiving an outstanding endorsement from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) following its November 2022 inspection. Inspectors found St George’s to be fully compliant with all regulations, and in both areas of the educational quality inspection, ‘pupils’ academic and other achievements’ and ‘pupils’ personal development’ the school was awarded the highest grade of ‘excellent’.

The academic excellence o ered to Georgians was reflected by the Inspectors stating: “Pupils make excellent progress throughout the school, achieving results at GCSE and A-level which are well above the national average,” and highlighted “pupils’ positive attitudes towards learning are a striking feature of the school”.

Liz Hewer frequently reminds pupils, parents and alumnae that St George’s is a place to explore, take on new experiences and opportunities, and balance academic achievement with a comprehensive range of co-curricular activities. Inspectors commented: “Pupils’ achievements in co-curricular activities are extensive; [they] achieve well across all areas of the curriculum and particularly in the creative subjects.”

Perhaps most significantly, the inspectors highlighted the willingness of pupils to collaborate with fellow pupils who have di erent strengths and talents and recognised the high degree of inclusivity and the ability of pupils to get along with each other. They noted pupils are: “highly confident, combining healthy self-knowledge, first-class social skills and an awareness of the world around them.”

For anyone who has visited the school, the inspection report come as no surprise. As Head Liz Hewer’s welcome on the school website states: “When people tell me how much they have enjoyed visiting St George’s, I always ask them what it was that most impressed them. The lovely buildings within a beautiful setting? The small class sizes? The ambition of the academic provision? The breadth of the cocurricular programme? The impressive theatre? The wonderful sports facilities? The professional and committed teachers? The busy and friendly atmosphere? ‘Well yes,’ they say. ‘All of those things. But it’s more than that; it’s the girls –there’s just something truly special about them’.

“There is no such thing as a typical St George’s girl as each of our pupils arrive with their own set of talents and interests. It is our privilege to encourage and challenge each and every one of them to develop a genuine understanding of who she is and support them to achieve the future of their choice. By nurturing their love of learning, their academic potential and their individual talents, we are able to develop happy, responsible, well balanced and resilient young women; confident, capable and connected to the world beyond our school.”

stgeorges-ascot.org.uk

INVENTIVE SCIENCE

Scientists are our hope for the future, so how do schools bring STEM to life and give young people the practical skills and creativity they need to take their skills and knowledge further? Absolutely Education investigates

EXPERIMENTS AT BRIGHTON COLLEGE

Northwood Schools

At Northwood Schools, science is central. The four linked schools – Broomwood Hall Lower and Upper, Northcote Lodge and Northwood Senior – give students extensive access to both facilities and expertise from the early years. There are three labs across the prep schools, plus a dedicated Design and Technology space with state-of-the-art machinery.

Immersive and hands-on are the order of the day here from the start. So, whether it’s digging in dirt, steaming wood or designing and building a bridge, the aim is always to feed curiosity and teach practical investigative skills. For instance, at Northcote Lodge, the science fair tasks boys to create a hypothesis then conduct a suitable experiment, write up the results and present findings to visiting judges from Northwood Senior.

The schools run dissection clubs to enable children to understand the intricacies of biology, bringing science to life with real organs. Children also design and build rockets and bridges to put engineering and physics to the test. Visiting scientists and engineers give talks and there are trips to exciting museums – the Old Operating Museum and Science Museum among them – as well as science days at senior schools.

Northwood Schools believes in the power of cross-curricular learning – whether it’s

building buggies in DT or Rube Goldberg instructions in Art or Lego robots and 3D designs in Computing. During book week the science labs become hives of Harry Potter potions and there’s a wildly popular and deadly serious crosscurricular CSI day at Northwood Senior.

At this grisly science event, students solve a ‘whodunnit’ using blood spatter analysis, fingerprinting, hair analysis and chromatography – even working out the height of the culprit from shoe sizes.

St Catherine’s, Bramley

At St Catherine’s, Bramley, there are nine fully equipped Science Labs in the Senior School and a new (opened 2019) WonderLab in the Prep. With these excellent facilities, the school takes its work beyond the school gates too, running ‘Super Science Summer Workshops’ for children aged 8-10 from a local state school. The children join St Catherine’s science teachers and Lower 6 science mentors in the WonderLab to get hands on, building flying machines, exploring materials using slime and

investigating life through maggots.

St Catherine’s Sixth Form girls thinking of STEM degrees and careers can join a four-term engineering project involving the technical build of a Lotus ‘Seven’ kit car. This project gives them the opportunity to explore construction materials, mechanics and suspension geometry, as well as engine technology. Blended study is also a feature here. For instance, one current student is studying Computer Science, Art and Maths at A level, along the way exploring concepts of control and communication in Art inspired by Tony Oursler and Jim Campbell. She is heading on to study Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics. There are clubs for the individual sciences and this year students entered the British Physics Olympiad experimental challenge. A large group of Sixth Form students recently took part in the Schools’ Analyst Competition in Chemistry, working in teams to use four analytical techniques and find the best ingredients for fish and chips! Live science events are designed to be fun. For the Physics Rollercoaster, U5 girls go to Thorpe Park. They experience the rides but are also set tough

UP CLOSE SCIENCE AT ST CATHERINE’S, BRAMLEY

challenges

“Whether it’s digging in dirt or dissection, the aim at Northwood Schools is to feed curiosity and build investigative skills”

HUMAN BIOLOGY EXPLAINED AT NORTHWOOD SCHOOLS

by the school’s Head of Physics – from the transfer of potential energy to kinetic energy, gravity, velocity and speed.

St Catherine’s Sixth Formers will visit CERN Control Centre in 2023 (following on from the last trip of 2019) to see the Large Hadron Collider. Closer to home, L6 psychologists had the opportunity for a behind-the-scenes visit to meet St Catherine’s alumna and director of the Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging Professor Cathy Price. They were able to see the world’s most advanced brain scanner to date – the OPM – and understand more about how it uses magnetic fields. Researchers expect this to be the next leap for brain scanning technology because it can scan people’s brains while they are mobile.

Oakham School

At Oakham, there’s a a ‘hands on’ approach to learning science subjects and using methods which challenge students’ thinking, as well as developing creative and technical skills. With state-of-theart spaces and labs, STEM core subjects are taught from Year 6 onwards.

Inquiry-based projects are introduced early on using the FOSIL framework, which encourages pupils to investigate topics and theories for themselves.

Tim Weston, Head of Design and Technology at Oakham School, says: “A great thing about our STEM subjects is that they all have experimental aspects which pupils really respond well to”. He says one thing students enjoy is the idea that nothing is ever completed – it can always be improved. “It keeps them coming back to a piece of work or a theory and seeing how they can progress it further.”

Showing links and overlaps between subjects encourages engagement and horizontal curriculums help to identify when content and skills can be developed further. Leo Dudin, Deputy Head Academic at Oakham, says it’s about encouraging pupils to “think creatively, critically and reflectively” in all areas. “In Years 7–9 our curriculum is based around the acclaimed IB Middle Years Programme,” he adds.

“The IB MYPaddresses our pupils’ intellectual, social, emotional and physical wellbeing and gives them the opportunities to develop the knowledge, attitudes and

skills they need to manage complexity.”

Collaborations between Art and Biology –and even DT, Biology and History to review the history of medical devices in World War I – show how this cross-disciplinary learning can work to enrich learning in multiple disciplines. That project included a talk by BLESMA, an armed forces charity for limbless veterans. Students were then tasked to design key medical devices that might be used to evacuate casualties.

Students have opportunities to participate in a wide range of challenges and extracurricular projects. For instance, groups have participated in the TeenTech Awards, the Middle School take part in the UK-wide Biology Challenge and the Sixth Form compete in Biology, Chemistry and Physics Olympiads. School science clubs are a mainstay, and the school o ers the Physics Gold CREST.

In the Upper School, Oakham supports the extension of ideas through multiple science societies and activities such as

“At Oakham School in Rutland, a focus on cross-disciplinary learning works brilliantly to enrich students’ understanding across multiple disciplines”

FIRING IMAGINATIONS AT BRIGHTON COLLEGE

UNDERSTANDING BONES AT ST CATHERINE’S, BRAMLEY

film nights and quizzes. Further Biology, Chemistry and Physics sessions are o ered, along with specialist groups. For instance, DocSoc is a long-established group to support aspiring health care professionals. Another project available to 16+ pupils is the Industrial Cadets Gold Award, which sees pupils working on real-life problems with a company. Students have the opportunity to engage first hand with mentors in projects led by industry experts.

Brighton College

Recently named Top School in Britain for STEM subjects by The Week magazine, Brighton College has long been a pioneer of progressive science teaching, linking subjects in inspiring ways. The Week noted that: ‘Its stunning new School of Science and Sport is evidence of its commitment’. Designed by OMA architecture practice, the building includes 18 universitystandard labs, breakout spaces, ‘bio lab’ greenhouse on the roof and cinema-style auditorium for live science events.

The school, which o ers co-education for ages 3-18, has a science-led approach from the start. Specialist teaching begins in prep years, and by the time students step up to senior level, they cover the three core sciences separately, along with related learning in IT, Coding and DT.

Beyond the curriculum, there’s a full suite of clubs and activities – from Medical Society and Dissection Club to Physics Crest, Sound Recording, Lego Robotics and Games Programming. The Women in STEM webinar series, featuring events with female academics, was launched late year by Heather Justice, Software Engineer and Mars Rover Driver at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. This series was also opened to girls at local state schools.

Every type of STEM competition is entered by pupils – major awards include the British Physics Olympiad and the Corpus Christi College Schools Science Prize for Materials Science. Students have also attended the International Olympiad on Astronomy competition in India and every year a team compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition in Turkey.

“There’s a full suite of clubs and activities at Brighton College, from Medical Society to Lego Robotics and Games Programming”

DISSECTION AT BRIGHTON COLLEGE

Mayfield School

At Mayfield School, science is brought to life in a variety of ways and with emphasis on interdisciplinary thinking, problem solving and teamwork. For instance, in Year 7 and 8 the school runs a themed cross-curricular day each term. “Girls are taken o timetable to explore topics in greater depth and bring to life the links between subjects,” says Head of Lower School Claire Baker. Recent examples have included Earth Day, Moon Camp, Code Breaking, and the Cookie Project.

During the two-day Moon Camp, girls worked as a team to design and pitch an idea for a base on the Moon. “Each member of the group took on di erent responsibilities and aspects of the challenge, with some conducting scientific experiments to evaluate window designs to withstand the lunar environment, and then exploring the challenges of living, working, eating and exercising in a low

gravity environment,” adds Claire Baker.

Some girls used 3D CAD software to create a model of part of their moon base, while a third sub-group used their creative skills to produce artwork and logos to build a brand identity. Girls learned about communication and teamwork and finally had to pitch their proposed Moon Camp to a panel of judges. Events such as this, bring the curriculum to life and help students to develop their soft skills, as well as their scientific knowledge.

As girls progress, so does the level and pace of scientific challenges. The school’s Innovate programme, led by David Warren, was introduced in 2019 for Year 9 girls. For their first project, students develop a prototype electronic device to help tackle the challenges presented by a climate or environmental issue. For the second project, they use 3D design and manufacturing to create something to combat a real-world issue. This might be, for instance, a product to assist those

with a disability or medical condition.

At Sixth Form, Maths and Sciences are the most popular A-level subjects. Head of Sixth Form John Doy says almost half the current cohort of 60 are going on to study maths- or science-based courses. Mayfield encourages girls to think about science, whatever their ultimate goal, and many choose eclectic A-level combinations – for instance Chemistry and Ceramics. Such choices can be career enhancing and rewarding. One recent alumna, now studying Engineering at Cambridge, produced an A-level project for Art that evolved from a set of scientific drawings of flora and fauna.

Reed’s School

Located in Cobham, Reed’s o ers a wealth of science facilities for its students, with 16 science laboratories. There’s also the school’s flagship FutureTech building, a multi-use facility supporting the STEM programme. It contains an electronics studio, computer suite and workshops for DT.

The school takes that view that, since pupils’ lives are far more dominated by technology than in the past, the curriculum must reflect that reality. FutureTech recognises the importance of these emerging technologies. Along with the three traditional sciences, Reed’s o ers a triple set of technology subjects – Computing, Electronics and Engineering at GCSE.

A FutureTech programme is embedded within the curriculum – all Year 9 pupils experience a wide range of cross-curricula STEM topics that improve practical and problem-solving skills. The course covers six topics, which vary annually but have included areas such as Robotics using the Vex IQ, Coding with Sphero, Engineering of Airplanes, Building the Modern Home, and Technology in the Tour

“During the twoday Moon Camp, Mayfield girls worked together as a team to design and pitch an idea for designing a base on the Moon”

MAYFIELD PUPILS SOLVE A TECHNICAL CHALLENGE

de France. The topics not only engage pupils with ‘real world’ applications, but also foster independent learning and bring an exciting glimpse into subjects not o ered at GCSE and A level. Lectures from external STEM experts extend knowledge and understanding and are shared with students across the school.

The extracurricular programme at the school includes clubs such as Robotics, Greenpower Challenge, McLaren Challenge, Land Rover 4x4 challenge and Technology. At Engineering Club, Sixth Form students have the opportunity to conduct a series of engineering projects and activities to prepare them for a variety of university courses.

There are plenty of other opportunities for Reed’s pupils to experience live science. The Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge is entered by all pupils in Years 7 to 9. There are visits to Bletchley Park and science Olympiads to provide academic stretch. The school also enters Surrey SATRO – challenges using knowledge from across the STEM curriculum.

Reed’s students are regular visitors to outside centres of excellence, including the Royal Institution in London and the Rutherford Appleton Labs at Oxford.

St Dunstan’s College

St Dunstan’s has a long tradition of investing in science – its original school governors wished it to ‘have special reference to technical education’. This was in 1888, a time when most public schools focused on Latin and Greek. It soon earned endorsements and was visited by delegations who wanted to learn more about its unique approach.

Fast forward to the 21st century and the investment continues, with the new stateof-the-art STEM Centre for Excellence and Innovation. Students from Year 7 onwards receive specialist teaching in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Design Engineering. It includes practical resources for active science projects and experiments, each with a full-time technician attached to assist in theheuristic(hands-on) approach the school still favours for teaching STEM subjects.

Mathematics is housed within the STEM Centre to facilitate cross-curricular projects, which always come to the fore during the St Dunstan’s Festivalfortnight at the end of each academic year. This is when students go ‘o -piste’ with quirky project-based learning that bridges di erent subjects. “A key outcome for STEM education at St Dunstan’s is for students to realise the ‘live’ nature of these subjects, and for them to become

scientists, engineers, and mathematicians actuallydoingthesciencein a practical way,” says Deputy Head Academic Jonathan Holmes. He adds that the freedom o ered as an independent school, in particular for Years 7-9, is an opportunity to challenge young people to discover how their knowledge links back to the real world.

St Dunstan’s supports enthusiasm for science with conventions and events. It recently held its first ‘Where can mathematics take you?’ careers event, drawing in an array of industries – from finance and architecture to digital music and games development. There are plenty of external trips and events to reinforce the relevance of STEM – from a Year 8 Chemistry trip to the L’Oréal Institute to learn about commercial materials science to trips to London Zoo for zoological clubs. The Biology Department’s in-house animal science club is also hugely popular, with students caring for live animals as part of their extended learning.

“Reed’s flagship FutureTech building is a multi-use facility supporting STEM, and contains an electronics studio, computer suite and workshops for DT”

ST DUNSTAN’S COLLEGE HAS A LONG TRADITION IN SCIENCE TEACHING AND A CROSS-CURRICULAR APPROACH

Focus on the

FUTURE

Celebrating its 125th birthday, Eaton House Schools has grown from one London prep to a thriving family of five schools combining tradition with a modern approach to education

By LIBBY NORMAN

Eaton House Schools is a stalwart of the London education scene, now encompassing five schools across two historic sites –one in the heart of Belgravia and the other overlooking leafy Clapham Common. This year, it is celebrating its 125th birthday. It champions single-sex education, with co-ed nurseries, and is known for giving boys and girls the strong start needed for top schools and a bright future.

The founder of the original Belgravia boys’ school was Thomas Sale Morton, a renowned Classics scholar and author – also tutor to the young Harold Macmillan. Indeed, it was the future UK Prime Minister’s mother Helen (Nellie) Artie Tarleton Belles who encouraged the gifted educationalist to establish a prep school.

It was known originally as Cliveden Place Preparatory School and inhabited 35 Cliveden Gate, moving several times to accommodate its swelling cohort, before a 1937 relocation to the premises at 3 Eaton Gate that still forms part of the school today. During World War II, pupils were evacuated to Haines Hill, a stately home in Berkshire. When the school returned to the capital a year after the War, 5 Eaton Gate was purchased in order to manage growing pupil numbers for the school – by now known as Eaton House. Morton had handed over the reins to Robin T. Gladstone (said to be a relative of William Gladstone) in 1910 and the Ingham family – previous owners of Westminster Kindergarten Preparatory School – took charge in 1959.

The late 1970s brought an exciting chapter under the visionary stewardship of the Harper family, Hilary Harper, newly married to Don Harper, bought the school in 1977. She was then Head of the Junior School and already had 14 years’ service with the school. Under the Harper family’s leadership, the school went from strength to strength academically, becoming known for outstanding results in the 7+ and 8+ exams for the boys under its charge.

The Harpers spotted the future Eaton House The Manor when they were driving through south-west London. This fine Georgian manor overlooked Clapham Common Northside and

was a significant local landmark. Known as Byrom House and ‘The Beeches’, it o ered both space and huge potential. The Harpers took it on as a project, developing the 1.5-acre site as a nursery, pre-prep and prep. Eaton House The Manor opened in 1993 and rapidly became an integral part of Clapham life.

Like its Eaton House Belgravia sibling, Eaton House The Manor developed an exceptional academic reputation and growing cohort. Further refurbishment took place from 2003 and five years later, it opened a separate girls’ school. This meant Eaton House The Manor now o ered a co-ed nursery with single-sex pre-prep and prep education for boys and girls on one site. Facilities have been added over the years, including an underground gym, new labs and a theatre. It has also championed sustainability – from generating its over half its own electricity to supporting wildlife with its 300 square metres of green roofs and its ‘living walls’. It also continues to shine academically – with 38 scholarships and a Starred Pass to Eton for boys’ and girls’ schools in 2022 alone.

Huw May became Headmaster of Eaton House Belgravia in 2017 and the school now educates boys aged 2-11 on one site in Eaton

“Notable Eaton House alumni include Sir Laurence Olivier and Eddie Redmayne, Philip Pullman and Bear Grylls”

Gate, and with a co-ed Nursery. Alongside that early beneficiary Harold Macmillan, other notable alumni include actors Sir Laurence Olivier and Eddie Redmayne, author Philip Pullman and adventurer Bear Grylls. It has an outstanding reputation for sending boys on to schools such as Westminster, St Paul’s and King’s College Wimbledon.

Hilary Harper retired in 2016, and her daughter Luchie Cawood took over. A new chapter began in 2021 when Eaton House Schools joined the Dukes Education family.

Sarah Seagrave – Headmistress of Eaton House The Manor since 2016 – took on the role of Principal of the Group in September 2022.

While a tailored approach to develop each pupil’s academic potential has always been Eaton House Schools’ philosophy, strong pastoral care, creative and sporting opportunities and a spirit of giving back are equally embedded. Generations of children have been educated across the two sites in Belgravia and Clapham, becoming a familiar site thanks to their distinctive uniforms and participation in community life. Wherever children’s talents and passions lie, the approach at Eaton House Schools has always been the same – to ensure they flourish.

PRINCIPAL SARAH SEAGRAVE AND SOME MANOR PUPILS

A PUPIL FROM EATON HOUSE THE MANOR

A UNIQUE PATHWAY

Like many schools, we were proud to celebrate last summer as so many of our students gained entry to their dream universities.

Take Thomas, for example, who achieved four A* grades and gained a place at the University of Cambridge.

Unlike most pupils, however, our learners didn't study for their A Levels in a physical classroom. King’s InterHigh is a fully online school—and, a unique, alternative pathway to university success.

It’s a common misconception that brick-and-mortar schools are always the best way to get into university. In fact, for many young people, the traditional route can be a hurdle in itself.

One in five students with anxiety, for example, told The Student Room

that anxiety has deterred them from applying to university. Mental health and wellbeing concerns can be an immense barrier to achieving one’s full potential. For these students, online learning can be truly transformative.

Heidi, one of our alumni, made the move to virtual school "in hopes of finding joy in learning and rediscovering the person I used to be" after struggling at her school in France. After joining us, Heidi says, “I regained my voice.” Achieving ABB last year, she’s now studying her dream course—veterinary nursing—at one of the world's most highly respected schools in her field.

But what makes online school di erent? The key is personalisation: online learning can revolve around each individual student, no matter their needs, lifestyle, or ambitions.

That also includes students living abroad, young actors and

athletes building their careers, and all those for whom the traditional route simply doesn’t work.

If your child struggled through distance learning a few years ago, you may be looking at all of this with a dose of scepticism. However, true online schools are a far cry from pandemic schooling. Here, students get a full school experience: highly qualified teachers, interactive live lessons, clubs and social activities, and comprehensive university guidance— just like at any top-tier Sixth Form.

The di erence? In a virtual environment, we simply aren’t bound to the same limitations as physical schools. Online, students get unprecedented flexibility and freedom. They can choose any combination of A Level subjects for their chosen degree, without timetabling constraints. Or, they can study the world’s first online IB Diploma with us, renowned and respected by top universities across the globe. Classes are live and free from distractions, and all lessons are recorded for reviewing at any time.

Plus, virtual classrooms allow for new levels of innovation. Alongside their usual lessons, students can explore their studies with virtual reality headsets, use cutting-edge technologies, and learn with tools and resources that suit their learning style.

With an education that fits, every child’s full potential can be unlocked. At King’s InterHigh, learning is designed to do just that.

KING'S INTERHIGH

Alessandro Capozzia, Head of Sixth Form kingsinterhigh.co.uk

How online school King's Interhigh o ers a full, personalised school experience

“Online learning can revolve around each individual student, no matter their needs, lifestyle, or ambitions”

Responsible Entrepreneurship

Southbank International School on teaching entrepreneurship and global thinking at a young age

Developing financial acumen and a savvy business brain at a young age are increasingly important elements in modern education. At Southbank International School, children as young as grade 2 (age 7 and 8) get involved in learning about entrepreneurship.

Children focus on how people work together to create products for the community – and with a big focus on interconnection. To make the experience immersive, children work in teams to start a small business together. They decide on a product that they can sell to their target market (which is their parents).

There is emphasis on considering audience needs and wants, and the children do their own market research. Teachers find this a fantastic way for them to learn how to formulate questions. At Southbank, everything is cross curricula and data gathering work feeds into maths learning.

Next the groups think about marketing. There is a talk by a member of sta or parent to help them decide how to communicate their message and then

create an advert. Experts are enrolled throughout the product development phase to give constructive feedback.

Finally, the product goes into production, with each team member assigned their own tasks. They form a production line and make the right number of pieces as per the order forms. Deciding on a suitable price during the market research phase and collecting money (further maths work) are important parts of the process. They also decide on a suitable charity or environmental cause they want to support.

Throughout the entire project there is a lot of reflecting on IB Approaches to Learning, particularly focusing on communication and

collaboration skills. Everything is seen through the context of the IB – striving to educate students to think beyond themselves and consider their responsibilities in the world.

Entrepreneurship is also introduced through extracurricular activities. Clubs such as Action Through the Arts o er an opportunity to work together to make a di erence. For instance, Southbank International pupils recently made a video on climate action and also created a book for refugee children coming to London from Afghanistan – children drew pictures and the words were translated.

Last term, children (ranging in age from 5 to 9) decided it would be a good idea to fundraise to support young people fleeing the war in Ukraine. The group settled on key chains and bookmarks – determining costs to make units and a fair selling price. The project raised an impressive total of £373 to buy book boxes for Ukrainian children to be given as gifts on arrival in the UK. Children typically spend 10-12 weeks working on Action Through the Arts projects, and all the work involved orientates around entrepreneurship, and there is always a focus on making money not for themselves but to 'give back'.

CHILDREN AT SOUTHBANK INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

“The work orientates around entrepreneurship, and children focus on making money to ‘give back’”

NURSERY BENEFITS

Department of Work & Pensions records show that 76% of mothers return to work within 12 to 18 months of having a child, and day nurseries remain the most popular form of childcare for under-threes. While cutting the cord and enrolling your little one can be a tough decision, fraught with guilt if tears are involved, the benefits are clear. Aside from the security of a daily routine, spending time in a play and learning environment helps children’s academic readiness.

“A nursery or preschool environment provides structure and routine for young children, while building the social, pre-academic, and general life skills that prepare them for ‘big school’,” says Eilish Sleator, Head of

School at North Bridge House Nursery & Pre-Prep in West Hampstead.

So how do you choose the best nursery for your child? The di erence between settings often lies in how the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is delivered. EYFS providers are not all bound by the same stato-child ratios. For example, for children aged 3+ in a private nursery or preschool, the typical sta -tochild ratio is 1:8. At North Bridge House, the ratio at Nursery (age 2+) is 1:4 and in the pre-Reception (3+) class, it is 1:6. Individualised support gives children time to grasp an idea and gain deeper understanding.

Alongside academic development, it’s important to consider the whole nursery experience. Non-cognitive skills are just as essential to a child’s growth and wellbeing. Nursery is your child's opportunity to interact and

empathise with others, express feelings and opinions, and discover more about life outside the family unit, developing key social and communication skills and self-confidence.

“At North Bridge House Nursery, we look to provide as much opportunity as possible to spark curiosity outside of the formal curriculum,” says Eilish Sleator. Specialist subjects are o ered from the outset, with Italian, drama, music and dance delivered on a weekly basis in the Nursery. In the 3+ Pre-Reception class, children also benefit from twice weekly French lessons and bi-weekly Forest School, providing opportunities to develop their cultural literacy, understanding of the world and a nity with nature.

“At this age, we do not o er specialist subjects with the aim of developing the next Mozart. Our primary aim is to provide breadth and depth, to inspire a lifelong love of learning, and to equip our little ones with the confidence and resilience to thrive in everything they do,” says Eilish Sleator.

“While factors such as location and ease of access will play a significant part when choosing a nursery for your little one, I would always recommend finding out about how they will be supported and developed as an individual, and what the nursery or preschool can o er to provide a wider learning experience than the EYFS framework.” northbridgehouse.com

How the preschool approach at North Bridge House West Hampstead provides a strong learning foundation

“Non-cognitive skills are just as essential to a child’s growth and wellbeing”

POSITIVE SHIFT

Creative departments so often showcase what matters to young people today. If you walk through our Art department right now, the impact of Black Lives Matter (BLM) and Everyone’s Invited (EI) are evident. In our photography rooms are images of protestors and signposts with words like ‘She just wanted to walk home safely’. If you make your way into our Sixth Form art studio you will see displays of A-level artwork, with students proudly displaying their own faces with Jamaican, Nigerian and Gambian flags superimposed across them.

Fuelled by movements like BLM and EI, and by the fluency of their IT skills, young people feel more entitled to share their opinions on any topic important to them. While standing up for one’s beliefs is admirable, not all of this has been positive. PSHE programmes and pastoral sta are having to coach children in how to convey their thoughts respectfully. The impact will have been felt across all classrooms, especially in English and RS lessons, but we schools are also listening harder. Regular drop-in sessions with Headteachers have been commonplace for many years, but so too other ways of eliciting views – questionnaires, pupil focus groups and bystander training to inspire even the most reticent child to speak up. Schools are having to continually find

new ways of leaning into conversations so they encourage pupils to talk more. Issues around feeling safe have had a much sharper focus since the EI movement. At St Margaret’s we have thought hard about this and have asked pupils to physically draw onto site maps where they feel safe and where they feel vulnerable so that we can adapt our common spaces and our duty system. Further emphasis on how to handle intimate relationships as children get older has been important too, always explored in a way that is clear, open and respectful.

PSHE now has more time and energy dedicated to it and is part of joined up thinking across all that we do. This includes the reflections of pastoral sta and the support-driven parent events that sit alongside our work with young people. As ever,

keeping up as parents is not easy. Strong pastoral settings in school are providing parents with help on how to navigate and best encourage and support their children. This term we are running a follow up to previous parental pastoral webinars and events. It’s entitled: ‘What your teenager wants to tell you but can’t’. Like many schools, we are looking hard at how we can ensure our sta and governors reflect our community. Allowing pupils to run with societies that are important to them – whether it is the LGBTQ+ group or a faith service of their choice – is also important. In this regard, things have shifted irreversibly for the good. Thankfully, schools are thinking about how to help young people in a positive way rather than simply reacting to events.

LARA PECHARD

Head

St Margaret’s School

The Head of St Margaret’s reflects on the impact of recent social and political movements, seeing positive shifts in the way schools now listen to the student voice

“As ever, keeping up as parents is not easy – strong pastoral settings in school provide help on how to navigate and best support children”

STUDENTS AT ST MARGARET’S

Family FUN

Family memberships let you explore at your own pace, time and again, and often with extra benefits that make them a brilliant year-round investment

By RACHEL HOGG

With the right family membership, your family will never be short of a weekend activity. These passes promise unlimited days spent learning and exploring, whether that be roaming through open fields, visiting castles or getting to know some of the UK’s most interesting museums. They can be a smart buy if you live close to a particular museum or stately home,

encouraging repeat visits, but are also a good way to inspire family days out much further afield. Many memberships also come with benefits – from priority entry and members' events to access to spaces where you can escape the crowds. And, good to know, when you buy a family membership, you help to support work to preserve our heritage for generations to come. We've shortlisted some favourites, from London museums large and small to memberships that open the door to exploration right across the country.

BIG SCIENCE AT THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Natural History Museum

NHM.AC.UK

The Natural History Museum in South Kensington has billions of years of history tucked away in every corner of its vast temple-like spaces, and an annual pass promises endless opportunities to explore its collection of over 80 million objects. Not only will you get guaranteed entry without the need to queue or book in advance, but there's free unlimited entry to all ticketed exhibitions, as well as access to exclusive members-only events and spaces (including its Anning members' dining and lounging areas). Membership for a one-adult family costs £68, and £87 for a two-adult family. Each membership includes up to four children under the age of 17 and unnamed guests can be added for an additional fee.

EXTRA BENEFITS: There's a members' magazine, plus one for children with a family membership. You'll also find discounts at museum shops,

cafés and cloakrooms. Access to the museum's digital hub, The Hive, could be useful for school projects.

National Art Pass

ARTFUND.ORG

You can get your fill of culture with the National Art Pass, an annual membership o ering free and reduced-priced entry to museums, galleries and fascinating places around the country. This includes big names in London – HMS Belfast, Imperial War Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, Jewish Museum London, Chiswick House & Gardens, Old Royal Naval College, Cutty Sark and the National Gallery. While these discounts are welcome, it's also valid for brilliant museums and attractions across the capital and the whole UK.

A National Art Pass also means 50% o major exhibitions, plus discounts in shops and cafés. An adult membership costs £73 a year for individuals over 30,

and £110 for two adults. For an extra £10 ‘Plus Kids’ allows you to take along children under 16 in your family.

EXTRA BENEFITS: The guidebook o ers away-day inspiration, with 800+ places where you can use the pass. There's a glossy quarterly members' magazine and you'll get regular updates about exciting happenings and special o ers at museums across the UK

English Heritage

ENGLISH-HERITAGE.ORG.UK

Your children will be able to take role play to the next level with an English Heritage Membership. They could be a princess trapped in a turret, a dragon on the rampage or a knight jousting in a tournament. For a single annual fee, you can enjoy as many visits to the charity’s 400+ historic sites as you’d like, plus free or reduced entry to the many events that take place at its properties across the

ENGLISH HERITAGE HAS SOME 400 SITES

year. You are spoiled for choice when it comes to landmarks to visit, from Eltham Palace and Gardens and Kenwood in London to Dover Castle, Hadrian's Wall, Stonehenge and Chester Roman Fort & Museum. Membership costs £66 for one adult, or £115 for two adults – each member can take up to six children under the age of 18 into a site for free.

EXTRA BENEFITS: The handbook and magazine are packed with ideas for trip and event planning. The Members' Rewards scheme has deals and o ers –everything from travel to wine – from over 60 partner organisations.

London Transport Museum

LTMUSEUM.CO.UK

One of the capital's treasures and located in Covent Garden, London Transport Museum's annual membership is sure to please all members of your family – even the ones that aren't obsessed with trains and buses. There are historic vehicles for parents to admire and, while older kids can try their hands at driving a bus or tube (simulator), younger children will love the All Aboard play zone. All this comes at an a ordable price, with an adult annual membership costing £21, or £18 if you choose o -peak membership. Membership is valid for 12 months and you can visit unlimited times. Kids get in for free, so don’t need an annual pass, but you need to

remember to book free timed-entry tickets.

EXTRA BENEFITS : Trade up to the Annual Pass Plus (£60) and you get unlimited visits plus free entry for you and two children to the legendary Depot Open Days in Acton. These sell-out festival-style meets held three times a year open a store of over 320,000 objects, including posters and ephemera alongside trains, buses and trams.

Science Museum Wonderlab

SCIENCEMUSEUM.ORG.UK

If your child isn’t already interested in science, annual membership to the Science

Museum's popular Wonderlab should change that. The immersive interactive gallery has been a family favourite since it opened in 2016 and is home to more than 50 unique exhibits across seven zones. Young people can explore fascinating topics as diverse as sound, forces, light, electricity, maths, matter and space. Annual passes cost £16 for adults (17+) or £14 for children (4–16 years). Family annual pass for 3–5 visitors with no more than two adults are also available for a small discount.

EXTRA BENEFITS: The live science shows and demos are the crowd puller, o ering

FUN AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM WONDERLAB

BUSES, TRAMS AND MORE AT LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM

membership o

brilliant and informative entertainment, so keep an eye on the museum calendar so you can book your Wonderlab admission tickets, along with museum entry, well in advance.

Historic Royal Palaces

HRP.ORG.UK

This collection of incredible Royal properties o ers truly regal days out – and with extras such as magnificent grounds and family-friendly themed days. Highlights are centred around London, with unlimited entry to the iconic Tower of London, Kensington Palace and Hampton Court Palace. Mighty Hillsborough Castle and Gardens in Northern Ireland is well worth a visit, as is Banqueting House in Whitehall, with its jaw-dropping painted ceiling by Rubens. A family membership costs £82 for one adult, and £122 for two adults

with up to six named children (aged 5-15).

EXTRA BENEFITS: Expect early booking for special exhibitions, access to membersonly events and discounts in shops, cafés and restaurants. There's also a members' magazine, plus partner discounts. You get reduced-price entry to Kew Gardens, where HRP's Kew Palace is located.

National Trust NATIONALTRUST.ORG.UK

Perfect for discovering the great outdoors, National Trust membership gives you unlimited entry to over 500 places. These span the length and breadth of the country – from Lundy Island in Devon and Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland to Pin Mill in Su olk and Winkworth Arboretum in Surrey. When the weather turns, there are plenty of historic buildings o ering spectacular architecture and artworks. A family pass costs £83.40 a year for

one adult, and £133.80 for two adults at the same address, and their children or grandchildren. Under 5s go free.

EXTRA BENEFITS: There's a useful handbook, a members' magazine and an online area with behind-the-scenes and 'first look' information across properties. Sign up by direct debit to receive a gift card valid in National Trust shops and cafés.

The Postal Museum

POSTALMUSEUM.ORG

Tucked away in Phoenix Place, W1, this fascinating museum delves into Britain’s postal heritage. There are hands-on exhibitions, interactive and learning activities. You can design your own postage stamp, try your hand at sorting mail or take a ride through the tunnels underneath London on the Mail Rail –an unmissable piece of hidden history. Family membership costs £70 a year and gives unlimited entry for up to two adults and three children. Join online or via the booking o ce before your visit.

EXTRA BENEFITS: You get priority booking for events and exhibitions, and one free ride for each member on Mail Rail. You also receive ten tickets to Sorted! the play space for younger visitors, plus discounts at the shops and café and on birthday parties booked at the museum.

“Historic Royal Palaces'

ers truly regal days out, with themed and members' only events”

NATIONAL TRUST MEMBERSHIP OPENS A DOOR TO SPECTACULAR PLACES

ROLE PLAY TO REMEMBER AT HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES

THE POSTAL MUSEUM IS A TREASURE CHILDREN LOVE

“ Being at Lancing has allowed me to be my best

ART Modern

Hagerty, Head of More House School in Knightsbridge, explores the increasing popularity of Art in

Asking what a prospective pupil names as their favourite subject is a question many schools start interviews with, as it gives us a good indicator of what drives the child as a learner. It gets far more interesting, however, when they are asked to explain the reasons for their choice. One girl recently told me that she enjoys being able to ‘think freely’ in Art and another said that they loved that there was ‘no right answer’.

While these feelings towards creative subjects are not new, it strikes me that the engagement in Art particularly is on the increase. Is this telling us something about how our curriculum is currently serving our young people? As a creative

schools

subject, Art allows freedom of thought without the element of more exposed performance that Drama and Music involve, so perhaps that could be interpreted as a nod to the fragile mental health of so many of our youngsters today, in the aftermath of the pandemic. When you create Art, you, the artist, are in control. Many learners have carried this new found control into their post-Covid life and use it to help them navigate their journey.

Our Head Girl Katrina, an A-Level Textiles student, described the artistic process as ‘her way into academia’. As a dyslexic student, Art and Drama have been facilitators in the most vital aspect of learning there is - self-confidence. Freedom of thought brings with it an open-ended and non-linear sense of achievement that other subjects cannot necessarily

replicate, and what this then brings with it is a positive e ect on self-esteem, which impacts on other areas of a student's achievement and wider school life.

There is no doubt that particular schools attract more artistic children and this can certainly be said of More House. As you walk the many stairs of our Pont Street building, one cannot miss the celebration of art and self-expression in the beautiful student work mounted on every wall. As I say to prospective parents at our open events, you can feel the creativity in the walls of More House.

If we are indeed seeing a rise in the number of pupils engaging in pursuing their passion in Art, then this demonstration of the importance of freedom of thought and creativity in education will surely begin to shape the curriculum of the future.

Faith

Find out more at one of our upcoming spring tours

Elizabeth Laird

The award-winning author talks about her school days at Croydon High, her passion for teaching and the VSO work that first inspired her love of travel

Q Where did you go to school and when?

A I went to Croydon High School for Girls – way back in the 1950s!

Q What was your school like?

A Croydon High was (is) an academically ambitious school for girls, with clear rules and aims. But it’s hard to exaggerate how di erent life was in the 1950s. I would say that we had far fewer distractions and were less stressed than modern children. I think we were rather earnest about our work and the world in general.

Q Did you love your time at school or hate it?

A Bit of both, really. I was often o sick with various problems. I still have the diary I wrote. It’s full of anxieties over friendships and excitement over special school events.

ELIZABETH LAIRD

Q What were your favourite subjects there?

A I really liked Science, but that might seem a bit obvious. Maybe less obviously, I loved English (and especially creative writing), History and Geography – they all focus on the stories we can tell.

Q Where were your favourite places at school and what did you do there?

A When I became a prefect, I could use the prefect’s common room. This felt terrifically grand, though in retrospect I don’t think it was healthy to create such an elite among the girls.

Q Who were your favourite or most memorable teachers and how did they influence you?

A Oh, Miss Duncan! Miss Duncan... She once caught me reading Beau Geste under my desk during an English lesson. She just winked at me and told me to carry on reading. She taught me that reading was the best thing you could do and introduced me to a wide diet of literature.

Q What beliefs do you think your time at school taught you?

A There was a strong emphasis on service to the community, leadership and taking responsibility. We were encouraged to think beyond ourselves.

Q What was your proudest school moment?

A Acting in Richard 11. Every year the school performed an entire Shakespeare play. I only had a small part, but boy, did I love it! I can still quote reams from the play.

Q What was the most trouble you got into at school?

A I’m afraid I was a goody-goody swot. I don’t remember any more than a mild ticking o .

Q Were you ever 'too cool for school'?

A Was anyone cool in the 1950s? It didn’t seem so then. But I passed my driving test when I was 17, and my mother let me drive the family car to school on my birthday. I parked ostentatiously outside the main door.

Q What is your most vivid school memory, looking back now?

A Was it the time when my knicker elastic broke during gym, and my bloomers fell down? Or perhaps it was when Jacqueline du Pré, an old girl of the school, came back to play her cello for us.

Q When and how did your interest in writing and travel begin?

A When I left school, my father urged me to apply to VSO to spend a year teaching abroad before I went to university. I was posted to Malaysia and it was a lifechanging year for me. I nearly died of a snake bite, went trekking in the jungle, and found that I loved teaching. And I wrote long letters home to my family, trying to distil my new experiences into words.

I think it was way back then that I became fascinated in the lives and peoples of countries far from my own. Perhaps that year laid the groundwork for The Garbage King, set in Ethiopia, Kiss the Dust, set in Iraqi Kurdistan, and Welcome to Nowhere, the story of a Syrian refugee boy.

Q What other key influences / passions shaped you when you were growing up?

A My family belonged to the Brethren, a strict and close-knit Protestant sect. We learned long passages from the old King James Bible, which left my mind furnished with a lasting store of wonderful words and poetry. As I grew up, my outlook slowly broadened into an open, liberal view of religion and the world, but I never had to make a break with my close and loving

Q What projects are coming next?

A I’ve got no idea, and that’s the joy of being a writer. I’m still in the after-glow of having finished The Misunderstandings of Charity Brown, but any day now an idea for a great new project will, I’m sure, just burst into my head.

Q How would you sum up your school days in three words or phrases?

A Hard work, friendship and the opening of my mind.

The Misunderstandings of Charity Brown is published by Macmillan, £12.99. elizabethlaird.co.uk

family. It’s the beginning of that process that’s the subject of my new novel, The Misunderstandings of Charity Brown.

“Was anyone cool? It didn’t seem so then. But my mother let me drive the family car to school on my birthday”

ELIZABETH LAIRD

PHOTO: ANNE MORTENSEN

STEM FOR WOMEN

Recently, there was an article by the BBC on how physics is seen as a maledominated industry. As a female teacher working in STEM, it is shocking to think that in today’s world there is still such a gender divide in our schools and in the profession itself.

I am sure many will think back to their time in science lessons, and most will recall that their teachers were male. Thankfully, I am proud to say that this is not the case in my current role as Head of Physics at Royal Hospital School – where 50% of the subjects are led by women.

However, the BBC article certainly highlights the lack of female representation in science and will make many women reflect on what it truly means to be a female working in STEM. For me, it is important to use my role to face this lack of representation and push the next generation to see science as genderless.

For those schools looking to increase this figure, it is imperative to have a topdown approach to gender-stereotyped subjects, with strong female teachers promoting the message that STEM subjects are for everyone. It is also important for male teachers to be champions of women in science to

create a unified and inclusive message. There is also a huge absence of women scientists within the national curriculum and this is something that can be changed. We want to see Curie, Meitner, Johnson, Burnell and Somerville named to ensure some gender balance, and this is something as teachers we can start mentioning within the classroom.

It is also important to face these topics head on with the next generation of talent and debate the implications of the number of women going into science and other STEM subjects.

The overwhelming majority of Year 11 physics pupils at Royal Hospital School feel that the BBC article was a true reflection of their perception of the subject – and that’s despite having female physics teachers standing in front of them. Some pupils said they had found a love for the subject and wanted to continue the subject at A level, hoping to be part of the change. Others spoke openly about how they felt they would be

perceived as ‘di erent’ if they chose to study physics and maths further, which was why they had decided to go with other subjects for A level.

The debates we have in the classroom are incredibly important, as the sector has notably faced challenges in the uptake of women in STEM subjects. By understanding the viewpoints of pupils and responding with positive examples, we can open their eyes to how they can help change that stereotype. This, in turn, will help create the next generation of talent in science.

If STEM teachers can become unified and work to counteract the messages from wider society by raising awareness of the achievements of female scientists with students – also creating more positive role models for girls to aspire to in the future – then surely we stand a good chance of changing these shocking statistics

KERRIE FINLEY Head of Physics Royal Hospital School

“It is imperative to have strong female teachers promoting the message that STEM subjects are for everyone”

The Head of Physics at Royal Hospital School on why we need more female STEM teachers and role models to inspire girls and young women

PUPILS AT ROYAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL

Myopia Management at The Eye Place

Myopia, also known as short-sightedness, is when distant objects appear blurred due to the axial elongation of the eyeball, the eye getting longer, and usually develops in childhood. Noticing symptoms in children can be difficult as they may not realise their vision is abnormal.

At The Eye Place we are passionate about helping children and parents understand myopia and slowing down myopia progression.

For more information about myopia, or any queries you may have, contact your local Eye Place. www.the-eye-place.co.uk

Fleet Street ∙ Belsize Park ∙ Spitalfields ∙ Kensington ∙ Towcester ∙ Dore ∙ Bakewell ∙ Hessle ∙ St Johns Wood ∙ Lambs Conduit Street

An Independent School for Boys and Girls aged 4-11

Quality of Pupils’ Achievement and Learning - “Excellent”

Quality of Teaching - “Excellent”

Quality of Extra-curricular Provision - “Excellent”

Quality of Pastoral Care - “Excellent”

Quality of Links with Parents - “Excellent”

Quality of Pupils’ Personal Development – “Excellent” ‘’The curriculum is excellent for all ages and abilities, and is expertly matched to meet the needs of the range of pupils in the school.’’

Independent Schools Inspectorate Report - March 2016

Open Mornings

Ravenscourt Park Prep School

16 Ravenscourt Avenue, London W6 0SL www.rpps.co.uk

TRIED & TESTED

BabyBjörn Bouncer Bliss 3D Jersey

Reviewed by CHLOE MERCER

Any new mama knows that a bouncer is a handy place to put your little one – especially when you need your hands free for five minutes to make a cup of tea! Stylish, comfortable, and easy to fold, the Babybjörn Bouncer Bliss is definitely one of the best bouncers we’ve tried. The lightweight frame makes it perfect for travelling and also very easy to store. Another big tick is the ergonomic design, which provides optimal support as your baby grows. My little one loves how easy it is for her to bounce herself and there’s three di erent positions – so we can adjust it as she grows. Another clever feature is that you can reverse the fabric (so the harness is at the back), so you can use it as a toddler seat. It’s easy to wash, and the 3D jersey

fabric is super soft and cosy. We have the Bouncer Bliss in the new colourway – light beige, which fits perfectly with our minimal and clean interior scheme. We couldn’t recommend this bouncer more.

£210; babybjorn.co.uk

Bumbles & Boo Design Your Own Hamper

Reviewed by CARLY GLENDINNING

New mamas often get overlooked when it comes to gifting. Baby clothes and cuddly toys are so cute, most people forget that mum probably could do with a treat too. That’s why a hamper can be such a lovely present as you can fill it with teeny tiny booties and babygrows, but also include something pampering to help mum through those sleep deprived postpartum days. Parent and baby gifting experts Bumbles & Boo have a brilliant service where you can design your own hamper. First, you choose the size and design of the box (we chose a lovely water hyacinth grass basket). Then, you can add anything from their site to the box. There’s a wide range of gifts to choose from – including everything from organic baby outfits, to educational toys, and personalised keepsakes. We filled our box with Neal’s Yard products, a very cute teddy from Bumbles & Boo’s organic range as well as a blanket, a teething toy, and some adorable mittens. Everything arrived beautifully presented, and we’ll definitely be using this service again.

From £24.95; bumblesandboo.com

ambitious young people who wish to complete three A levels in just one year. Daily live lessons, subject clinics and tutorials with highly interactive self-study and residential modules. Support for university applications and specialist Medicine applications.

Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Maths, Further Maths, Physics

15

15 live lessons per week plus clinics, tutorials and university preparation

To find out more go to www.charterhouseonline.co.uk or email admissions@charterhouseonline.co.uk

LABOUR OF LOVE

D FOR DOULA

Sustainably created by expert Doula and Midwife, Dionne Goldson, the DforD Gown is a new game changing maternity gown. Allowing for easy skin-to-skin access as well as breastfeeding, it offers new mums and mums-to-be maximum comfort and movement. dfordoula.com/the-dford-gown

TOT GEAR

to make LITTLE BUNNIES

MIFFY X LITTLE DUTCH

Dutch brand Miff y has joined forces with Little Dutch to develop a plush collection in conjunction with Little Dutch’s upcoming vintage range. Look out for super cute so toys, stroller chains, and rattles. mamashack.co.uk

COUNTRY CHIC

AVERY ROW

Avery Row has launched a new ‘Riverbank’ print, inspired by the British countryside. The beautiful print covers everything from nursing pillows, to bedding, and changing bags. avery-row.com

LOVED by MAMA

by CARLY GLENDINNING

What we’re using for our own babies this month HALO IDEAL

TEMP SLEEPSACK

My toddler has suddenly decided that she doesn’t want to sleep with a sleeping bag at night. The little Houdini has escaped every single sleepsack we’ve tried until we found the brilliant HALO Ideal Temp Sleepsack. The first big tick for the design is that the zip goes bottom-totop, which not only makes night time nappy changes easy, but also makes it impossible for my daughter to pull it o . Secondly, it uses clever IntelliThread™ technology, which absorbs excess heat from your baby when they’re warmer. This heat is then stored within the ‘smart fabric’, and released back to your baby if their temp dips.

I’ve found this to be absolutely brilliant as my daughter doesn’t seem to like bulky covers and I don’t need to worry about her getting cold. I love that it’ll keep her cool come spring too. This sleeping bag has been an actual lifesaver, and we couldn’t recommend it more.

HALO Ideal Temp Sleepsack 1.0 Tog, £19.95, halosleep.co.uk

PROPERTY

This elegant and spacious modern family house enjoys far reaching views across Wimbledon Park and towards the The All England Lawn Tennis Club. The property o ers a reception hall, two reception rooms, a combined kitchen, dining and family room, a multi-purpose room, a main bedroom suite, three bedrooms, three bathrooms, southerly gardens, a garage, gated OSP and a wine store. ER/C.

HOLMES & COMPANY

Wimbledon Village, 35 High Street, London SW19 5BY 020 8947 9833

enquiries@robertholmes.co.uk robertholmes.co.uk

ROBERT

£2,307 per week Avenue Gardens, W3

ith five bedrooms and two reception rooms, this charming house has been recently refurbished throughout. There is the added bonus of a wine cellar and a split-level garden, energy rating c.

020 8742 4100 chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

Hartswood Road, W12

£2,300 per week

ocated close to a fantastic range of shops, bars and restaurants, is a semi-detached family home with five bedrooms. The open plan kitchen has bi-folding doors leading onto the garden, energy rating c.

020 8742 4100 chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

£807 per week Elsham Road, W14

Situated within an attractive ictorian building on the borders of olland Park, a two bedroom maisonette with a spacious reception room and a conservatory used as a dining room, energy rating c.

020 7603 0603 brookgreensales@fletcherestates.com

Alwyn Avenue, W4 £1,442 per week

five bedroom semi-detached dwardian house with two generous reception rooms retaining original period features. The property has a large kitchen with views of the pretty garden, energy rating d.

020 8742 4100

chiswicklettings@fletcherestates.com

Corney Reach Way, W4

Positioned on the bank of the River Thames, a boutique development of two and three bedroom apartments built by award-winning developers, Fruition Properties. The homes combine classic contemporary finishes with high quality materials and generous living spaces.

Queens Mansions, W6

Set in one of the most desirable mansion blocks overlooking Brook Green, a split-level apartment which has been meticulously renovated throughout. The property offers two bedrooms and a generous reception room as well as a south facing terrace, energy rating d.

£1,850,000

020 8987 3000 chiswicksales@fletcherestates.com

£1,600,000

020 7603 1415 brookgreensales@fletcherestates.com

fletcherestates.com

Camp Road, Wimbledon Common £5,750,000

On an overall plot of almost 0.25 acre with a wonderful 115’ south facing garden reception rooms, family room, study, lst floor games room and of ce, itchen brea fast room, wine cellar, bedrooms, 6 bath/shower rooms, garage & OSP ER/D

Lambourne Avenue, Wimbledon £5,425,000

In a secluded position on a plot of 0.428 acre with 1 bedroom annexe. 3 reception rooms, kitchen/dining/family room and study, 5 bedrooms, 3 bath/shower rooms, terrace and garden, garage & OSP ER/C

Denmark Avenue, Wimbledon Village £4,000,000

Beautifully renovated and extended with a 72’ south westerley garden and far reaching views. Kitchen/dining room, playroom/family room, drawing room, study, 5 bedrooms, 4 bath/shower rooms, OSP and charging point ER/C

Drax Avenue, Wimbledon Village £5,500,000

A substantial house located on the favoured Drax Estate with a separate annexe. Through reception room, dining room, family room, 2 studies, kitchen/breakfast room, 6 bedrooms, 4 bath/shower rooms, 106’ south facing garden, garage & OSP ER/E and C

Cambridge Road, Wimbledon SW20

£1,950,000

A superb Edwardian home with fantastic ground floor entertaining space in an ideal location. Drawing room, dining room, garden room, kitchen/breakfast room, 3 bedrooms, 2 bath/shower rooms, garden with summerhouse, OSP ER/E

Edgecoombe Close, Coombe, KT2 £1,995,000

An immaculate, mid-century house flooded with natural light and with well-proportioned rooms. Drawing Room, Dining Area, Kitchen/Family Room,Utility Room, 4 Beds, 2 Bathrooms, Garage, Outdoor Store, OSP, Garden ER/D

Southwood Avenue, Kingston, KT2 £2,250,000

A good sized family home positioned within a cul-de-sac road on the slopes of Coombe. 2 Reception Rooms, Dining Room, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Study, 5 Beds, 3 Bathrooms, Utility Room, OSP, Garage, Garden ER/D

Coombe Hill Road, Coombe, KT2 £4,400,000

An impressive modern residence with spacious and well-planned accommodation. Drawing Room, Dining Room, Study, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Conservatory, Family Room, Indoor Swimming Pool, Gymnasium, 5 Beds, 5 Bath/Shower Rooms, OSP, Two Double Garages, Garden, ER/D

Coombe Office Sales: 020 8947 1100

oor apartment with a lovely south facing garden and courtyard. Binns Road is in a superb location being close to Chiswick High Road’s shops, cafes and restaurants and within a short walk of the River Thames and Chiswick House and Grounds. Transport links include Turnham Green station, local bus routes and the A4/M4 for routes in and out of London. No onward chain.

LAMB COTTAGE, W4

A rare chance to acquire an exceptional lateral at with direct river views set within this private riverside development in the Grove Park area of Chiswick. The accommodation o ers exible accommodation of over 1600 sqft and having previously been two ats there are options to reconvert back to two dwellings, convert large loft spaces and modernise/remodel internally. The accommodation comprises a lovely 25’6 x 15’11 reception room with balcony, three bedrooms, large study area, two bathrooms and two separate WCs, further balcony, tted kitchen, utility room, two entrances and two garages. There are stunning river views from most rooms and the balconies and the development bene ts from communal gardens which lead directly to the river bank, which is an incredibly rare feature along the Thames within the London area. Thames Village is located o Hartington Road close to Dukes Meadows, Chiswick House and Grounds, and within a short walk of the picturesque Strand on the Green with its riverside pubs. Transport links include Chiswick mainline station, local bus routes, and the A4/M4 for routes in and out of London. No onward chain.

LETTINGS

Beautifully

POINT WHARF LANE, TW8 £350 PER WEEK

presented two double bedroom second floor flat in this highly sought after riverside development. Boasting a stunning open plan kitchen reception room, a river side balcony and a master ensuite bedroom. Large open plan reception room, fully fitted kitchen with granite work tops, fitted wardrobes and riverside views. Underground parking space included.

QUEEN ANNES GROVE, W4 £430 PER WEEK

A large, light and beautifully presented two double bedroom flat on this highly desirable road in the heart of Bedford Park, just minutes from Turnham Green underground station. Top floor position ensures beautiful views from the reception and bedrooms.

A fabulous, riverside townhouse located in this sought-after private development at Chiswick Quay. The house has a unique position situated at the end of the development closest to the river and boasts views of The River from all rooms. The house comprises a master bedroom suite with dressing room, bathroom and roof terrace, three further bedrooms, family bathroom, 33’x17’ kitchen/family room, conservatory with stunning river views, low maintenance landscaped garden, entrance hall, utility room, cloakroom, double garage and o -street parking. The house is located in the Grove Park area of Chiswick within a short walk of Chiswick House and Grounds, Dukes Meadow’s extensive sporting facilities, and excellent local private and state schools. Chiswick High Road’s extensive facilities are also easily accessible. Transport links include Chiswick Mainline Station (25 minutes to Waterloo), local bus routes and the A4/M4 for routes in and out of London. No onward chain.

IBIS LANE, W4

A charming and truly unique double-fronted link-detached cottage with a fabulous garden located a stone’s throw from The River and Chiswick Mall. The house originally formed part of the stables for Green Ash on Chiswick Mall, so is steeped in history. There are many impressive features throughout including vaulted ceilings, arched windows, tile-hung facades and lovely front and rear gardens. With a frontage of 50’ the accommodation is laterally arranged over two oors and comprises a stunning dual aspect 23’6 reception room with a vaulted 4.64m high ceiling and feature arched window overlooking the front garden and park, a kitchen/breakfast room, master bedroom and two further bedrooms, family bathroom, artists studio, guest cloakroom, garage, o -street parking, exceptional 52’2x51’10 mature landscaped garden with lovely open aspect and shed. There is further potential to extend subject to the necessary consents. No onward chain.

LAMB COTTAGE, W4 MULBERRY COTTAGE, W4