It’s summertime, at last! And this year it promises to be more special than ever. The highlight of the season surely is Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June. For those who remember celebrations gone by, a royal jubilee is a wonderful opportunity for us all to gather together and celebrate this extraordinary milestone.
In this issue of Wildflower, we’ve gone to town with some show-stopping ideas on how to throw the perfect party. A jubilee feels distinctly British, and thoroughly nostalgic. On pages 30-37, Sarah Prall shares her memories of previous jubilees and tells us how she plans to mark this year’s occasion. There’ll be homemade cakes, classic teatime treats, and flower-filled vintage vases – all set out on a table fit for a queen. Whether it’s in your garden, on the village green, or with your neighbours in the street, we have a host of food, drink and decorating ideas to inspire – and yes, plenty of bunting too!
By midsummer, the Jubilee celebrations might be over, but there’s still much to be enjoyed. I hope you’ll be inspired to try some of our practical project ideas: there’s Milli Proust’s wonderful wild window installation created from her own home-grown flowers (see p.80-83), Marian Boswall’s ‘preloved project’ shows you how to create a quirky water feature (see p.86-89), and Tabara N’Diaye’s beautiful basketry is ideal for beginners (see p.23-25). Plus, read our delicious recipes from Water Lane Walled Garden (see p.92-97), and Tess Prince from her home on Ibiza (see p.100-105).
It’s time to get out and about, and savour the best of the rest of the great British summer. We hope you enjoy this very special issue.
Mildly obsessed with the importance of aroma and wellbeing in the home, Jo moved with her family to the adorable 18th century Random Thatch in Somerset, right at the beginning of lockdown. At a time when we all had to stay at home, this holistic wellbeing author, soulful interiors writer, Reiki master and co-founder of home aroma wellness brand jogbliving.com added random weaving (yes, it’s a thing) to her CV, and practised earthing in her luscious new garden. A huge fan of Wildflower, Jo explains in Heal Your Home (page 124) how your home should be your healing space: “where else can you truly pause, breathe, relax and unwind if not in your personal space – your home?”
For this issue, Jo shares a little of her wellness journey with us.
jogbliving.com @jogbliving @randomthatch
KATHRYN CONWAY Writer, editor and copywriter
Kathryn is a writer, editor and copywriter with a passion for British craftsmanship. She spent 10 years editing a luxury lifestyle magazine in London, championing the city’s makers to visitors to the capital and profiling the work of independent creatives. Having traded the Big Smoke for life in the Garden of England, Kathryn now spends her time whipping copy into shape for clients, producing podcasts for TechPixies, a social media training company, and penning features for publications within the Time Out Group, among others. In this issue, Kathryn has compiled the Events Edit, and discovered the beauty of basket weaving (page 23) and botanical dyes (page 28). katconwaywrites.com
Tess Prince is an Ibiza-based private chef, restaurant consultant and food writer. Her previous career at BaxterStorey in London saw her consult alongside Yotam Ottolenghi, where her love a air with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking began. Tess has drawn on her 20 years of culinary experience to provide bespoke dining for private clients, including Ibiza’s visiting celebrities. In addition to hosting a breakfast and lunch service at Pikes Hotel, Tess has also been resident chef at Ibiza’s yoga retreat Soul Adventures for the past five years, cooking macrobiotic, raw, vegan and Ayurvedic dishes. She lives in the beautiful and quiet north of the island where she is happiest creating magic in her charming outdoor kitchen. In this issue, Tess shares some of her favourite recipes, inspired by her life in Ibiza.
@lovefoodibiza
Kerryn Harper-Cuss has worked on four interior magazines and edited three of these, most recently
The English Home, where she was editor-in-chief of both its UK and US editions for almost 12 years. Kerryn is passionate about craftsmanship and slow living, endlessly curious about the stories of makers, and a keen champion of specialist indigenous skills, both from Britain and around the globe. She is also ambassador for the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST). For this issue of Wildflower, Kerryn visits Derwent House (page 60), an interiors emporium that champions British craftsmen and women.
@kerrynharpercuss.com
wildflowermagazine.co.uk 07786 311361 hello@wildflowerpress.co.uk
Did you know you can purchase previous issues of Wildflower, or order a copy to be delivered directly to your door?
To place your order, visit wildflowermagazine.co.uk
Front Cover: Photograph by Sussie Bell Styled by Sarah Prall sarahjanedownthelane.co.uk
Styling Assistants Claire Cowley, Georgia Furness
Wellness
Contributing Photographer Sussie Bell
Wildflower Wine Club Bronwen Batey Curator
&
Ross
Discover Cornwall’s best kept secret - a hidden valley hotel in subtropical gardens leading to its own secluded beach. For special offers and bookings go to Meudon.co.uk
Time is precious; we want to spend it doing the things that make us happy. So keeping on top of our finances and managing our wealth - a task that can be both time-consuming and complex - can often fall way down our list of priorities.
We offer a friendly and approachable service, backed by the strength and security of FTSE 100 company, St. James’s Place Wealth Management; and being local means we’re here to help whenever you need us.
We pride ourselves on building trusted, long-term relationships, placing clients at the heart of everything we do. Each is unique and deserves the quality of service and advice that reflects their individual circumstances and personal aspirations.
scrivener nancial.co.uk
Scrivener Financial is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc. (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website: http://www.sjp.co.uk/products. Scrivener Financial is a trading name of Scrivener Financial Limited.
OUR PLATINUM QUEEN OVER THE FIRST WEEKEND IN JUNE, THE COUNTRY WILL PAY TRIBUTE TO BRITAIN’S LONGEST-SERVING MONARCH. BUT THERE’S NO NEED FOR THE BUNTING TO COME DOWN ONCE THE PLATINUM PICNICS HAVE FINISHED. THE QUEEN’S ROYAL RESIDENCES ARE THROWING OPEN THEIR DOORS FOR THE SUMMER SEASON, OFFERING VISITORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THE CELEBRATORY MOOD. AT THE PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE, SEE A DISPLAY OF OUTFITS WORN BY HER MAJESTY ON THE OCCASION OF HER SILVER, GOLDEN AND DIAMOND JUBILEES; HEAD TO WINDSOR CASTLE TO TAKE IN BOTH THE CORONATION ROBE AND THE EXQUISITE CORONATON DRESS, DESIGNED BY SIR NORMAN HARTNELL; WHILE AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE, ADMIRE THE PORTRAITS CAPTURED BY DOROTHY WILDING, THE FIRST OFFICIAL FEMALE ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHER, TO MARK THE QUEEN’S ACCESSION TO THE THRONE IN 1952.
RCT.UK
In some of the hottest, driest places on earth – think Death Valley in the US and the Atacama Desert in Chile – a natural phenomenon occurs that is so spectacular it feels altogether otherworldly. By some extraordinary alchemy, when the conditions are just right, a carpet of flowers bursts forth from the once arid sand, adding a sea of colour to previously barren pockets of our planet.
Such is the infrequency and rarity of these floral displays that they have inspired Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the custodian of the Tower of London, to recreate this natural wonder in celebration of an equally rare moment in history: 70 years of service by the UK’s longest-reigning monarch.
For those fortunate enough to witness the commemoration of the centenary of the start of World War I with the profoundly moving image of poppies cascading from the Tower into the moat below, few would have thought it would be surpassed. But with this year’s history-making celebrations, Superbloom ensures the Tower of London is again, dressed to impress.
Slide into the celebrations for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this summer at the Tower of London’s majestic floral tributes
Where else in the world can you grab a mat and slide down into a flower-filled moat belonging to a landmark that is more than 1,000 years old? And yet, that’s the promise for those arriving to wander along paths lined with woven willow as they’re immersed in the moat’s wondrously fragrant floral display.
“We have included 29 di erent species of flowers and plants across 15 specially crafted seed mixes,” says Rhiannon Goddard, project director and HRP’s Head of Public Engagement Projects and Business Management. “We’ve planted about 20 million seeds in total, and they’ve been chosen for their ability to flower during the period we want rather than for any royal connection in mind. Although, we have chosen the cornflower as a bit of a signature flower because we’re hoping that they will all come out at roughly the same time to turn the moat a brilliant shade of blue, providing a nod to the fact that it was once filled with water.”
The Superbloom project is the first major change to the moat since 1845 and represents an opportunity for a structure that has been a defender of the capital for centuries to now guard against climate change. Professor Nigel Dunnett, well-known for bringing impressionistic wildflower meadows to urban spaces, is the mastermind behind adding biodiversity to this corner of the city. He has designed the carefully curated seed mixes and planting scheme to move through three distinct pollinator-loving colour waves: from sunshine yellows and oranges in June, to the burst of blue and purple in July, before an explosion of golds conclude the spectacle in August and September.
“The colour themes have more of a royal association,” Goddard reveals. “We’ve got gold and rich purples in there to reference the colour scheme of the Crown Jewels housed here; then, of course, the cornflower makes its visual link to the past, and you will see reds in there too, which is obviously a nod back to our moment with the poppies.”
MAIN: SUPERBLOOM AT TOWER OF LONDON © RICARD LEA-HAIR AND HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES.
Although the striking visual display created by the vast expanse of flowers is an experience in itself, HRP has ensured that a visitor’s journey around the moat is peppered with moments to treasure.
“In the West Moat, it is about respecting the view of the Tower as a defensive structure, but as soon as visitors get around the corner, they’ll be introduced to more topography and our specially commissioned soundscape (Music for Growing Flowers by Erland Cooper), which is a really beautiful, hypnotic piece with layers of di erent classic notes. I think this will help people lose the sense that they’re in the city and will provide a moment of calm and contemplation that you don’t really get in this part of London very often,” notes Goddard.
“Then there’s the Nest area, a wonderful woven willow sculpture by Spencer Jenkins, designed to provide a moment of reflection as you survey the scene of colour and scent in front of you. And finally, it becomes more playful in the East Moat, where we’ve got sculptures of insects and a willow tunnel to walk through. It’s about creating a slightly di erent experience on each side of the moat.”
One area not to be missed is the Tower’s Bowling Green, where The Queen’s Coronation gown has been rendered in botanical form by Dunnett and landscape architects Grant Associates Shrubs and summer flowers hint at the gown’s gold bugle beads, seed pearls and diamante crystal embellishment, while 12 cast glass orbs crafted by glass artist Max Jacquard evoke the 12 embroidered motifs of the Commonwealth that couturier Sir Norman Hartnell incorporated into the gown’s design. It’s a masterful display of artistry.
“The team and I have been working on Superbloom since 2019, so it’s wonderful to see it come to fruition. I remember when Nigel first talked to us about superblooms and we realised what a lovely parallel could be drawn between this rare natural phenomenon and this extraordinary moment in history for our monarch. And what could be better than a huge floral bouquet to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee?” concludes Goddard.
Superbloom will run from 1 June to 18 September 2022. superbloom.hrp.org.uk
“THE TEAM AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SUPERBLOOM SINCE 2019, SO IT’S WONDERFUL TO SEE IT COME TO FRUITION.”
“And what could be better than a huge floral bouquet to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee?”
It’s time to reawaken the unbridled joy of shared experiences with a blockbuster season that looks set to be unlike any other. Welcome to the Great British Summer
Gracing one of the prettiest parks in the capital comes a season of operatic productions, ballet, and spoken word events from names such as Anne Reid, Sir David Jacobi and Sir Ranulph Fiennes. A new production of Tchaikovsky’s heart-breaking opera Eugene Onegin (31 May - 25 June) opens proceedings, but a highlight is sure to be the UK premiere of Little Women (22 July - 5 August), composer and librettist Mark Adamo’s genius adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s coming-of-age novel. operahollandpark.com
As part of UNBOXED, a UK-wide celebration of creativity, Collective Act has called upon Turner Prizewinning artist collective Assemble, composer Jon Hopkins, and a team of scientists, technologists and philosophers, to reimagine artist Brion Gysin’s Dream Machine. Designed as a collective experience, yet one that will be intensely personal, visitors close their eyes before being enveloped in an immersive light and soundscape that promises insights into the astonishing power of the human mind. dreamachine.world
UNTIL 27 AUGUST
Ever since its first staging in 1944, this memory play by Tennessee Williams has captivated theatregoers the world over. The tale of an ageing Southern belle whose pursuit of a suitor for her emotionally vulnerable daughter is told through the eyes of her son, Tom, and explores the interplay between illusion and reality. In a treat for audiences, the role of the iconic matriarch Amanda is taken on by multi-Oscar nominee Amy Adams, who makes her West End debut in this new production. theglassmenageriewestend.com
UNTIL 16 OCTOBER
Children have long been charmed by Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast; the animated classics created by the innovators at the Walt Disney Animation Studios. But few will have considered the inspiration behind Cogsworth the clock until now. Exploring Walt Disney’s fascination with French Rococo decorative arts, this delightful exhibition displays the detailed hand-drawn illustrations and production artwork from the famed studio alongside 30 beguiling 18th century artworks to shine a spotlight on the connections that can be made. wallacecollection.org
UNTIL 16 OCTOBER
In its 125th anniversary year, Tate Britain is hosting London’s first major survey of the work of one of the UK’s leading contemporary artists: Cornelia Parker. Ever since she exploded onto the scene in the late Eighties with Thirty Pieces of Silver, an installation of suspended flattened objects that included dinnerware, candlesticks and teapots, Parker has continued her highly innovative practice across sculpture, film, photography and drawing. This career-spanning showcase takes in 90 works, including two on show for the first time. tate.org.uk
3-5 JUNE (SPRING); 27-29 AUGUST (SUMMER)
Such is the love for ‘Yorkshire’s Foodie Glastonbury’, that it returns to the picturesque streets of Malton not once but twice this summer. Celebrating the finest produce from Yorkshire and beyond, the festival packs in more than 120 stalls and street food vendors o ering a smorgasbord of tasty treats. Expect talks and demonstrations from celebrity chefs and plenty of fun activities to keep little ones entertained.
visitmalton.com
28 MAY - 5 JUNE
There’s fun for all the family at the seat of the Rothschild banking dynasty this late spring with the welcome return of Colourscape, a sensorial labyrinth of colour and light. Visitors will be mesmerised by the kaleidoscopic hues as they navigate 56 interlinked chambers before experiencing the vibrations from the sounds of Tibetan singing bowls and gongs created by resident musician Michael Ormiston, who is in-situ on weekdays. Visitors can also use the wide variety of instruments from around the world to create their own musical moment.
waddesdon.org.uk
26 MAY - 5 JUNE
Now in its 35th year, one of the country’s best-loved literary festivals is back and is calling on the world’s greatest minds to ensure the cultural exchange of ideas and hot topics of the day are at the top of the agenda. There are more than 600 inspiring events and talks to revel in, as top-drawer writers such as Bernardine Evaristo and Jacqueline Wilson rub shoulders with a plethora of broadcasters, politicians (including Hillary Clinton), actors, singers and comedians. Plus, with Benedict Cumberbatch leading an all-star cast of readers, the ever-popular Letters Live is not to be missed. hayfestival.com
COLD DARK MATTER AN EXPLODED VIEW 1991 © CORNELIA PARKER COURTESY OF TATE; COLOURSCAPE © WADDESDON MANOR COURTESY OF DEREK PELLING; HAY FESTIVAL © MICHAEL ALBERRY; KIRTLINGTON PARK © NICHOLAS VERSTRAETEN.10-12 JUNE
This brand-new addition to the festival circuit set within the environs of a Palladian country house is a meeting of music and ideas designed to satisfy curious minds. By day, enjoy a programme of conversation and debate from a roster of visionaries, including artist Ai WeiWei, evolutionary biologist and author Richard Dawkins and historians William Dalrymple and David Olusoga. By night, it’s the turn of legends such as Grace Jones, Saint Etienne and TLC to steal the limelight with their electrifying performances.
kitefestival.co.uk
10 JUNE - 24 JULY
While a special performance of Henry VIII on 18 June marks the 25th anniversary of Shakespeare’s Globe, the wooden auditorium also welcomes the masterful Kathryn Hunter in Shakespeare’s epic tragedy, King Lear. Hunter was the first British woman to take on the titular role in 1997 and has reunited with director Helena Kaut-Howson to navigate this nightmarish family feud once more.
shakespearesglobe.com
18 JUNE - 17 JULY
Nothing could be more indicative of the British summer than a carpet of roses in full bloom, and with more than 2,000 on display, this festival is a spectacular showcase of the nation’s favourite flower. On select dates, enjoy floral demonstrations and the opportunity to master a rose-themed cake, but do carve a space in the diary from 24 to 26 June, when Rosemoor hosts a fabulous floral-themed craft and food market and an outdoor theatre showing Great Expectations (26 June only). rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor
21 JUNE
Part of a series of summer events (think forest bathing, a flower crown workshop and whisky tasting) held at this bucolic luxury retreat, bestselling author Melissa Hemsley joins acclaimed chef Skye Gyngell, Heckfield’s culinary director, for a fascinating conversation about feel-good food. As two women who are passionate champions of sustainable culinary practices, expect thought-provoking insights into a more relaxed, flexible approach to food that will help you feel your best. heckfieldplace.com
FROM 24 JUNE
Baz Luhrmann, the man behind such glittering spectacles as Moulin Rouge! and The Great Gatsby, has turned his lens on the man dubbed The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Starring Austin Butler, this musical biopic charts the complex relationship between Presley and his manager, Colonel Tom Parker (played by Tom Hanks), as the singer’s meteoric star rises against the backdrop of a changing America. Expect another cinematic masterpiece. warnerbros.co.uk
15-17JULY
Contestants from The Great Pottery Throw Down, including AJ Simpson, this year’s winner, are among some 140 makers showing o their talents in this celebration of contemporary ceramics. Meet, engage with and purchase from renowned names in ceramic art, and enjoy surveying their responses to this year’s challenge, which sees exhibitors charged with the task of creating a miniature version of a piece that represents their work. celebratingceramics.co.uk
24-26 JUNE
Capability Brown’s celebrated naturalistic landscapes provide the picture-perfect setting for the riot of colour and scent at Blenheim’s annual horticultural extravaganza. Glean expert advice and invaluable tips from the UK’s finest nurseries and growers, before mining the glorious Show Gardens and the striking floral art displays created in the Jewels in the Crown competition for inspiration. With live entertainment throughout the weekend, as well as a fine food and drink pavilion packed with producers, this event has all the ingredients needed to be one to remember. blenheimflowershow.co.uk
1-3 JULY
The secluded glades and woodland that make up The National Forest play host to a festival that reimagines our relationship to nature through the prism of music, performances and talks. An eclectic array of events provides the opportunity to party in an arboreal wonderland one moment and sip matcha tea in the next, with highlights including Joli Vyann’s dance and theatre piece Timeless and The Gloaming, a light trail inspired by the wonders of nature. timberfestival.org.uk
In a village just outside Thiès in Senegal, women are gathered in a courtyard having taken up positions on colourful woven mats. The gentle chatter from the exchange of the day’s news is accompanied by the rustle of local grasses and flashes of brightly coloured recycled plastic string as nimble fingers deft in age-old techniques passed down from generation to generation work their magic.
At every turn, the eye is drawn to the objects being industriously woven into shape: baskets and bowls in various stages of completion in a sea of kaleidoscopic hues as vibrant as the women who’ve created them. If ever there was a medium that expressed the heart and soul of a place, it is Senegalese basketry.
It’s a scene that utterly captivated Tabara N’Diaye, cofounder of La Basketry, a brand that champions the traditions of Senegalese basket weaving in colourways and patterns that ooze 21st-century modernity.
“My family would often holiday with my grandmother in Thiès, a region renowned for its basket weaving,” says Tabara. “Every summer, my sister and I would trawl the local market searching for baskets to serve as decorative features in our bedrooms back home.” But when the pair, underwhelmed by the pieces on show one day, met a woman who o ered to take them to what Tabara calls 'basket heaven', little did the sisters realise quite how life-changing that moment would be.
“We walked into that courtyard with all those women
sat together weaving baskets and we were like ‘wow’; it felt like we’d stumbled on an Aladdin’s cave, a treasure trove. It was such a privilege to be given a sneak peek behind the scenes and to see the coiling technique being practised just as it had through millennia,” Tabara recalls. “But while that visit connected us to the makers, it also demonstrated that the baskets we’d come to love were so much more than just decorative adornments. They were proudly handmade for a greater purpose: to
generate an income for the community at large.”
That day, Tabara’s eyes were also opened to a major challenge faced by the women. “The way people consume and purchase in Senegal is completely di erent from the way we shop here. Baskets are used widely around the house there, but if you’re in need of a bread bin you’re just going to buy one basket to fulfil that purpose. Whereas here, I saw how baskets could exist as both practical repositories for everyday stu and decorative
objects that inject colour and personality into our spaces.”
This observation sparked the germ of an idea: to launch a business that would collaborate with the women in the village to showcase their craftsmanship while amplifying the audience for their creative wares through the clean aesthetics of Tabara’s designs. It would be a business with community and connection at the heart of its ethos. In 2017, La Basketry was born (initially with both sisters at the helm but now led by Tabara).
How the ancient craft of basket weaving inspired Tabara N’Diaye to connect with her Senegalese roots and create a brand intent on injecting personality into the homePORTRAITS OF TABARA N’DIAYE COURTESY OF JUTTA KLEE.
"THIS OBSERVATION SPARKED THE GERM OF AN IDEA: TO LAUNCH A BUSINESS THAT WOULD COLLABORATE WITH THE WOMEN IN THE VILLAGE TO SHOWCASE THEIR CRAFTSMANSHIP WHILE AMPLIFYING THE AUDIENCE FOR THEIR CREATIVE WARES THROUGH THE CLEAN AESTHETICS OF TABARA'S DESIGNS. IT WOULD BE A BUSINESS WITH COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION AT THE HEART OF ITS ETHOS"
The power of collaboration
Despite not being a trained designer, Tabara’s pared-back aesthetic has made La Basketry’s pieces eminently covetable. Storage bowls with coloured floral motifs and placemats with chevron pops of colour sit alongside monochrome serving trays and curved lap trays in an inky black.
For anyone hoping to elevate their picnic this summer, La Basketry’s o erings will add instant glamour to any al fresco picnicscape. “I really like the idea of uplevelling a picnic and making it a memorable moment with friends and loved ones,” says Tabara. “Our handwoven picnic baskets are perfect for carrying all the usual accoutrements, while I personally love to take along a waterproof recycled wool picnic blanket by The Tartan Blanket Co. for a bit of added comfort.”
But La Basketry’s creations aren’t confined to homewares. Colourful fans in myriad vivid hues – including a new
collection of smaller fans launched in early May – are perfect for whenever the sun does decide to put its hat on. And given that collaboration is a central tenet of the brand, Tabara is thrilled to have recently partnered with embroidery artist Sarah Foot from Thread The Word, whose stitching prowess has adorned customised versions of La Basketry’s stylish rope tote bag.
“I find a great deal of inspiration in other disciplines, so I love connecting with creative people and building that sense of community; I love bringing people together, bringing minds together,” Tabara reveals. “Sarah is one of my customers, so that’s our connection, but I’ve long been intrigued by embroidery. In Senegal, a lot of embroidery is applied to traditional clothing and it’s something I’ve always admired. So, when the opportunity came up to do something quite fun and playful with it, I thought it would be great to combine our two worlds.”
the meditative art of making Tabara has made the rope tote bag available as a DIY kit, providing the perfect guide for anyone keen to delve into the world of basket weaving and unleash their creativity. The bag also features in a wonderful book that is Tabara’s love letter to this ancient craft. Simply titled Baskets, it’s a collection of 16 basketry projects that enable makers to escape the modern world through the meditative nature of the techniques taught. “Learning basketry really allowed me to slow down,” says Tabara. “The steps are quite repetitive, so you do get into a bit of zone, but something quite magical happens when you stop focusing on the final product – I defy anybody not to fall in love with the process.”
Baskets by Tabara N’Diaye is published by Quadrille (£15). More information is available at labasketry.com and @labasketry
LEFT: ROPE BASKET BAG - CREAM (MADE TO ORDER), £69. ABOVE: PICNIC BASKET, £59; ANNE STORAGE BOWL - PINK AND TURQUOISE, £32; BELOW: HANDWOVEN PLACEMATS, £15
Down a quiet country lane in East Sussex lies a scene of pastoral perfection that might have once inspired Constable to lift his brush to a fresh canvas. Nestled within these rolling fields of green, sits the chocolate-box home of Heidi Francis and the location of FLINT, the carefully curated lifestyle brand she runs with her mother, Julia Smith.
Having opted for a slower pace of life after closing their Lewes-based stores at the end of 2020, the mother-daughter duo moved their business online, ploughing their collective passion for the botanical world into refined artisanal products unequivocally tied to the abundance of nature around them. Here, Heidi shares her passion for considered craftsmanship.
Wildflower celebrates the savoir-faire of FLINT, a life-affirming brand with a deep respect for nature
MANY OF YOUR PRODUCTS ARE CRAFTED WITH YOUR NATURAL DYES. HOW ARE YOU INSPIRED BY WHAT’S ON YOUR DOORSTEP?
“We are 100% inspired by nature. When we planted the initial seeds in our cutting garden, we could not believe how much it flourished. And with so much plant material available, we’ve been able to create an incredible range of natural botanical dyes that we use in everything from our scarves to our tote bags. The colour palette produced so far has been a sea of lovely soft, muted tones, but we do want to explore richer colours, so we’re growing indigo and madder from seed to experiment with. We’ve also been able to get some amazing colours from food waste. I get sacks of onion and avocado skins from my sister-inlaw’s mother and the avocado skins have been the biggest surprise. You’d think they’d create a gorgeous green, but pop them in a pan of water, and within five seconds this extraordinary rose pink is revealed – it’s the most beautiful hue.”
“With so much plant material available, we ’ ve been able to create an incredible range of natural botanical dyes that we use in everything from our scarves to our tote bags.”
“My mother, Julia, is passionate about flowers. When she was a little girl, her mother gave her a book on making crepe paper flowers – I think it was a bit of a thing in those days. For a long time, I’d often hear her lamenting how she couldn’t find the Dennison crepe paper she loved so much, but then my brother tracked it down and this rekindled her childhood passion. I think the secret to the beauty she creates lies in the fact that she’s a trained florist who genuinely loves flowers. When we had flowers in the shop, she wouldn’t just stick them in a vase and hope they’d sell, she’d always prepare them with so much care and respect. As a result, she can look at a flower and know exactly how to recreate it in paper form; her skill is born from years of loving flowers and observing them.”
“It’s in the pressing of flowers, and the reason is simple: I love taking something like a forget-me-not and using just one tiny sprig to showcase its wonder – the flower has its moment in the sun. When you take something very innocent, something that somebody would usually take for granted, and press it, mount it, and put it in a frame, it suddenly becomes a work of art. You’re forced to consider it, to observe it, and you suddenly see its beauty in a completely new way. That microscopic focus on something very innocent and simple somehow elevates it.”
“It’s something we are really only just getting into. Last summer, we experimented with extracting essences from our roses and other flowers and plants using the ‘sun method’, which involves steeping petals in olive oil in Kilner jars and leaving them in the hot sun to create a tincture.
I was also given a ton of pure beeswax from a friend who keeps hives of bees and we’ve made all sorts of balms and moisturisers. These initial experiments turned into a larger project, and I began to learn about making more advanced formulations using natural ingredients. We now supply a few select shops, and our hand and body washes and moisturisers are available on our website. However, we hope to adapt the range in the future as Julia has recently been experimenting with cold pressed soap making.”
“Herbariums are having a moment, so we’ve been crafting a number of these recently, which I’m thrilled about. We’ve been going to people’s homes, wandering around their gardens, and picking their favourite flowers before mounting them on our handmade rag paper and popping them in wooden frames made by a delightful company called Courtyard Framing. The initial idea with the herbariums was to try and create something reminiscent of the cuttings preserved by bygone plant collectors. So, we hand-dye our rag paper and give it a deckle edge to create an aged e ect. It has been such a joy making them.
My mother and I have also been working on a few interior design projects. It’s a service that’s grown organically through word of mouth and the projects we take on have varied immensely. It can be as simple as o ering advice on colours in a room or leading a whole renovation project. Over the years, we’ve gathered a little coterie of talented people around us – FLINT friends, I like to call them – and we all have a similar ethos. The craftsmanship they bring to the table is extraordinary.”
“We hosted a pop-up in our studio at Christmas and opened the doors exclusively to our customers. It’s an event I’d love to do again this summer as it was so wonderful to see and connect with people and for them to be able to see our creative space. I think people really respond to coming in and seeing a working space – that connection to the art of making.
We have recently been asked to help with the look and feel at a brand-new centre of learning – The Enjoolata Centre, the brainchild of Norwegian ethical entrepreneur Svein Wilhelmsen. It is situated at Basecamp Maasai Mara, Kenya, and is designed as a welcoming space for guests and locals alike to come and learn more about the culture and craft indigenous to the area.
“The Basecamp Explorer Foundation has been successfully supporting a large group of local women for many years, who will use this new space as a place to make their beadwork, subsequently sold through the foundation. One idea is to widen the scope of possibilities for these women by teaching them about dyeing cloth and manufacturing items made from local materials. Our vision is to include these textile crafts, and perhaps host workshops for visiting guests.”
flintcollection.com
As the country marks the Platinum Jubilee, Wildflower prepares a very special and uniquely British celebration
WORDS AND STYLING BY SARAH PRALL. PHOTOGRAPHY BY SUSSIE BELL. STYLING ASSISTANTS: CLAIRE COWLEY, GEORGIA FURNESS
According to Met O ce records, the morning of the 2nd of June 1953 was more like an autumn day, with rain showers and temperatures reaching only 12 degrees centigrade, which is very low for early June. “The morning began with mainly cloudy skies across the eastern side of the United Kingdom and the odd spot or two of rain, which became heavier and more persistent as the morning progressed.”
Somewhere in Buckingham Palace a princess awoke, ahead of the most significant day of her young life. How must she have felt? I can only imagine it was akin to the feelings on one’s own wedding day. The anticipation of wearing the most beautiful dress – designed by Norman Hartnell – of white satin, embroidered with the emblems of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in gold and silver thread. The anxiety of remembering the carefully choreographed ceremonials that would last almost three hours. But perhaps most prevalent was the pride she felt in pledging her life in service to her people and country, for this was the day she married us all, 70 years ago.
I suspect she felt a pang of disappointment at the grey skies, as all brides do when the weather underwhelms. The massed London crowds refused to be downhearted though; most of them had spent the previous night on the crowded pavements, waiting for the special day to start. Imagine their expectation: a new Elizabethan era was about to begin. An era that would become record-breaking – 70 years and counting! A reign so enduring that the monarch’s image would become iconic, instantly recognisable around the globe.
“The street party is such an important, enduring part of British culture and history”
Across the country, miles and miles of bunting was strung over ordinary streets. We have a long-held history of dressing our streets for national occasions, using flags, garlanded material and flowers, sometimes with an arch. This probably developed from parades, tea parties and banquets in rural villages. Street dressing eventually came to be dominated by what we now call bunting; it’s made up of strings of triangular pennants which were originally based on naval signal flags. You can never have too much bunting, as far as I am concerned.
The street party is such an important, enduring part of British culture and history. On Coronation Day, tables and chairs ran up and down the length of our residential streets. Everyone came outside and brought whatever they could; post-war rationing having not long ended. Trestle tables were soon laden with an eclectic assortment of sandwiches, sausage rolls, biscuits and cakes. Jelly and ice cream a thrilling highlight for the
children. Party hats and flags, bottles of pop and striped straws. Fruit crates, piano stools and dining chairs were dragged into the street, creating wonderfully higgledy-piggledy seating arrangements.
Over the decades since the Coronation, levels of community connection have been in steady decline – and yet we still turn out for significant national events. The tradition of street parties is part of our national identity, our collective memory. The Platinum Jubilee presents us with a glorious opportunity to re-enact these wonderful community celebrations.
In my lifetime, I have enjoyed the Silver, Gold and Diamond Jubilees. The one that glitters in my memory is 1977. I was a child and it stands out as a landmark, in hazy, flickering 8mm cine-film detail. We dressed in red, white and blue and wore plastic bowler hats emblazoned with Union Jacks. These were pinned under our chins with painfully tight elastic straps. And, yes, jelly and ice cream was served; hooray!
“Once again trestle tables will line our towns and bunting will flutter overhead. In our villages, we will gather on the green or at the cricket pavilion. Coronation keepsakes and royal memorabilia will be dusted off and filled with flowers or ice cream”
All over the country, plans are afoot to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. Once again the streets of London will be filled with well-wishers. Once again trestle tables will line our towns and bunting will flutter overhead. In our villages, we will gather on the green or at the cricket pavilion. Coronation keepsakes and royal memorabilia will be dusted o and filled with flowers or ice cream. Garden roses, the very emblem of England, will be picked and they will adorn our tables. The weather may be less than obliging but we will persevere with our picnics and our barbecues. Tall tales will be told by our seniors, Coronation stories shared. We will greet both neighbours and strangers alike with our uniquely British sense of joy that prevails on high days and holidays.
COMING UP ROSES: HYBRID TEA ROSES, THE VERY EMBLEM OF ENGLAND, WILL BE PICKED AND USED TO ADORN TABLES AND PICNIC BLANKETS
THE TRADITION OF STREET PARTIES IS PART OF OUR NATIONAL IDENTITY, OUR COLLECTIVE MEMORY.
THE PLATINUM JUBILEE PRESENTS US WITH A GLORIOUS MOMENT TO RE-ENACT THESE WONDERFUL COMMUNITY CELEBRATIONS
“The weather may be less than obliging but we will persevere with our picnics and our barbecues”
The Queen has acquired an almost mythical status; we see her image every day, adorning our stamps and our bank notes. She gazes out from mugs, fine china tea sets and biscuit tins; she is a constant in our everyday lives. Her image is as familiar to us all as that of our own family. And yet the woman behind the fairy-tale image is real: a devoted grandmother, mother and monarch. Most of us can mark out our lives alongside hers, if not from the Coronation then with royal weddings and jubilees. Few could have imagined, on that grey day in 1953, how happy and glorious the Queen’s reign would be. Let’s make our Platinum Jubilee celebrations magnificent in her honour. For after all the majesty and splendour of the ceremony are over, it is her steadfast loyalty, her heart and her spirit we admire. Queen Elizabeth II is truly the jewel in the crown.
NOSTALGIA RULES: WITH A HEAVY NOD TO THE 1950’S, THE WILDFLOWER PLATINUM JUBILEE CELEBRATION FEATURES VINTAGE COMMEMORATIVE MUGS AND CAKE TINS, AS WELL AS SPARKLING VASES AND TWINKLING CRYSTAL
The Wildflower Jubilee Celebration is heavily inspired by a nostalgic nod to the 1950’s. Hybrid tea roses feature as a motif throughout; the roses adorn mismatched tea cups and feature on the royal commemorative mugs and cake tins. Pressed glass vases and bud vases add to the twinkling crystal e ect, evocative of the Crown Jewels. Embroidered linen, handed down through the generations, has a moment to shine once again. Most precious of all is an embroidery, stitched by my mother-in-law when she was a girl to commemorate the Coronation, which is given pride of place.
Floral cup cakes – bouquet-bakes.com
Flowers supplied by theflowerworkshop.biz
Cake toppers – gingerray.co.uk
MOROCCO: DESTINATION OF STYLE, ELEGANCE AND DESIGN BY CATHERINE SCOTTO, PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICOLAS MATHÉUS, PRESTEL, £29.99
Embark on a journey of cultural discovery in this curated guide to the names shaping design in a country considered the gateway to Africa. Step inside Villa Mabrouka in Tangier, the former retreat of Yves Saint Laurent, where lightfilled rooms are the perfect blend of modernist and Moroccan architecture; meet the custodians charged with preserving the vibrant botanical beauty of Jardin Majorelle; and be inspired by the stories of those reimagining traditional Moroccan craftsmanship for the modern age.
Perched atop a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean in San Simeon, California, lies Hearst Castle, the sprawling estate of one-time newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. An architectural masterpiece conceived over 28 years, this hardback celebrates the life and legacy of the pioneering visionary behind its design and that of several hundred other landmark buildings in the State: Julia Morgan. A visual feast, this tome is a must for any design enthusiast’s collection.
ON THE HIMALAYAN TRAIL: RECIPES AND STORIES FROM KASHMIR TO LADAKH BY ROMY GILL, HARDIE GRANT, £27
A culinary adventure in every sense of the word, celebrated chef Romy Gill delivers a love letter to the people of Kashmir and Ladakh in a book that is at once an exquisite travelogue and a curated guide to the culinary gems of a region. As Gill traverses the foothills of the Himalayas, she is introduced to a fusion of flavours and influences that inform the 80 tantalising recipes just waiting to be recreated by home cooks everywhere.
BY SONIA PULIDO, PHAIDON, £16.95
Once the umpteenth sandcastle has been built and every rockpool explored, ignite your young explorer’s imagination with this exquisitely illustrated guide to the wonders of shells. In this rich, sensory experience, marine biologist Helen Scales highlights the revelations to be enjoyed on further inspection of a shell’s shape, colour and texture before detailing the habitats of the molluscs who create these natural marvels.
The stylish boho renovation of her 1940s clapboard bolthole near Hastings has inspired designer Pearl Lowe to put pen to paper once again to deliver page after page of interior inspiration drawn from homes by the sea. The author’s beautifully whimsical vintage aesthetic is very much in evidence as she enchants the reader with her latest labour of love, while there’s pure escapism to be enjoyed as Lowe explores the dreamy homes of her friends (including model Helena Christensen and stylist Rachel Ashwell), who, like her, have found solace in living by the coast.
Escape the humdrum with summer reads that offer adventure through the lens of design, craftsmanship and the natural world
Founded in Jaipur by British designer Molly Russell to preserve the traditional crafts of India’s Pink City, Pink City
Prints produces exquisite and sustainable handcrafted garments such as these delightful dresses. Each item is worked on by hand, using techniques passed down through generations. The result is an impressive collection of covetable pieces that fit and flatter beautifully. pinkcityprints.com
Discover limited edition and one of a kind pieces. Designed in London, made in Jaipur. @pomegranate_london | pomegranate-london.co.uk
Boden Loves Molly Mahon is the perfect combination of iconic prints and timeless pieces. The collection features dresses, kaftans, co-ords and nightwear crafted from BCI cottons and linens, as well as sustainable viscose. The edit is awash with colour and optimism for the summer months, and Boden’s signature tie-shoulder detailing, scalloped edging, exaggerated sleeve silhouettes and crochet all add to the charm of Molly’s floral block prints.
Spotting Molly’s unique creative talent, Boden’s in-house design team worked closely together with Molly Mahon Studio, drawing upon their shared a nity for colour, British heritage and hand-drawn prints. By marrying Molly’s bold colour palettes, beautiful detailing and celebrated block prints that are traditionally found across an array of fabrics, wallpapers and homeware, Boden created a charming capsule edit for all the family. “I’ve always admired Molly’s very British sensibility, which chimes so much with our own. Introducing her Indian block prints to our new range has been a creative treat and it has been wonderful to see them sitting alongside our own hand-drawn prints,” says Johnnie Boden.
Molly’s approach to printmaking is heavily inspired by her natural surroundings, either at home in Sussex or on her travels, and she is particularly drawn to bold flowers such as dahlias, marigolds and Dianthus, alongside
clovers, strawberries and cherries that invoke feelings of nostalgia. Her interpretations of the iconic Boden floral and cherry motifs were carefully sketched and hand-carved into wooden blocks, which were then transformed into repeat designs placed across the capsule by the Boden team.
There’s mutual admiration. Molly adds, “Johnnie has been a long-time inspiration to me, and I have always loved the joy on o er from Boden, from their fun imagery to their bright, bold and patterned clothing for my children. Creating two hand blocked designs felt so streamlined across our brands; it has been a really fun collaboration to work on and it’s wonderful to see our patterns transfer across from my usual range of fabrics and wallpapers to clothing: I am thrilled that we can now all wear them too.”
Available in shops and online at boden.co.uk
Left: Printed Top and Shorts, both £25. Bow Back Dress, £34
Above: Anna Blouson Linen Shirt, £80.Scoop Neck Maxi Dress, £120. Tie-waist Scallop Playsuit, £29. Below: Nadine Tie Back Maxi Dress, £98
boden launches its bright, bold and beautiful debut collaborative capsule collection with british block print designer molly Mahon studio
Yasmin Floral Smocked Sundress in Pink and Lemon £99 dilligrey.com
Cream Rust Floral Maxi Dress, £154 truedecadence.com
Willow Crossley x Brora Cotton
Voile Patchwork Dress £175 broraonline.com
Cindy V-Neck Dress £170 pinkcityprints.com
Skyros Beaded Hoop Earrings £34 hush-uk.com
Loulou Dress £169 baukjen.com
THIS SUMMER WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THE EVERVERSATILE DRESS TO SEE US THROUGH THE SEASON. IN BOLD BLOCK PRINTS FOR A BOHO FEEL, OR WHIMSICAL, DITZY FLORALS, THERE’S A MULTITUDE OF FABULOUS FROCKS TO CHOOSE FROM. PAIR WITH FLATS FOR DAY, HEELS FOR EVENING, AND ADD STATEMENT JEWELLERY FOR
Carved Labradorite & Crystal Double Drop Earrings £225 pomegranatelondon.co.uk
Sarah Fringe Heeled Sandals £130 boden.co.uk
Gemstone Beaded Bracelet £125 monicavinader.com
Gracie dress in Fleur de Sapphire £245 neveandnoor.com
Peter Pan Contrast Collar Dress in Alpine Meadow Green, £475 reallywildclothing.com
River Leather Creme Heels £229 flattered.com
Rosa Von Flora Collar £42 vanessarose.co.uk
Kristen Maxi Dress £305 rixo.co.uk
Rosie Belted Floral-Print Dress, £340 cefinn.com
Clogau Lily of the Valley Pearl Bangle, £370 michaeljonesjeweller.co.uk
Safari Bag in Sage, £395 strathberry.com
Daphne Dress £187 freshalondon.com
Emporio Armani Ladies’ Green Sunglasses £106 watchpilot.co.uk
Ophelia Dress £265 yolke.co.uk
Cultured Pearl and Diamond Bow Brooch £825 michaeljonesjeweller.co.uk
BY SUSSIE BELL. STYLING BY SELINA LAKE. ASSISTED BY SARAH PRALL.
Designer Pippa Blacker’s eclectic collection is often botanically inspired, reflecting her love of nature and the English countryside. Launched in 2017 with her first fabric Walking in Heather, it has evolved to encapsulate a range of light, fresh fabrics and papers, perfect for summer. For design tips on how to use prints in your home, read our interview with Pippa online at wildflowermagazine.co.uk
following an incredible refurbishment, Kelmscott Manor, the family home of william morris, has reopened. Wildflower takes a look inside words by Zoë Levey
Kelmscott Manor, the beloved country home of William Morris, the father of the Arts & Crafts movement, has reopened to the public after a £6 million upgrade. The conservation and refurbishment programme has been major, taking a total of 30 months to complete. Supported by a £4.3 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, an additional £1.3 million was donated from the on-going Kelmscott Manor: Past, Present & Future Campaign, which continues to actively raise necessary funds to support the project.
Situated in the charming village of Kelmscott located on the River Thames, near Lechlade, Kelmscott Manor was built around 1600 using mellow Cotswold stone. When William Morris first viewed Kelmscott Manor in 1871, he fell instantly in love with its unpretentious architecture, together with the history and landscape of its gentle rural environment. It encapsulated all his passions – history, nature, archaeology and romantic medievalism.
Persuaded by his wife Janey, who wanted a house more suited to his rising status, Morris initially rented the Manor with his friend and business partner, the PreRaphaelite artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti, as co-tenant. It’s well known that Rossetti was then romantically involved with Morris’s wife Janey, but in 1874 – much to Morris’s relief – Rossetti left, and Kelmscott became the Morris family’s (William, Jane and their two daughters, Jenny and May)
much-loved country retreat. In Oxfordshire, he had “found the house at the very end of the village,” and he was very fond of it.
Kelmscott plays a recurring role in Morris’s work and provided a sanctuary away from his myriad creative projects. A man of extraordinary talents, Morris was renowned for his unstoppable work ethic, and his mastery of a multitude of skills: architecture (his first love), an artist skilled in oils, weaver, decorator, textile artist, designer, calligrapher, printer, poet, novelist and lecturer.
It was at Kelmscott that Morris formulated his views on wide-ranging subjects, not just interior design but also craft-based work, building conservation, social democracy and environmental issues. And he had an interest in politics – as a result of which he founded the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (1877), stating “I have more than ever at my heart the importance for people of living in beautiful places; I meant the sort of beauty which would be attainable by all, if people could but begin to long for it.”
The Society has played a vital role in the preservation and restoration of Kelmscott. Wherever possible during the refurbishment programme, every e ort has been taken to maintain and safeguard the unique character and essence of the Manor, the original farm buildings and their natural environment. There has been no over-enthusiastic restoration of these historic buildings – a practice which Morris abhorred.
Dr Kathy Haslam, Curator of Kelmscott Manor, explains: “We have not attempted to replicate a particular moment in time in redisplaying the period rooms, but rather to recreate the spaces as they would have been known to members of the Morris family over their 67-year association with the Manor based on evidence available. Every new placement of furniture and objects, together with each new paint colour or choice of wallpaper has been informed by visual or written sources consulted during extensive research. As a result, the house feels more homelike. In addition, our new interpretation enables us to explore more people, themes and narratives than before.”
Moreover, by using the wealth of vivid first-hand contemporary accounts and photographs, the interior rooms of the Manor have been redisplayed and reinterpreted to provide the visitor with a more authentic impression of how they would have been in the Morris family’s day. It’s a fascinating insight into the life of the Morris family during their time in the house.
Wallpaper has been reinstated in several rooms with each design individually printed by hand using the original blocks from the Morris & Co. archives. Many of the designs remain popular today namely ‘Fruit’ which is seen in Jane Morris’s bedroom, ‘Lily’ in William Morris’s room and ‘Daisy’ on the landing. Some of these designs, including ‘Fruit’, have recently been reimagined by designer Ben Pentreath in his new ‘Cornubia’ collection, a testimony to their timeless appeal. A new design from Morris & Co, ‘Kelmscott Tree’ by Alison Gee, is inspired by Morris’s bed curtains at Kelmscott, originally embroidered by his daughter May in 1891.
PHOTOGRAPHY: SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF LONDON (KELMSCOTT MANOR) CHRIS CHALLIS“WALLPAPER HAS BEEN REINSTATED IN SEVERAL ROOMS. SOME OF THESE DESIGNS HAVE BEEN REIMAGINED BY DESIGNER BEN PENTREATH IN HIS NEW COLLECTION”
An analysis of long hidden paint layers has provided clues to several of Morris’s di erent colour schemes – these have since been carefully re-mixed and the spaces repainted accordingly. Colours found at Kelmscott have partially inspired the new debut paint collection from Morris & Co, which includes a beautiful soft blue-green hue aptly named ‘Kelmscott Water’.
In the house you can see furniture and objects made or collected by the Morris family or their friends. There’s a painted settle and a robust oak Gothic Revivalstyle round table designed by the architect Philip Webb for the Morris’s first home Red House, before being brought to Kelmscott. Several artworks can be viewed, notably Rossetti’s painting ‘The Blue Silk Dress’ (1868), widely regarded as the most iconic portrait of Morris’s wife, Janey.
Kelmscott played a huge part in Morris’s life. It provided him with endless creative inspiration and had a profound influence on his thinking and designs. Many of his most popular designs such as Strawberry Thief were directly inspired by the garden at Kelmscott, whilst his seminal literary work News from Nowhere, published in 1890, includes beautiful, perceptive descriptions of the house and its surroundings. The Kelmscott Press
edition (1893) features the most famous illustration of the Manor as its frontispiece.
After Morris’s death in 1896, his family continued to live at Kelmscott. In 1938 it was left to Oxford University, but in 1962 the University gave up the bequest and ownership passed to the Society of Antiquaries of London, which undertook specialist repairs on the building to save it from collapse.
The recent renovation project is evidence of the Society’s continued commitment to maintaining the fabric of Kelmscott’s historic buildings and collections, whilst keeping alive the conservation ethos pioneered by Morris.
John Lewis, General Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries of London, said: “William Morris’s love of history and the physical remains of the past profoundly influenced his creativity. Our revitalised Kelmscott will explore and share the history of the estate and house through the core disciplines of the Society and through the eyes of William Morris as an Antiquary and Fellow of our Society.
“The recent major refurbishment project and the on-going Kelmscott Manor: Past Present & Future Campaign has ensured that William Morris’s beloved “heaven on earth” is preserved for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.”
Kelmscott Manor is open to visitors. Kelmscott Manor, Kelmscott, Lechlade GL7 3HJ. Tel: 01367 252486. For details, visit sal.org.uk/kelmscott-manor
“KELMSCOTT PLAYED A HUGE PART IN MORRIS’S LIFE. IT PROVIDED HIM WITH ENDLESS CREATIVE INSPIRATION”
“WILLIAM MORRIS’S LOVE OF HISTORY AND THE PHYSICAL REMAINS OF THE PAST PROFOUNDLY INFLUENCED HIS CREATIVITY. OUR REVITALISED KELMSCOTT WILL EXPLORE AND SHARE THE HISTORY OF THE ESTATE AND HOUSE THROUGH THE CORE DISCIPLINES OF THE SOCIETY AND THROUGH THE EYES OF WILLIAM MORRIS AS AN ANTIQUARY AND FELLOW OF OUR SOCIETY”
JOHN LEWIS, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF LONDON
Planning a street party? Then you’ll need tons of party plates, cups, napkins, and of course, bunting. We LOVE the royalty themed range by Ginger Ray. Cucumber sandwiches at the ready!
Union Jack Jubilee Party Plates, £4.99 for 8. Cups, £4.49 for 8.
Party Like Royalty bunting, £6.99. gingerray.co.uk
If like us, you simply can’t wait for the Queen’s jubilee, you’re going to love how we plan to celebrate. Check out our fab finds for street parties, picnics and afternoon tea
No need for tables and chairs with this waterproof picnic blanket. Made from beautiful wool it’s the perfect way to celebrate in the park. Just add a frisbee and a bottle of something cold and sparkling.
Queen’s Jubilee picnic rug, £100. thebritishblanketcompany.com
If ever there was a time to get yourself a big, bold Union Jack flag, this is it! Made from raw linen and measuring 90cm x 150cm, how amazing will this one look flying high?
Large Vintage Union Jack Flag, £40. thenauticalcompany.com
We think there’s always time for tea and we love any excuse to add a commemorative tray to our collection. This design by Sophie Allport features her delicate illustration of a young Queen Elizabeth II on her Accession Day. Just beautiful.
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Small Tray, £21. sophieallport.com
This is not just any gift box for a cheese lover. This is THE perfect accompaniment and a great addition to any street party. You’ll always be invited back if you bring this with you.
The Truly Grate for Cheese set includes Classy Caramelised Onion Chutney, Splendidly Sweet Apple Chutney and Fabulous Farmhouse Pickle, £12.99. cottagedelight.co.uk
Biscuiteers have done it again with their delectable, spot-on iced biscuit designs. I’m not sure we could eat a whole corgi, but we’ll give it a good go. Of course, we love the biscuits, but the keepsake tins are what keep us coming back time and again. biscuiteers.com
Nothing could be more fitting than the red, white and blue of this cute food cover complete with summertime strawberries. It’s just what you need to keep your scones bug free. The only question is - what comes first - the cream or the jam?
Jubilee Strawberry Food Cover, £18. next.co.uk
Buckingham Palace X Biscuiteers Platinum Jubilee, £58.
Queen’s Tea Ball Infuser, £45. Queen’s Teaspoon, £25.
We always want to make our afternoon tea special and that’ll be so easy with this Nick Munro crown-topped Queen’s tea ball infuser and teaspoon. Almost too beautiful to use, but too lovely to hide away in a drawer. nickmunro.com
No, we haven’t gone completely mad and yes, this is a Christmas decoration but trust us, these will sell out like hotcakes. Now is the time to pick up your commemorative beaded design.
Longest Reigning Monarch Decoration, £21.95. shop.westminsterabbey.org
This limited-edition tea cosy by Poppy Tre ry is made in her distinctive freestyle machine embroidery and appliqué. The front shows guardsmen and on the back, a tiny crown. Time to put the kettle on!
Platinum Jubilee Tea Cosy, £60. poppytre ry.co.uk
Want to jazz up your sofa for the festivities but the union jack colours aren’t your thing? Then check out these fab designs
this fun platinum jubilee souvenir colouring book will keep kids busy for hours at the trestle table. It might also work postparty wonders on any jaded parents the following day. colour in and keep for the grandchildren.
No street party is complete without a truly summer-themed beverage, and we think you’re going to love this new Absolut Vodka. It’s made with real strawberry juice and natural flavours and goes very well with strawberries and cream, or you could create your own jubilee cocktail. Anything goes.
Absolut Strawberry Juice Edition £16, amazon.co.uk
Platinum Jubilee Souvenir Colouring Book, £6.99. amazon.co.uk
Silver Jubilee Cushion by Nichollette Yardley-Moore, £155. charltonisland.com
Jan Constantine’s Street Party Cushion in cream, £149. janconstantine.com
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Cushion Cover by Victoria Eggs, £25. victoriaeggs.com
“You could create your own
The slower pace of life and refocus on ‘home’ over the past few years has led people to reflect upon what truly holds value and how they want to live now. Many are trying to shop more mindfully - considering how and where food, clothes and homeware are made, and in doing so, are rediscovering that buying from local producers and choosing craftsman-made design can o er a great deal of pleasure and good value, as well as feeling like a meaningful thing to support.
When the three founders of Derwent House launched their interiors shop and gallery at the start of 2020, they already had exactly these aims at the heart of their business. They wanted to champion British craftsmen and women working with sustainable materials, give shopping for the home a more joyful sense of purpose and help people create a connection to their buys as far removed from conveyor belt design as you can imagine.
Juliette Barrell, Alison Gri ths, and Richelle Spooner-Davidson are passionate about showing home decorators how craft and art can work within an interior context. Although they also launched a website, their primary intent was to create this inviting showroom, making it accessible and much more engaging and welcoming than a static gallery, while championing handcrafted and local design.
“We made a deliberate decision not to have an e-commerce website but to focus on encouraging people to visit the store instead: click and connect rather than click and collect,” says Juliette. “There is nothing like seeing the pieces in real life, to feel the textures, look at the details, understand the di erent wood choices, look at the quality of the joints or the intricacy of the fabrics, hold a ceramic jug in your hand and connect to the skills and stories of the craftsmen and women behind them.”
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT:
DERWENT HOUSE CO-FOUNDERS (PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT): CREATIVE DIRECTOR JULIETTE BARRELL, MARKETING DIRECTOR ALISON GRIFFITHS, AND RETAIL DIRECTOR RICHELLE SPOONER-DAVIDSON; FLORAL BOUQUET DARK CUSHION BY TEXTILE DESIGNER ABIGAIL BURY WHO TAKES HER INSPIRATION FROM FLORA AND FOLIAGE; PRINT MAKER AND TEXTILE DESIGNER ALBERT HARVEY; DALTON DESK BY BARNBY DESIGN, AVAILABLE IN A CHOICE OF COLOURS; CERAMIC ARTIST JO DAVIES, A SPECIALIST IN WHEEL-THROWN PORCELAIN, AT WORK IN HER LONDON STUDIO; THE LIGHT-FILLED STAIRWELL ENTRANCE AT DERWENT HOUSE DISPLAYING A SELECTION OF CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE; FURNITURE DESIGNER ROBERT BARNBY; FERRON SIDE TABLE, BARNBY DESIGN
TOP: A CORNER OF DERWENT HOUSE FEATURING A SELECTION OF BEAUTIFUL FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES. ABOVE: LUMBAR CUSHION IN TEAL AND RUST FROM BROUGHS FOR DERWENT HOUSE.
RIGHT: SAFI CUSHION FROM BROUGHS FOR DERWENT HOUSE
Beyond its Georgian front, the showroom in Witney in the Cotswolds is set out over three floors. The rooms of the original house o er a light-filled setting but today the premises extend beyond the period property, and now o er over 6000 square feet of shopping.
Thoughtful vignettes showcase homeware from an array of British studio makers including cabinet and furniture makers, ceramicists, glass blowers, textile designers, handloom weavers and basket makers, not to mention art from local artists, upcycled furniture and a selection of vintage pieces, curated by Richelle.
Written profiles introduce each studio in store as they do on the website and the team speak passionately and knowledgeably about the craftspeople, and the values they represent.
CO-FOUNDERS PORTRAIT BY TOM WOOD PHOTOGRAPHY.THERE IS NOTHING LIKE SEEING THE PIECES IN REAL LIFE, TO FEEL THE TEXTURES, LOOK AT THE DETAILS, UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT WOOD CHOICES, LOOK AT THE QUALITY OF THE JOINTS OR THE INTRICACY OF THE FABRICS.” JULIETTE BARRELL
Good looking and made to last, heritage clothing and equipment to carry us through the seasons, all made in the UK
carriercompany.co.uk
“Talking to our makers, their enthusiasm and respect for the natural, sustainable materials they use always comes across first and foremost. Whether it is a beautiful piece of wood, or wool sourced from a flock of sheep in Yorkshire, all are committed to sourcing sustainable andwhere possible - British materials, crafting them into meaningful, treasured pieces that will stand the test of time,” says Alison.
The stock of pieces is ever-changing but alongside these, the showroom also showcases the made-to-order range of classical and modular sofas from respected British sofa manufacturer Delcor, and fabric and wallpaper books from wellknown brands. In its aim to make home decoration easy and enjoyable, the Derwent House team also o ers a curtainmaking service, can help to arrange reupholstery or reconditioning of tired furniture and o ers colour scheming and spatial planning advice. When Wildflower magazine visited, the first in a series of buying exhibitions – Table Matters – was being hosted on the second floor. The exhibition which runs until the end of May 2022 holds a diverse curation of dining, console, co ee, desk and lamp tables from 15 established furniture makers including: Angus Ross, Gri n & Sinclair, Edward Wild, awardwinning Oxfordshire studio Waywood and new talents Lula James Woodworking. Some makers are involved in planting and tree management programmes, others in the recycling of o cuts or fallen woods. The furniture makers also craft bespoke pieces to commission and, as Richelle Spooner-Davies explains, such pieces can be surprisingly accessible in price.
“It’s wonderful talking to customers and seeing them have that light-bulb moment when they understand that bespoke pieces are not necessarily more expensive and can o er so many possibilities,” says Richelle. “The cabinet and furniture makers can tweak both scale and height and working with our sofa manufacturer means you aren’t limited to just three or four standard upholstery options on a website. You can choose from an unlimited range of fabrics, change seat depth or back height, choose cushion interiors and leg options, without
significant extra cost, and often no change in price at all.”
The flurry of visitors since opening after lockdown has been a powerful a rmation of the need and desire of many home decorators to experience shopping in real life rather than through a screen. Derwent House’s three founders love nothing more than to share their decades of interiors experience, helping customers spend wisely on special, unique, British-made pieces to love for years to come. derwenthouseliving.co.uk
“IT’S WONDERFUL TALKING TO CUSTOMERS AND SEEING THEM HAVE THAT LIGHT-BULB MOMENT WHEN THEY UNDERSTAND THAT BESPOKE PIECES ARE NOT NECESSARILY MORE EXPENSIVE AND CAN OFFER SO MANY POSSIBILITIES”
RICHELLE SPOONER-DAVIDSON
With summer looking like it’s going to be glorious, now’s the time to plan some summer dining in your garden, in the park or at an event. We’ll get you ready
It was love at first sight when we saw this Cox & Cox blue stripe gazebo. The fringing had us at hello. And you can get matching deckchairs too. Heaven in a sunbeam. Gazebo, £460. Deckchairs, £250 each. coxandcox.co.uk
We’ve seen a big trend for woodbased garden dining sets teamed with hardwearing plastic and we’re all for it. this set by scandinavian brand jysk is actually faux wood, so No need to varnish AND YOU CAN give it a quick wipe CLEAN. Not heard of JYSK yet? You will. for designer looks at a fraction of the cost, check out the rest of their home and garden ranges.
RANGSTRUP Table + 4 RAVNEBAKKE white chairs, £399.95. jysk.co.uk
The style. The colour. The decorations. Is there anything that Birdie Fortescue does that we don’t instantly desire? She has a way of getting it all just right. The shade of green on this woven rattan furniture for a start is just gorgeous - and the seating is also super-comfortable. Sofa, £1,300. Rattan chair, £450. Cushions from £60. birdiefortescue.co.uk
Outdoor rugs are getting better and better and this cute design by Sass & Belle is one of the reasons why. Not only does it look great but as it’s made from recycled plastic bottles it doesn’t matter if it gets rained on or dirty - you can just pop it in the washing machine, and it’ll come up like new.
Small Blue Tile Print Rug, £33. sassandbelle.co.uk
these cute tumblers, wine glasses and carafe from Maison Cherie are a must for summer 2022. Bringing French style to Uk homes, they are Perfect for a relaxed alfresco lunch.
Tumbler, £7.50. Wine glass, £8. Carafe, £20. All from Maison Cherie. maisoncherie.shop
Made from silicone, these wine glasses and tumblers are literally unbreakable. The fact they are also foldable makes them perfect for picnics in the park. Super-light and dishwasher safe, they come in loads of beautiful shades.
Two Tumblers, £18. Two wine glasses, £22. quinceandcook.co.uk
Big, bold patterns are a huge trend we’ve been seeing within interiors this year and now they’ve reached our alfresco settings too with this fabulous cheetah tablecloth from welovecushions Tablecloth, £89. welovecushions.co.uk
Eye-catching and seriously comfortable, this garden floor cushion will brighten up any alfresco seating area. It’s also showerproof and made from recycled PET. Fabulous Florals Outdoor Floor Cushion, £120. joebrowns.co.uk
How pretty are these wild fennel, solar-powered garden lights from Rockett St George? They look equally good day or night. We think you need a few to create a really stunning night-time e ect, but at 100cm tall and 35cm wide, they’re not small.
Wild Fennel Solar Light, £42. rockettstgeorge.co.uk
When it comes to creating the perfect look and feel for an evening gathering you can’t beat the soft glow of a bamboo lantern. These ones from The White Company come with a glass inner to make lighting your candles easy. Once summer is over, they’ll look great inside too.
Large Lantern, £75. Small Lantern, £30. thewhitecompany.com
Whether it’s for orange juice, Pimms or homemade lemonade, this pitcher is the perfect way to add a little colour to a table settingindoors or out.
Azur Wiggle Stripe Jug, £22.50. oliverbonas.com
Want to make an instant impact with some jazzy cushions? Whether they’re for your beach house, garden lounger or to add comfort to your alfresco dining chairs, these outdoor cushions from Jonathan Adler will inject some easy style. They’re also made from fabric suitable for a light shower.
Positano Border Outdoor Cushion, £87.60. uk.jonathanadler.com
Tiger Moth Placemat, £25 each.
Tiger Moth Tablecloth, £260
There’s something special about setting up a beautifully laid table for a garden lunch. These nature-inspired, hand-drawn placemats and tablecloths by Bell Hutley for Bertioli are just the right balance of pretty and elegant. In four designs, each a celebration of pollinators, these lovely designs are sure to inspire conversation around the table. bertioli.co.uk
Nothing beats the flavour of food cooked outside on a sunny day. Here are three of our favourite ways to add instant sizzle.
Best for keeping you and the bangers warm long into the night. Cyrus Fire Pit, £265. abigailahern.com
Best for sourdough pizzas at home. Ooni Koda pizza oven, £299. dobbies.com
Best for big BBQ gatherings. Performance Pro S 3 BBQ, £579. charbroil.co.uk
3ways to cook alfresco this summer
Asthall Manor in Oxfordshire is famed for its former occupants, the infamous Mitford sisters; its beautiful garden, designed by Isabel and Julian Bannerman; and its spectacular biennial art exhibition, on form words by gabrielle nathan
Once every two years, the spellbinding garden of Asthall Manor is elevated further by the addition of hundreds of sculptures in stone, each one carefully selected and positioned to showcase both the exceptional artwork and the serene beauty of the surrounding landscape. This magical transformation takes the small, dedicated team at On Form, and the sculptors themselves, many weeks to execute, but the result is nothing short of spectacular. For a month, the grounds of the Jacobean Cotswold manor house, which lies just outside the picturesque town of Burford, become a living art gallery, with moving, growing and photosynthesising floors and walls. A space quite unlike any other, open to the elements and the whims of the weather, studded with pieces of contemporary art hewn from solid, unyielding rock.
This unique celebration of English country garden and sculpture was conceived by Rosie Pearson, owner of Asthall Manor and founder of On Form, the only exhibition in the UK entirely dedicated to sculptors working in stone. “The medium of stone lies at the heart of the exhibition and is supported by On Form’s ‘please do touch’ policy; visitors are urged to engage with the stone, to feel the harmony between nature and stone and to revel in the surprise and delight of the works and the playfulness of the curation,” explains Rosie. Since 2006, On Form has been curated by Anna Greenacre, who has gained a reputation for thoughtful placement that is sensitive to the relationship between sculpture and landscape. On the overall e ect of displaying works of some of the most accomplished sculptors working in
stone across the UK, Europe and North America within the magnificent gardens of Asthall Manor, Anna says, “A whole other sensory world appears here. Sculptures bring contours, texture, intrigue; provoking thought and conversation – and plants have a lovely way of softening them. Life hums around each piece.”
‘please
“For On Form 22, a new selection of 37 sculptors has been made, eight of whom are new to On Form and nine of whom will be bringing their work from mainland Europe, including a group from Studio Pescarella in Pietrasanta, the traditional home of stone-carving in Tuscany,” Rosie reveals. Alongside newcomers, highly acclaimed favourites, including Dominic Welch, Anthony Turner, co-founder of On Form, and Peter Randall-Page, will also be exhibiting.
Between them, the 37 artists will display over 300 pieces of their work, with prices ranging from £300 to £80,000. Each sculpture will be placed throughout the bold and luscious gardens, from the entrance way marked by gateposts topped with Anthony’s curvaceous finials, around the formal areas close to the house, out through the planters and yew hedges, past the natural swimming pool to the wildflower and water meadows, where the garden merges seamlessly with the Windrush Valley beyond. Clever curation makes the best use of space and vistas; a shady willow arbour is occupied by a carved elephant, the orchard is dotted with stone pieces, and the lawn steps to the natural pool bring you eye-level with more sculptures. On the bank of the hidden lake, another artwork is perfectly reflected in the still water.
“The medium of stone lies at the heart of the exhibition, and is supported by on form’s
do touch’ policy; visitors are urged to engage with the stone, to feel the harmony between nature and stone and to revel in the surprise and delight of the works and the playfulness of the curation”
Rosie pearsonBELOW: ROSIE PEARSON, OWNER OF ASTHALL MANOR, AND ANNA GREENACRE, CURATOR OF ON FORM
“It’s almost as if the garden has been designed to host this exhibition, with box hedging inserts perfect for plinths on which sculptures can be displayed”owen vaughan, head gardener at asthall manor
“It’s almost as if the garden has been designed to host this exhibition, with box hedging inserts perfect for plinths on which sculptures can be displayed,” confides Owen Vaughan, head gardener at Asthall Manor and charged with making the 10-acre garden look its absolute best, ready to welcome thousands of visitors to On Form. In fact, the garden was designed in 1998 by Isabel and Julian Bannerman, two of the most renowned and respected garden designers in the business. Variously described as ‘the Bonnie and Clyde of garden design’ and ‘mavericks in the grand manner, touched by genius,’ the Bannermans have made gardens for the Prince of Wales at Highgrove, John Paul Getty II at Wormsley in Buckinghamshire, and Lord Rothschild at Waddesdon Manor. At Asthall Manor, Rosie commissioned the pair to allow the garden to flow into the Windrush Valley landscape beyond it. “At first, I wanted everything to be completely wild. But Julian and Isabel were brilliant at explaining to me that formality was needed to frame and contrast with the wildness,” says Rosie. The resulting garden successfully blends form and freedom, open views and secret spaces that provide the perfect backdrop to On Form. Indeed, Isabel Bannerman has described the biennial exhibition of contemporary sculpture as “the whole raison d’être of the garden.”
Not every artwork will be displayed outdoors; some will be placed within the interior spaces of Asthall Manor, including the Ballroom, converted from a barn by ‘Farve’ Mitford Lord Redesdale in 1919, and in St Nicholas Church, which is just next door. “The diversity of these locations suggests to visitors possibilities for displaying sculpture in their own home and garden,” explains Rosie.
To complement the exhibition, a series of special ticketed events – including painting workshops and guided birdsong walks – designed to enhance the On Form experience and help deepen understanding of the art form, will run throughout the four weeks. For the first time, Anna has created a sculptor’s studio in the Ballroom, allowing visitors an immersive experience of the process and craft of sculpting stone.
Rosie, an active member of the West Oxfordshire Green Party, is determined that as well as paying homage to the intense and dusty life of the stone-carvers and their dedication to their materials, this year’s exhibition will open deeper conversation around concerns for the environment. “The fragility of the natural world, which has always been an implicit theme of the exhibition, will be more transparently pursued. The four local charities benefitting from on form this year have been chosen to chime with these concerns. The Wychwood Forest
Trust, Bridewell Organic Gardens and Wild Oxfordshire are all concerned with regenerating soils, ecosystems and our human relationship with the natural world, while Refugee Resource speaks to themes of welcome, inclusivity and adaptability.” Meanwhile, visitors who attend On Form without a car will be rewarded with reduced-price entry, a special drink at the Potting Shed café and even a sculpture discount. “It should not be so di cult for visitors from Burford,” assures Rosie. “It’s a lovely bike ride along the valley road, the 233 bus comes to Asthall Turn several times a day or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you could canoe along the Windrush!”
ON FORM 22 RUNS FROM 12 JUNE TO 10 JULY AT ASTHALL MANOR, ASTHALL BURFORD OX18 4HW.
OPEN 11AM TO 6PM WEDNESDAY TO SUNDAY.
TICKET PRICE: £12.50 onformsculpture.co.uk
BY ASTHALL MANOR HEAD GARDENER OWEN VAUGHAN
1Sculptures don’t have to be on plinths; some large pieces are placed directly onto the ground. On lawns, we try to ‘bury’ them into the grass to look seamless, like they are growing out of the ground organically.
2Works of art can be created from unlikely materials. Rosie formed curved earth mounds from earth dug up for the natural swimming pool. Seeded with grass, they undulate like a permanent green sculpture.
3Build sculpture and artistry into your plants, even when they’re not in bloom. The previous head gardener at Asthall devised a unique way of pruning roses that we continue to use. The method involves tying-in 90% of the roses (rambling are best), bending and twisting the stems as much as possible then tying them with string, which slows the flow of sap, forcing the buds to create flowers rather than more stems or leaves, as a response to the lack of nutrients. This gives you 10 times more roses than traditional pruning does and creates something free-flowing and sculptural through the winter. Your imagination is your limitation.
4Seize the opportunity to change. We had to remove the box-bordered parterres this year as we had box blight. Mindful of the future environment, we are replanting the area with drought-tolerant plants, including lavender and sea hollies, to reduce water consumption.
Sit soft this summer with an eclectic
selection of Graham & Green’s vintagestyle floral printed seat pads. With a retro vibe, mix them up for max effect. £25 each grahamandgreen.co.uk
Made in willow with an antiquewash finish, this picnic basket can be personalised, making it an ideal wedding, anniversary or birthday gift. Crockery, napkins and glasses are included - sadly not the Champagne!
Personalised Boat Picnic Hamper, £189 thecolourfulgardencompany.co.uk
CELEBRATE THE WARMER MONTHS WITH SOME NEW GARDEN GEAR. HERE’S A PEAK OF WHAT’S ON OUR SUMMER 2022 WISH LIST
Inspired by Japan’s traditional maekake, Sanpu Sanyo’s striking multi-purpose apron sports a hard-wearing classic blue sailcloth canvas panel, towelling side panels and several handy pockets, making it both versatile and stylish.
Sanpu Sanyo’s Striped Apron (long) in Blue, £85 nimiltd.com
Check the weather forecast before heading into the garden with this charming pineapple weathervane from Ben’s Country Forge. £99, etsy.com
Le Chameau has collaborated with national women’s health charity, The Lady Garden Foundation, to raise awareness of gynaecological health, and to give cancer the boot. The limitededition capsule collection includes the 100% waterproof short Chelsea style boot in a distinctive rose pink.
Give your hardworking hands some extra TLC with Tam Mason’s blend of nourishing and luxurious oils to soften skin and strengthen nails, gloriously scented with verbena, lavender, and black pepper.
Tam Mason Nourishing Hand Oil, 30ml, £22 tammason.co.uk
Enjoy a well-earned cup of tea after a day in the garden with these beautiful bespoke Allium mugs designed by Emma Bridgewater, exclusively for Horatio’s Gardenthe national charity creating beautiful and nurturing gardens in NHS spinal injury centres. Each mug is made and handpainted in the UK, and definitely one to add to the collection.
Half Pint Mug, £20 horatiosgarden.org.uk
Taking readers on a journey through the seasons, From Seed to Bloom by Milli Proust is a beautiful, practical guide to growing and styling your own flowers. Here we feature an exclusive extract from her inspirational new book
Flowers are the best things in the world. They are with us at the most important, beautiful, sad, brilliant, happy, and challenging times of our lives. We need them – they are special, full of magic, and have the power to heal. Whether it’s a gifted posy to bring a smile, or calendula rolled into a balm for tired skin, flowers can make us feel better, both physically and mentally. And at a time when more of our natural landscape is giving way to high-speed rails, much-needed housing, and other developments, flowers, in all their fleeting delicacy, feel more precious.
Life is messy, the way it threads and weaves itself together, and it can be tough and beautiful in equal measure. This is true of gardening, too. Though it won’t be neat or perfect, not sunny when you need it to, not raining when you want it to, there’s plenty of joy, goodness, and satisfaction to be found in
growing. The little Edens that we tend to – our green spaces and our gardens – are sanctuaries, lifting our spirits and reconnecting us with the Earth. They’re havens, not just for us, but for insects, birds, and animals. What we do and how we grow individually does matter, and it does make a di erence –long may we grow flowers, for the planet and all its living things.
In working with flowers, in practising, meditating, and creating with them, our connection with the world around us is strengthened. Within these pages are flowers, seeds, and life in all its intimacy, and in writing this book, I urge you to support small-scale agriculture, to find and support your local growers – the people working in harmony with the Earth – to be encouraged by the slow flower movement, to enjoy it, be inspired by it, and perhaps to even add to it yourself. All you need to get started is a packet of seeds.
“THEY’RE HAVENS, NOT JUST FOR US, BUT FOR INSECTS, BIRDS, AND ANIMALS”
Early summer is defined here by froth, a lot of froth. Great umbels of flowers seem to be in plenitude, prettily clouding the wild and in the confines of the garden too, lending a softness and whimsy to the landscape. The wild roses tangle their way past the honeysuckle, and sweet peas scramble up home-made triangles. I love this time of year and have long made variations of the same window installation each year to celebrate the sudden abundance everywhere. This is one of the simplest large-scale installations I make. It’s almost mechanic free and relies on the transparency of glass to create a floating, just growing-from-the-sill feeling. Window installations are fun to create. As a direct link between our inside and outside lives, they provide a playful context for bringing the outside in. So, gather up some jam jars and any glass vases you may have (they’re easy and cheap to find in junk shops, too). I play with scale in this design. I have an extra tall, extra large, heavy glass vase that can take the towering Ammi. If you can’t source an extra tall vase, feel free to use a table under the window for a shorter vase, or have it on the floor, but use a pin frog, and balance it in place with stones at its base.
IdeaThese mechanics can work well for a fireplace installation, with the glass vases sitting along the mantlepiece.
Tools:
Secateurs/garden snips 4 jam jars and 4 glass vases of varying sizes Fishing wire (optional)
Materials:
Focal - Roses ‘Moka Rosa’, ‘Wildeve’ and ‘Eustacia Vye’, 9 stems
Supporting - Roses ‘Minnehaha’, ‘Kew Gardens’: 3 stems
Sweet peas ‘Aphrodite’, ’Juliet’, ‘Spring Sunshine Blush’, ‘Mollie Rilstone’, ‘Janey’, ‘Raspberry Flake’: 50 stems Sweet-pea vine, 1 stem
Foxgloves ‘Alba’, 2 stems
Textural/sparkle - Ammi majus, 30 stems
1Fill all your vases with water and plan where you will place them. Use a table if you need. You’ll want the shortest jars closest to the middle and have the taller ones by the frame to build up around the window.
2Add your largest elements first, placing them loosely to give the sense that they’re growing up and around the window. Pick vines and long arching stems to look as though they’re climbing around the frame. If anything needs extra support to grow up the window frame, you can use a little fishing wire to tie them in place.
3Once you have the structure and scale in place, you can add jars of flowers, in this case, sweet peas, to start filling in the picture.
4Place stems in places that help to mask the jars and vases. Glass is very forgiving in its transparency so just a little hiding is required.
5Add your focal flowers - in this design it’s roses, and have them cascading down at di erent levels, some in jars, some in the vases.
6Make sure everything is sturdy and in place. If your window is going to be open, make sure nothing is too light and in jeopardy of being blown o . Add a little putty or tack underneath the vases if you’re worried.
£20) Photography ©Éva Németh From Seed to Bloom by Milli Proust (Quadrille,
“I love this time of year and have long made variations of the same window installation each year to celebrate the sudden abundance everywhere.”
David Austin Roses will be showcasing their exquisite new ‘Elizabeth’ (Ausmajesty) shrub rose inside the Great Pavilion. This glorious addition to their range will fittingly mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
‘Elizabeth’ is a suburb rose that combines fragrance with continuous flowering. It bears large clusters of rosettes with delicate golden apricot centres, and petals that gently change from soft pink to blush white. With a bouquet that hints of lemon sherbet and Old Rose, ‘Elizabeth’ is ideal for borders or containers.
The RHS Sustainable Product of the Year Award will showcase 10 of the best environmentally friendly gardening products. We like twool’s British made Sustainable Tree & Shrub Tie, a finalist to look out for. Produced using wool from rare breed Whiteface Dartmoor sheep, this handy twine is a biodegradable alternative to plastic covered gardener’s wire. Natural yet strong and durable, it’s ideal for stringing garden canes together or staking tall shrubs.
This year Chelsea’s gardens are teeming with wildlife-friendly inspiration. Designers have embraced relaxed planting, skilfully blending common and rare native species to promote biodiversity. The essence of the countryside features prominently, with a trend towards the sweeping textures of wildflower meadows, lush woodlands and blossoming hedgerows. Look out for Howard and Hugh Miller’s Alder Hey Urban Foraging Station Garden which is likely to draw the crowds with its ‘dream-like’ shades inspired by apple blossom.
all things bright and beautiful
The Morris & Co. Garden will reimagine two of the designer’s iconic patterns reflecting his passion for colour and nature. Featuring earthy reds, apricots and blue, the garden will include plants from Morris’s designs, along with cottage garden favourites that will also leave a legacy. Many of its plants will be used to seed several new community gardens in Islington.
BIGGER, BETTER AND BACK TO ITS USUAL MAY CALENDAR SPOT, THIS YEAR’S RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW IS HOTLY ANTICIPATED. WITH MORE THAN 30 GARDEN DESIGNS, FABULOUS FLORAL DISPLAYS AND SHOPPING GALORE, GREENFINGERED ENTHUSIASTS ARE IN FOR A TREAT. HERE’S OUR PICK OF THE BEST FROM CHELSEA 2022
WORDS: NICOLA CLEMENTS
Chelsea’s hugely popular House Plant Studios launched last year and makes a return in 2022. Six stylists will each transform an indoor garden room into a stunning studio brimming with the latest houseplant trends. Happy Houseplants’ Plant Clinic will encourage visitors to escape the everyday with their clever showcase of wellbeing-inspired foliage. There will be plenty of inspiration for novice and expert houseplant enthusiasts alike.
From the moment we wake up each morning, we are making decisions that a ect our well-being and our environment. Landscape architect Marian Boswall’s approach to the land is part practical and part spiritual, and over the past 20 years, she has spent time creating beautiful, nurturing spaces for people and all the other things that share the space to enjoy, whilst taking a responsible, sustainable approach to gardening. She says, “we each have a small part of a beautiful world, and together we have a huge part to play.”
the best way to garden sustainablyPHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON INGRAM.
The time we take to put our gardens together is nothing compared to the time it takes for the Earth to make all the raw materials needed to create them. From the millennia to make a piece of stone or plastic to the hundreds of years to make a mature oak tree, when building future memories, I like to think of the material memory of each item in the garden to make sure I value it appropriately. I also check that the way each feature is constructed will do as little harm as possible, that it will age gracefully and can be
reused or recycled afterwards.
In choosing what to use or buy I also like to consider whether the material carries an energy that I want to surround myself with. From a social sustainability perspective, if your Indian sandstone was the cheapest choice for you in money terms but cost the life of a child in a faraway labour camp, that may not be such a pleasant energy to bring into your garden. Child labour is endemic in Indian quarries –UNICEF estimates that nearly 20 per cent of the workers in a typical Indian quarry are
children, some bonded to gangmasters and working to pay o their family debt. Some companies are ensuring that their supply chains are part of the Ethical Trading Initiative, so we can help by checking that any new products we buy are a part of the ETI. Unfortunately, relying on products with the words ‘eco’ or ‘green’ as a prefix is not enough to avoid ‘greenwashing’ or false claims of sustainability.
When buying new, we need to spend some time understanding exactly what we are purchasing and
consider what each part of our potential garden is made from. Many pieces of garden furniture are comprised of several components, and we need to be sure about all their credentials. Finally, when making memories, why not start with a few? Old pre-loved materials and furniture add instant character to a garden with their patina and wear over time. The Japanese embrace the notion of ‘wabi-sabi’ or ageing gracefully in design, and we can take a leaf out of their book to improve our gardens.
Even the smallest garden or balcony can attract some extra wildlife with a micro pond. This tiny spot of water will soon attract birds to drink, and dragonflies may even visit if you are near a larger body of water. To help bees, leave a bit of moss on the edge so they have somewhere to land and drink, or add some stones to make a very shallow area and see who comes to visit. A pool of stagnant water is a favourite place for mosquitoes to lay their eggs, so to avoid a breeding ground for blood worms (mosquito larvae), make sure that the water does not stand still for too long by topping it up manually from a water butt every now and again, which will also inject some oxygen to help the plants grow and prevent the water going green.
Old galvanized steel bathtub or bucket
Oxygenating plants such as hornwort
Marginal plant
If you don’t find a bathtub any watertight container will do!
Choose a galvanized steel pot that does not have holes in it and that is at least 40cm (16in) deep, since most aquatic plants need about 30cm (12in) of water to grow in.
Place a few oxygenating plants in the water. One non-invasive plant that you can throw in without a pot that just floats underwater is hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum). It dies back in winter and sprouts new growth in spring.
Add a couple of marginal or emergent plants: these usually live at the margins and emerge from below shallow water. Choose one with flowers to attract pollinators, such as water crowfoot (Ranunculus aquatilis) and slender club-rush (Isolepis cernua). These plants are usually sold in baskets rather than pots to allow water to circulate, and they can remain in these for a year or two. You should then take them out and divide them to keep them healthy.
Top the compost in the baskets with a little gravel or a few stones to prevent it from floating away. If you are given a plant or are dividing plants from another pond as I did, you can wrap the roots in some soil to feed them and cover the bundle with hessian tied at the top with string, before weighting it down with a brick.
Place the plants in the pond where they will receive plenty of sunlight during the day.
“when building future memories,
I like to think of the material memory of each item in the garden to make sure I value it appropriately.”
Paxton & Whitfield, cheesemonger to Her Majesty The Queen and the UK’s oldest cheesemonger, has released two special edition cakes to commemorate this year’s Platinum Jubilee. Having held the Royal Warrant of Appointment to every monarch since Queen Victoria, we can’t think of anyone better to design a street party centrepiece this June. For further information on The Platinum Jubilee Cheese Cake and The Elizabeth Cheese Cake, visit paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk
Wildflower visits Water Lane, a historic walled garden on the Kent/Sussex borders and one of the most alluring foodie destinations to hit the gourmet grow-your-own scene
words by Carolyn Dunster
Set on the High Weald, near the village of Hawkhurst on the boundary of Kent and East Sussex, Water Lane Walled Garden is a very special destination guaranteed to attract visitors from near and far. It is the new venture of Ian James and Nick Selby, previously the proprietors of Melrose and Morgan, a wellloved North London deli and grocers. At Water Lane they have found the opportunity to combine their mutual passions for seasonal, locally sourced food with growing beautiful, unusual varieties of flowers for cutting, herbs and vegetables, all cultivated in a series of newly laid-out nodig beds with huge scope to experiment.
Formerly part of the Tongswood Estate and dating back to the 1800s, the site was the original kitchen garden. Constructed behind a high red wall that provides a protective microclimate and sense of intimacy, it includes no less than 13 Grade II Listed Victorian glasshouses that
were once used for growing exotic fruits and plants at di erent temperatures. A peach cage, melon house and cucumber house plus numerous cold frames are at di erent stages of repair but will be restored to their former glory over time. They all contribute to the overall magic of the place – or ‘genius loci’ – and create a sense of historical productivity that Ian and Nick are determined to continue. The Carnation house has already been set up as the indoor restaurant, the Vinery is the shop (where you can buy their own jams and preserves or newly propagated plants to take home), and the Pelargonium house serves as the venue for regular creative workshops and provides a unique environment for learning a new skill. As Ian points out, their underlying aim is to share their discovery with a wider audience and to educate anyone who wants to learn more about all aspects of what they are doing.
The dining experience at Water Lane Walled Garden
reflects its sense of place in the English countryside, with a short and ever-changing menu guided by the seasons and what is available to harvest from the garden. The emphasis is on vegetables directly picked or supplemented from their neighbours. No ingredient travels far –everything, including the wine, is locally sourced – with any meat or fish coming from nearby organic farms and the coast at Hastings or Rye, just 15 miles away. The team has always aimed to champion artisan producers and small suppliers. As Nick explains, Water Lane allows them to do this on a wider scale making some exciting discoveries. Whether it is for breakfast
or lunch, the food will be simple and elegant, prepared with imagination and care by head chef Jed Wrobel, a keen forager who will bring his own twist to a recipe and has been kind enough to share some of his ideas with Wildflower.
Visitors enter and leave through the ‘green gate’ which has already become an iconic feature of the garden. Painted in a distinctive colour, selected by Ian, called ‘Here Begins the Logic’ and supplied by a local paint company called Colour Makes People Happy, it perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Water Lane. For more information, visit waterlane.net. Please note that booking for the restaurant is essential.
"THE DINING EXPERIENCE AT WATER LANE REFLECTS ITS SENSE OF PLACE IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE"
1kg cucumber (Crystal Lemon, Goblin or any green variety)
100g brown shrimp
1 lemon, juice and zest
20g chervil, finely chopped
100g crème fraiche
5g salt
1. Cut the cucumber into thick wedges and coat in the salt. Leave to drain in a colander, over a sink or bowl.
2. Stir the crème fraiche to loosen it and then stir in the chopped chervil. In a separate bowl, dress the shrimp with the lemon juice and zest.
2. Pat the cucumber dry with a tea towel and arrange on a serving plate, skin side down. Scatter over the brown shrimp and drizzle over the chervil crème fraiche.
3. Garnish with a few reserved chervil leaves.
For the shortcrust pastry
300g plain flour, sifted 150g cold unsalted butter, diced ½ tsp salt
¼ tsp baking powder
75ml ice-cold water
For the filling
6 large eggs
300ml double cream 100ml whole milk
400g courgettes, finely sliced 100g spring onions, thinly sliced 15g red chilli, deseeded and thinly sliced 100g parmesan 100g goats’ cheese
10g sea salt
You will need a 23cm round quiche tin that is 5cm deep.
1. To make the pastry, combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a food processor and whizz briefly. Add in the butter and gently pulse until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs, taking care not to overmix. Slowly add the water, you may not need all of it, until the pastry just starts to come together. Empty out the pastry dough onto a lightly floured work surface and gently form into a circle shape, about 5cm thick. Wrap the dough and put in the fridge for at least two hours to rest, but preferably overnight.
2. The next day, roll out the dough to 3mm thick and carefully line the tin, patching up any cracks. A good tip is to use a little piece of excess dough to gently push the rolled
dough into the corners of the tin. Trim the excess pastry overhanging the tin sides and dot the base with a fork. Keep unused pastry for any patch-ups required after blind baking. It’s essential the pastry is chilled again in the fridge for at least an hour.
3. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line the pastry dough with a circle of baking parchment and fill with baking beans or rice. Slide into the oven on a baking sheet and blind bake for 20 minutes. After this time, carefully remove the paper and beans (hot!) and return to the oven for 10 minutes, or until the pastry is a nutty golden colour.
For the filling:
1. Wash and trim the courgettes and finely slice into 2mm rounds; a mandolin or slicing blade on a food processor is the best tool for
this. Mix the courgette with the sliced spring onion and chilli in a colander over a bowl and stir in 5g of salt, which will draw out the moisture. Leave the vegetables to drain for 30 minutes and then squeeze them in a tea towel to remove as much liquid as possible. This salting process will intensify the flavour.
2. Preheat oven to 170°C.
3. Whisk all the remaining ingredients together (apart from the goats’ cheese) and stir in the vegetables. Carefully pour the courgette cream mixture into the blindbaked pastry case, being careful not to overfill and ensuring that the vegetables are evenly distributed. Dot the goats’ cheese over the top. Slide into the oven and bake for 1 hour until set and golden on top. Allow to rest for at least half an hour before tucking in.
For the crispy polenta
125g fine polenta 600ml water 10g salt
50ml rapeseed oil
For the caponata
2 aubergines, stalk removed
2 red peppers, deseeded 2 courgettes, trimmed 5g salt 50ml rapeseed oil 125g passata
For the agrodolce
1 red onion, thinly sliced
15ml olive oil 50ml white wine vinegar
25g golden raisins 1 tsp golden caster sugar salt
To finish 50g almonds, roasted and crushed 20g parsley, finely chopped 10g mint, finely chopped
1. Bring the water to boil in a large pot and slowly pour in the polenta, whisking as you go. Turn the heat to a simmer and pour in the oil and salt. Stirring constantly, cook the polenta for 20 minutes. Pour into a lined baking tray, at least 2cm deep, and leave to cool. When cold, put into the fridge to firm up for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 220°C. Remove the polenta from the dish and cut into wedges. Roast in the oven until golden and crisp with slightly charred edges.
Warm the oil in a deep-sided pan and gently sweat the sliced onion for at least ten minutes until soft and lightly caramelised. Add the rest of the ingredients to the pan, stir to combine and simmer for another 5 minutes. Cool and rest in fridge for a few hours.
1. Wash and trim the vegetables and slice into 4cm strips lengthways and place skin down onto separate baking trays. Sprinkle the salt into the flesh of the vegetables and leave at room temperature for 30 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 240°C.
3. Divide the oil equally between the three roasting trays and roast the vegetables until charred and tender. When cool enough to handle, cut into bite-sized pieces, and gently stir in the passata and agrodolce onions. Caponata is best served at room temperature and even better after a rest in the fridge overnight for the intriguing sweet and sour flavours to mature and mingle. When ready to serve, bring back to room temperature and sprinkle over the almonds and chopped herbs and serve with a couple of slices of crispy polenta.
4 peaches, ripe but still firm
650ml water
400g golden granulated sugar
150ml white wine
1 stick cinnamon
1 vanilla bean, cut lengthways
50ml brandy (optional)
For the bay custard
250ml double cream 250ml whole milk
3 fresh bay leaves 80g caster sugar
125g egg yolks (approximately 5 eggs)
2 tsp cornflour
Method
1. To poach the peaches, combine the water, wine, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla in a large saucepan and heat until the sugar is dissolved. Gently lower in the peaches, cover with a round piece of parchment or baking paper and poach for about 15 minutes, until just tender. Remove from the heat
and lift out the peaches with a slotted spoon to cool. Return the liquid to the heat, add the brandy (optional), and cook to reduce by half, until syrupy.
2. To make the bay custard, gently heat the milk and cream with the bay leaves. Take o the heat just when it comes under a boil and allow the bay to infuse for 5 minutes. In
a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, eggs and cornflour and pour the hot milk over the eggs passing through a sieve to remove the bay. Return the mixture to a clean pan and cook very gently, stirring continuously, until lightly thickened and the cornflour is cooked out. Empty into a cold clean jug, set over ice, to stop
the cooking process. Cover with cling film to prevent a skin forming.
3. When you are ready to serve, pour a puddle of custard onto a plate and place the cooked peach in the middle and spoon over some cooking liquor. Best served at room temperature.
OUR DIARY IS BEGINNING TO OVERFLOW WITH EXCITING EVENTS THIS SUMMER, OPENING WITH THE BIGGEST CELEBRATION OF ALL, HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE
With long days of sunshine ahead of us and a regal party or two, there are more reasons than ever to pop some bottle-shaped joie de vivre this summer. And what better way to salute a season of celebrations across the UK than with a glass of our own homegrown sparkling wine? Here we’ve selected a few notable, (and in our eyes noble), locally-produced wines that are sure to make your summer sparkle.
It’s a wonderful coincidence that the birth of modern English wines began in the same year HM The Queen ascended to the throne. It was in 1952 when the first vines were planted at Hambledon in Hampshire, now the oldest commercial vineyard in England and home to award-winning wines. Worldrenowned Nyetimber has been a favourite fizz at royal weddings over the years, and was notably served during The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, whilst Camel Valley, based in Cornwall is a familiar name on wine lists at state banquets, and is the first English wine producer to be granted an illustrious Royal Warrant. Wiston Estate meanwhile was awarded ‘supreme champion’ by WineGB last year for its Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine, an accolade they hold as close to their hearts as when a nebuchadnezzar (that’s an extremely large bottle) of their sparkling wine was used by The Queen to christen the Royal Yacht Britannia.
In celebration of all the memorable occasions taking place with friends and family this summer, we salute our local wine makers, creating wines from more than 800 vineyards across England and Wales today, as we also raise a toast to The Queen on her Platinum Jubilee.
Hambledon Vineyard Première Cuvée £55
A Decanter World Wine Awards Gold Medal Winner, lemon, orange blossom and red apple on the nose unfolds into brioche notes complemented by a creamy, high acid mouthfeel. hambledon vineyard.co.uk
Camel Valley Cornwall Brut £32.95
Fresh, fruity and brimming with English hedgerow aromas, the ultrafine bubbles of this super-stylish, dry sparkling evolve into a lively fruit salad on the palate, finishing with a fresh touch of honey. camelvalley.com
Nyetimber
Tillington Single Vineyard 2014 £100
Born out of the warm 2014 harvest, this elegant vintage is from a vineyard site prized for its Pinot Noir. Fine bubbles of wild strawberry open to a generous palate of ripe red apple, apricot and citrus notes. nyetimber.com
Wiston Estate Blanc de Blancs 2015 £85
Rich and complex, this supreme champion sparkling combines notes of butterscotch, honeydew melon, honeysuckle and brioche leading to tangerines and caramelised apple on the palate. wistonestate. com
WITH SUMMER PENCILLING A WELCOME SPARKLE IN OUR DIARIES, IT’S ALL ABOUT BEING OUTDOORS AND ENJOYING THE BOUNTY ON OUR DOORSTEP. WE’VE PUT TOGETHER A TASTER OF SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE WINE EXPERIENCES TO SIP, SAVOUR AND VISIT THIS SUMMER. CHECK OUT THE WINE SECTION ON OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS ON EACH
Folc English Rosé £15.99
Pure joy in a glass, and an aromatic treat for this year’s picnic basket. Orange-pink on the eye, honeysuckle and jasmine on the nose. A sip rolls into strawberries, grapefruit and elderflower notes. Dry, crisp and fresh, this is a complex still rosé yet light as a summer breeze at 11% ABV. drinkfolc.com
The Grange PINK NV £36
An inspirational sparkling, the nose bubbles with white peach, redcurrants and strawberries, its gentle mousse a swish of red fruits with hints of brioche. Summer will launch the next Pink NV, largely focused on the warm 2018 vintage - a ripe, rich cracker for summer celebrations. thegrangewine.co.uk
The Georgian market town of Marlow is as historic as it is gastronomic. One of its more recent restaurant openings, The Oarsman is a stylish pub crossed with a French bistro. Discover wines from boutique producers alongside an equally adventurous menu. A culinary journey from Scotland to England and beyond, the flavour combinations are as surprising as they are comforting, complemented by unique wines, curated for a curious palate. theoarsman.co.uk
CURATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR OUR READERS, THE WILDFLOWER WINE CLUB IS A COMMUNITY OF WINE ENTHUSIASTS AND EXPLORERS. A PLACE TO BE INSPIRED BY WINES AND THE STORIES THAT MAKE THEM SO DELICIOUSLY INTRIGUING. WILDFLOWERMAGAZINE.CO.UK/WINE-CLUB
Known
is also home to over 30 vineyards. There’s nothing quite as enticing as discovering vines and wines over a sunshine-filled weekend. This summer we’re visiting The Grange to taste its award-winning sparkling; Raimes to relax in its outdoor tasting courtyard; and Hattingley to celebrate one of the UK’s most successful wine producers. vineyardsofhampshire.co.uk
Private chef and award-winning food writer Tess Prince shares some of her favourite recipes from her Balearic-based kitchen
othie with almonds & probiotic kefir
It is a running joke in my family that I held a pastry brush before a pencil when I was about four years old. My parents were always entertaining, so my mother kept me occupied by letting me assist her for dinner parties. Saturdays were spent in the kitchen where I was in charge of jam tarts. My grandparents grew their own vegetables and fruit so from an early age I could see, understand, and appreciate the seasons.
My grandmother was a fantastic self-taught cook and homemaker, and these skills have been directly handed down to me. I have a strong belief that my far ancestors were in some way deeply involved with food - I’m trying to discover more about my Jewish Portuguese roots as I believe it’s this that connects me to the Mediterranean.
serves 2
1 banana (frozen is better for a thicker creamier result)
350ml kefir 50g frozen berries 50g strawberries 40g whole almonds 1 tbsp of raw honey *(1 tsp maca powder or chia seeds optional)
Optional toppings: a mini fruit kebab with strawberries, blueberries and slices of blood orange
Method
1. Put everything into a blender or food processor and whizz until completely smooth. Pour into 2 glasses and serve.
This
My food philosophy is quite simple. For me it is to nurture, to nourish, to please and to comfort, whilst all the time being conscious about the food choices we make and how important it is to be respectful and grateful for what we eat. It feeds my soul and if I can pass this love on through my food then I am satisfied.
It was after exploring Ibiza on our honeymoon that my husband said I would thrive here.
The food scene caught me by surprise - the quality and flavour of the produce is remarkable. Mediterranean produce has very apparent seasons; from the rosemary, wild garlic and fennel by the roadside to the almonds, figs, watermelon, wild asparagus and samphire growing on the salt flats. It’s a magical feast for the eyes. Everything bursts with flavour as it comes direct from the land or sea. Now I’m established, I want to support the island's food producers and artisans. For me, that’s what life and community is about.
The cuisine in Ibiza is becoming as famous as the music; some of the world’s finest chefs, artisan producers and organic farmers are driving the food scene forward. Calvin
Harris has invested in Terra Maisa, a pioneering regenerative farm. I hope the island becomes more selfsu cient and leads the way with sustainable and ethical farming.
I love cooking with the seasons –it’s what nature intended for us. It’s the healthiest way to eat - denser starchy foods in winter and lighter hydrating foods in summer. I’m a huge lover of the Mediterranean diet, but I’m a bona fide spice lover in the form of curry, Middle Eastern, Lebanese, Thai and Mexican.
Each of these flavours inspires my food. I use beautiful seasonal Mediterranean produce, with Ayurvedic and macrobiotic influences, and exotic touches from the Middle and Far East. I place emphasis on rustic-chic presentation, with high-definition taste and colour – a perfect
This makes a beautiful summer salad from store-cupboard ingredients, however, the success of this salad depends entirely on the quality of ingredients and using the solid chunk bonito tuna is the only way to go, and of course, a very decent cold pressed olive oil.
300g Bonito tuna
½ preserved lemon very thinly shredded
6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp sherry vinegar (or white balsamic)
Pinch of sugar and salt
1 clove garlic
400g cannellini beans
union of food.
I am currently consultant chef at Pikes, one of the most iconic rock 'n' roll hotels and I have my Love Food Ibiza menu running in the daytime… it’s a lot of fun. I describe Pikes as running away with the circus! Love Food Ibiza has given me a platform to share my passion for recipe development and connect with the astonishing artisans and food industry folk here on the island. I get to interview superstar DJs such as Carl Cox, Sasha and Eats Everything about their passion for food for ‘Beats & Eats’ on my website. As long as I am in the kitchen and being creative, I am happy!
@lovefoodibiza
1/3 red onion very finely diced Handful dill chopped
A few sprigs purple basil (or regular) Method
1. For the dressing, mix the finely chopped preserved lemon, olive oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and garlic together in a small bowl or jar.
2. Place the beans, red onion and dill in a bowl and toss together. Add the dressing and stir through.
3. Arrange the bean mixture on a serving plate, then carefully flake the tuna into it without breaking the fish up too much. Scatter over purple basil or micro cress and season with fresh black pepper.
l
a nd d i l l
For the muhammara
4 red peppers cut in half with seed chamber removed
1 garlic clove – crushed
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
½ tsp sea salt
1 tbsp pomegranate molasses (optional)
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp sweet mild smoked paprika good pinch chilli flakes
1 tsp tomato puree Juice of half a lemon 60g walnuts roughly chopped
Butterbean puree
100ml olive oil
2 garlic cloves very thinly sliced
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 tins butterbeans, rinsed and drained 2 tbsp tahini
1. Heat the oven to 200°C. Arrange the red peppers on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and roast for approximately 20 minutes until the skin is lightly charred.
2. Place them in a bowl covered with cling film and once cooled you can remove the skins more easily. Place the cooked peppers in a food processor with all the other muhammara ingredients and blitz to a rough paste. Set aside.
Move over hummus there’s a new dip in town! The base of this dish is a delightful creamy butterbean puree with tahini. Topped with incredible muhammara (originating from Syria), blended with roasted red peppers, walnuts, pomegranate molasses and chilli. It’s perfect served with 7 seed omega crackers or with crunchy raw veggies.
3. For the butterbean puree, heat the oil in a small saucepan and very gently fry the sliced garlic, then add the thyme sprigs for two to three minutes, until the garlic starts to brown. Discard the garlic and set aside a couple of teaspoons of the cooking oil and the cooked thyme sprigs. Tip the remaining oil and garlic from the pan into a food processor with the beans, two tablespoons of water and half a teaspoon of salt and the tahini. Blitz until the mix has the consistency of creamy hummus.
4. Spread out on a large plate, creating a natural rim around the edge, then spoon the red pepper sauce into the centre. Sprinkle over the remaining nuts, scatter over the crisp thyme sprigs, drizzle with the remaining oil and serve.
This is a stunning twist on one of my absolute brunch-time favourites; Shakshuka, said to be of Tunisian or Yemini origin, the most popular style is the ‘Israeli version’ where the eggs are poached in a spiced tomato sauce. It’s full of amazing nutrients such as lycopene and beta-carotene which protects the skin from UV damage. Cooking tomatoes with olive oil increases lycopene absorption, providing vitamin E to amplify the actions of vitamin C. This dish is also anti-inflammatory and high in potassium to keep your
1 bunch of asparagus –chopped into spears
1 large handful of fresh peas (frozen are perfectly okay)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion chopped
1 large red pepper chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp ground cumin
½ tsp smoked paprika ¼ tsp chilli flakes
2 tbsp tomato purée
1 tin of tomatoes chopped 2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander (or flat-leaf parsley)
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
5 to 6 organic eggs
1 carton of Greek yoghurt (or plant-based yoghurt)
Pea shoots, watercress, rocket, sumac or pink peppercorns
1. Start by lightly steaming the asparagus and fresh peas for approximately 3 minutes. Plunge into chilled water, drain and set aside.
2. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Warm the oil in a large, ovensafe pan over a medium heat. Add the olive oil, onion, stir often until the onions are tender and turning translucent (about 4 to 6 minutes).
3. Add the garlic, peppers, cumin, paprika and chilli flakes. Cook, stirring constantly, until nice and fragrant, (1 to 2
minutes).
4. Pour in the tinned tomatoes with the tomato purée and add the coriander. Stir and let the mixture come to a simmer.
5. Turn o the heat, adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as necessary. Use the back of a spoon to make a well near the perimeter and crack the egg directly into it. Repeat
with the remaining 4 to 5 eggs, depending on how many you can fit. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper over the eggs.
6. Carefully transfer the pan to the oven and bake for 8 to 12 minutes, checking often once you reach 8 minutes. They’re done when the egg whites are an opaque white and the yolks have risen a bit but are still soft.
They should still jiggle in the centres when you shimmy the pan (keep in mind that they’ll continue cooking after you pull the dish out of the oven).
7. Top with the cooked asparagus, peas and fresh leaves, and sumac and pink peppercorns, if desired. Serve in bowls with warm flatbreads or crusty bread on the side.
1. Start by making the lemon curd first. Put the lemon zest, juice, sugar and butter in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir until the butter has melted, then pass the liquid through a sieve to remove the lemon zest.
2. Return to the bowl and then whisk in the beaten egg. Keep gently whisking the mixture over the heat for around 10 minutes until thickened like custard. Pour into a small bowl and allow to cool.
These delightful lemon cheesecakes have the perfect balance of sweetness and slight sharpness – creamy, dreamy with a beautiful biscuit crunch on the bottom, they are perfect for summertime entertaining.
For the lemon curd layer
1 large lemon (zest and juice) 50g caster sugar 25g butter
1 free range egg (beaten)
175g light digestive biscuits, crushed 25g demerara sugar
60g butter, melted 397g tin condensed milk
300g full fat soft cheese
2 lemons, juiced (approx. 60ml)
Optional garnishes; blueberries, nut brittle, lavender, daisies
3. Put the crushed biscuits and demerara sugar into a bowl with the melted butter. Mix it together, then press the mixture into the base of glasses or a cake tin. Chill for ten minutes.
4. Pour the condensed milk into a large bowl, add the cream cheese and the lemon zest and whisk together. Mix in the lemon juice - you will see it thicken! Now pour into the glasses or tin. Chill for 2 hours.
5. To serve, spoon over the lemon curd and scatter with blueberries, crushed nuts and edible flowers!
Start your day right with this amazing breakfast that’s bursting with nutrients and fibre. Whether you’re an adaptogen pro or new to the game, maca powder is one of the most popular hormone-regulating super foods.
Chia is one of the richest sources of omega-3s fatty acids which are the building blocks of a group of hormones called eicosanoids, which the body uses to deal with inflammatory responses. For a touch of spice, I have added cinnamon - I call it my love spice, it’s a beautiful sweet warming spice that helps balance hormones by lowering the amount of testosterone, while increasing progesterone.
200g organic porridge oats
1 tbsp chia seeds
2 tsp maca powder
2 tbsp desiccated coconut
1 tsp ground cinnamon
500ml non-dairy milk (organic soya is best choice)
Optional garnishes: Greek yoghurt or kefir, mixed berries, pomegranate, banana, hempseeds, cacao nibs, edible flowers
1. Just mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl and stir in the nondairy milk. Pop into the fridge overnight. If you want extra creaminess you can mix Greek yoghurt or for a super probiotic kick add some kefir.
2. Top with any beautiful topping of your choice.
We are Oxney, the largest single-estate producer of English organic wine. We nurture grapes in our Soil Association certified organic East Sussex vineyard, then transform them into beautifully expressive award winning English sparkling and still wine.
ICONIC SIGHTING MARVEL AT THE BEAUTY OF AFRICA’S LARGEST ANIMALS WHILE ON SAFARI IN KENYA’S MASAI MARA RESERVE DURING A STAY AT LUXURY MARA PLAINS CAMP, OPERATED BY GREAT PLAINS CONSERVATION. READ ON TO LEARN ABOUT THIS REMARKABLE FORM OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM. greatplainsconservation.com
SPECTACULAR SAFARIS | LATEST HOTEL LAUNCHES | COASTAL CORNWALL
Protecting the iconic wilderness and wildlife of Africa is a way of life for Beverly and Dereck Joubert, award-winning filmmakers, conservationists and founders of ecotourism company Great Plains. They tell Wildflower what drives them to create sublime African safari experiences that allow guests to support their valuable work while enjoying an unforgettable holiday
words by gabrielle nathan
few minutes in the company of the Jouberts is all you need to be convinced of one thing: their dedication for conserving the wild places of Africa, and to protect the creatures that depend on them, is matched only by their love for one another. As the couple recounts how they met at high school before dating, and explains how their common interest in wildlife led them first to a successful career in filmmaking then to acclaimed wildlife protection work, it is clear that their shared commitment to the continent of their birth is binding and enduring. As former Botswana President Ian Khama said, “Theirs is a lifelong passion; for each other, for big cats, for Africa…they are true ‘children of Africa.’”
Since the start of their joint career in filmmaking in the 1980s, the intrepid South African pair has put wildlife conservation at the centre of everything they do. Their more than 40 films, including Eternal Enemies: Lions and Hyenas and Eye of the Leopard, have been viewed by billions of people, won 8 Emmy awards, and helped draw attention to the survival struggles of Africa’s most iconic species.
Alongside filmmaking, the couple has published 12 books, written half a dozen scientific papers and produced many articles for National Geographic in their capacity as explorers-in-residence for the publication, all exploring the various and serious threats to Africa’s landscape and animal inhabitants.
After several years, it became apparent that researching and documenting the demise of these magnificent creatures was not going to be enough to save them. “We needed to secure African landscapes on a scale large enough to also protect its resident and seasonal wildlife populations,” explains Dereck. So, the Jouberts established Great Plains Conservation to make a lasting, sustainable di erence to the world’s iconic wildlife and wilderness, by striking a careful balance between conservation, communities and commerce.
“The overarching theory is that without large, protected landscapes where migration routes are maintained, wildlife will not stand a chance of survival. Small islands of conservation are simply not adequate for sustaining viable breeding populations of most species,” Dereck states. “We identify and select key areas that are under threat, often next to national parks and reserves, and acquire the rights to convert that land to protected areas with economic benefits. For example, we convert hunting or agricultural land to wildlife conservation supported by photographic tourism.”
With this in mind, Great Plains Conservation set about opening a series of sustainable safari camps on some of these strategic pieces of land, which covers a million and a half acres across three countries. Sensitively designed, solar-powered and single-use plastic-free, the 13 safari camps are shining examples of responsible tourism. Selinda Camp, Selinda Explorers Camp and Zarafa Camp have all achieved the Botswana Tourism Organisation’s highest rating, while the Selinda Reserve has been named one of the world’s Top 100 Sustainable Destinations.
Just as impressive as their eco-credentials are the camps’ amenities and comfort. “Great Plains Conservation was founded on the refusal to make any trade-o s between luxury and sustainability,” states Beverly, and it’s clear from the soughtafter accreditation by Relais & Château of six of their safari camps that this uncompromising approach has paid o . There are cavernous tents, plunge pools, wine cellars, in-room massages and thoughtful touches such as a professional-quality camera and binoculars to use throughout a stay. At a handful of camps, two-bedroom suites come with a private game drive vehicle, guide, chef and sta , and are ideal for families or groups of friends after both privacy and exclusivity.
PHOTOGRAPH BY BEVERLY JOUBERT
GREAT PLAINS MARA NYIKA CAMP IN THE MASAI MARA REGION
The camps have been built to deliver breathtaking views: in Botswana, they are located in remote and pristine settings, some next to secret lagoons and rivers. From here, guests explore by jeep, boat or, in a particularly exciting safari experience, canoe. In Kenya, two camps are set in the exceptional Masai Mara game reserve while a third is in sight of Mount Kilimanjaro. They are exquisite bases from which to explore – in a hot air balloon, on horseback or on foot.
The Jouberts stress that “Great Plains is first and foremost a conservation organisation that uses ecotourism as a tool to sustain conservation programmes” and call what they do ‘Conservation Tourism.’ So, while Great Plains Conservation excels at matching guests with di erent experiences of safari – energetic, adventurous, artistic – its charitable arm, Great Plains Foundation, “strives to preserve and protect landscapes, wildlife, and the communities who rely on them in Africa,” say the Jouberts. “The Great Plains Foundation takes a holistic view of conservation and all of our projects, whether wildlife, landscape or community-focused, seek to restore, reinvigorate and protect these important wilderness areas.”
Initiatives include Rhinos Without Borders, relocating 87 rhinos from high poaching zones in South Africa to safe havens in Botswana, where they roam freely. “Positively, over 50 calves have been born to these rhinos and the relocation not only brought home rhinos to a land they once roamed, but also brought employment and training of the local rhino anti-poaching teams and monitors,” the Jouberts explain.
CONSERVING NATURE: SENSITIVELY DESIGNED, SOLAR-POWERED AND SINGLE-USE PLASTIC-FREE, THE 13 GREAT PLAINS SAFARI CAMPS ARE SHINING EXAMPLES OF RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
“Conservation in Africa today has to take a highly strategic approach if it is to save the wildlife and landscapes we love”
Dereck Joubert
Community-focused project Solar Lanterns involves safari guests donating solar lanterns to local families to use as a safe and economical alternative to dangerous para n lanterns or candles, which pose a fire hazard. This gave rise to an initiative particularly close to Dereck and Beverly’s hearts, The Solar Mamas programme, which saw the foundation take nine women from rural communities in Botswana to India for six months to undertake solar engineering training, enabling them to return home to set up solar plants and businesses in their communities. The foundation also runs Kids Conservation Camps, educating children from the surrounding communities about the ecosystems in which they live, the value of conservation and potential career opportunities in conservation tourism.
The Jouberts’ energy and enthusiasm for spearheading conservation projects is staggering. In 2009, the husband-and-wife team collaborated with the National Geographic Society to found the Big Cats Initiative in an e ort to halt the decline of big cats in the wild. Today, the Big Cats Initiative spans more than 100 on-the-ground projects in 28 countries and has helped save the lives of almost three thousand big cats, by removing 13 thousand life-threatening snares from their habitats.
Separately, Beverly is an acclaimed photographer, and her work appears in magazines, newspapers and exhibitions all over the world. The powerful prints have been on display at the fivestar Great Plains camps in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya, and are also available to buy online in a collection called Art for Conservation. “Great Plains clientele around the world are now able to support our aims once they’ve returned from safari and showcase the spirit of Africa on their walls,” comments Beverly, who last November pledged half of the proceeds of sales of the striking images to Project Ranger, another of the foundation’s initiatives. This sponsorship programme, set up as a response to the pandemic, has so far raised $1 million to support the men and women on the frontline of vital conservation work.
“Our aim is to create flagship conservation programmes, seeking to ensure these initiatives become successful and are replicated across the continent because, if we get it right, we want to enable people to follow in our footsteps.”
“Our aim is to create flagship conservation programmes, seeking to ensure these initiatives become successful and are replicated across the continent because, if we get it right, we want to enable people to follow in our footsteps”
OUT: THE LUXURY TEMBO PLAINS CAMP IN THE PRIVATE SAPI RESERVE, ZIMBABWE
To book a Great Plains safari, visit greatplainsconservation.com or call 0203 150 1062. To read more about the work of Great Plains Foundation, visit greatplainsfoundation.com
To purchase a print by Beverly Joubert, visit beverlyjoubert.com
Aman, a hotel collection known for its peaceful, holistic havens, is following the success of its 2014 urban launch in Tokyo and is coming to New York. Breathing new life into Manhattan’s iconic Crown Building on 57th Street, it’s set to be one of the city’s hottest addresses. With three restaurants, a jazz club, stunning rooms (each with its own working fireplace) and a super-sized spa, Aman New York will also feature the first urban Aman Residences (half of which have already been snapped up). aman.com/newyork
Adler Spa Resort Sicilia opens in July on the island’s southwest coast, at the edge of the Torres Salsa Nature Reserve. Like its sister properties, it will no doubt work magic on the mind, body and soul. There’s a spa with 15 cabins, an outdoor pool with a hot tub, a sports pool and even a natural lake with a yoga pavilion, plus guided hiking and e-biking tours. adler-resorts.com
Ikos Resorts kicks o the 2022 season with lots of additions and updates. There’s a fabulous new beachside restaurant at Ikos Oceania in Halkidiki, while Ikos Andalusia, tucked between mountains and sea, is introducing Heroes Village, a state-of-the-art kids’ club with activities galore. For any families with a Ronaldo wannabe, Ikos has expanded its collaboration with Football Escapes, running celebrity-led sessions at both Ikos Olivia and Ikos Andalusia. ikosresorts.com
AS THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY BOUNCES BACK, THIS SUMMER SEES A HOST OF HOT NEW HOTEL OPENINGS AND EXCITING ADVENTURES POP UP AROUND THE GLOBE. HERE’S JUST A TASTE OF WHAT’S NEW FOR SUMMER 2022. IT’S TIME TO REIGNITE THE WANDERLUST
Soho House isn’t one to sit on its laurels — even a global pandemic can’t curb its enthusiasm for new openings. 2022 seems to be all about the letter B, with Brighton (pictured), Balham and Bangkok. The most exotic of the trio sees Soho House’s debut into South-East Asia. Located in the vibrant Sukhumvit district, it will be a quiet oasis away from the Bangkok bustle, complete with a beautiful outdoor pool. sohohouse.com
Pure escapism comes easily when holed up at Six Senses Laamu. One of the Maldives’ furthest–flung luxury outposts, it’s worth travelling those extra nautical miles for the feeling of sheer isolation. A favourite with honeymooners, families should also take note that this summer sees the opening of the Marine Discovery Centre on Sunset Beach. With a special Junior Marine Biology programme, it might just inspire the next David Attenborough. turquoiseholidays.co.uk
With its iconic Pendennis Castle, windswept beaches and rich maritime culture, it’s no surprise that Falmouth – found on the south coast of Cornwall – is often voted as one of the top places to live in the UK. Unsurprisingly, it ticks all the boxes when it comes to holidays, too.
Falmouth’s art galleries, and eclectic community of artists and craftspeople, lends the town a laid-back, boho feel. While Falmouth Art Gallery boasts works by John Singer Sargent and Picasso (falmouthartgallery.com), there are also plenty of independent studios to explore. Tucked away in the winding streets, these shops and tiny galleries, champion contemporary painters and ceramicists, famously attracted to Falmouth due to its dramatic coastal vistas and incredible light. Check out Beside The Wave (beside-the-wave.co.uk), where you can find Chloe Elliott’s atmospheric seascapes and Emily Doran’s speckle-flecked pottery.
Sea shanties, sandy coves and sub-tropical blooms, explore the south coast of cornwall from hotel meudon words by Angelina villa-clarke
With its horseshoe-shaped arc of golden sand, Gyllyngvase Beach is one of Falmouth’s highlights. Sun-drenched days can be spent here dipping into the sea, building sandcastles with the little ones, or going crabbing in one of the many rock pools. You can forget soggy sandwiches, as it also has its own gourmet hotspot in the shape of Gylly Beach Café. The in-house bakery o ers just-baked focaccia sandwiches, while the restaurant has a menu packed with crowd-pleasing dishes – from fish finger cobs to seafood linguine.
A ten-minute drive south along the coast, and past the pretty Maenporth Beach, you’ll come to Hotel Meudon, carved out of a manor house dating back to the 1800s (meudon.co.uk). Set in a nine-acre sumptuous estate, the original owners – the Fox family – made much of the region’s temperate climate. As a shipping agent, Howard Fox, had connections all over world and imported many tropical seeds and plants from far-flung corners which flourished in the mild Cornish temperatures. As well as filling Meudon’s gardens with rare Rhododendrons, giant Camellias, and fragrant Mimosa plants, he also created the nearby Glendurgan and Trebah gardens. Well worth a visit, both are now renowned for being among the UK’s most resplendent gardens due to their paradise-like collections of blooming exotic species and towering trees. Be warned: you’ll be lost for hours.
Wandering around the hotel’s estate is also an other-worldly experience –you’ll brush by Jurassic-like Fern Trees, spot the fantastical violet-hued Foxglove Tree (it also smells like Palm of Violets), and be met by a riot of nodding blue Agapanthus. As well as a natural stream and trout ponds, the gardens eventually lead to the hotel’s own private beach –Bream Cove – perfect for wild swimming, paddle boarding or kayaking, which are all on o er to Meudon’s guests.
“WANDERING AROUND THE HOTEL’S ESTATE IS ALSO AN OTHERWORLDLY EXPERIENCE - YOU’LL BRUSH BY JURASSIC-LIKE FERN TREES, SPOT THE FANTASTICAL VIOLETHUED FOXGLOVE TREE (IT ALSO SMELLS LIKE PALM OF VIOLETS), AND BE MET BY A RIOT OF NODDING BLUE AGAPANTHUS.”
“The gardens eventually lead to the hotel’s own private beach –Bream Cove”
“Small and intimate, staying at Hotel Meudon is much like stepping into a well-heeled family home.”
Small and intimate, staying at Hotel Meudon is much like stepping into a well-heeled family home. Adding to its charm, a recent refurbishment has made much of the building’s heritage with nods to its origins as a hotel in the 1960s. Mid-century design influences have been incorporated throughout with pops of vibrant colour, geometric patterns and smooth curves and edges.
Guests can choose from 29 bedrooms with either garden or sea views. These are light-drenched and contemporary, making sure the views outside are the star of the show. Industrial-style lighting and locallycrafted textiles bring a touch of character to the interiors, while the bathrooms are slick and modern.
Head chef Darren Kerley also gives a nod to the 60s theme with his twist on nouvelle cuisine. Seasonal produce is elevated to new heights – think: freshlycaught fish and seafood, locally-farmed meats and fresh herbs and vegetables grown in the Meudon kitchen garden. Light lunches might consist of local mackerel or chargrilled asparagus to dip into homemade hummus. While the sublime dinner menu could feature Newlyn crab with a lemon mayo and roast tomato vinaigrette, or South Coast hake with an olive and citrus salad and anchovy dressing. Ask if the signature bouillabaisse is on the menu. Made with bream, mussels and clams, it’s like Cornwall on a plate.
At Freddie’s Bar, you can tuck into small bites – such as Fowey mussels or Porthilly native oysters – and have a cocktail from the bar menu, which fuses the classic with innovative. Order an Aged Old Fashioned or try the Cornish Rose (made with gin, lemon juice, Champagne syrup and sparkling wine), and find out all the local hotspots from the barman.
After a breakfast of Meudon granola and Cornish yoghurt, days are best exploring Falmouth and beyond. This June, Falmouth holds its annual Sea Shanty Festival (falmouthseashanty. co.uk). The festival is rooted in the town’s history as a safe port for deep-water sailing vessels. After arriving from faraway lands, sailors would fill the waterside alehouses with songs, sea shanties and ‘tall’ stories and these traditions are kept alive today.
Also worth visiting is the unspoilt Roseland Peninsula. Foodies will be in their element here with many of the region’s finest – and under-the-radar –eateries which celebrate the plethora of Cornish produce found on the doorstep. A must is the al fresco Feast Night at the Hidden Hut on Porthcurnick Beach (hiddenhut.co.uk). While for the best, steaming-hot fish and chips head to the 13th century Pandora Inn on the edge of Restronguet Creek (pandorainn.com).
Travel further south and you’ll reach the Lizard Peninsula, the UK’s most southerly point, which is laced with scenic coastal paths dotted with tiny, thatched cottages. From Lizard Point you can take a two-mile spectacular coastal walk to Kynance Cove – one of Cornwall’s most beautifully rugged beaches.
On your return, check out Meudon’s small but perfectly formed Sanctuary Suite and book in for a ‘Hiker’s Healing Foot Treatment’. As you listen to the distant waves, relax with a Cornish salt foot scrub and foot massage, with geranium and sweet orange oils. It’s the perfect end to the ultimate Cornish journey. meudon.co.uk
“HEAD CHEF DARREN KERLEY ALSO GIVES A NOD TO THE 60S THEME WITH HIS TWIST ON NOUVELLE CUISINE.”
Dogtown Soul Straw Hat, £35 quiksilver.co.uk
Cutler and Gross Square Sunglasses - Deep Teal, £305 cutlerandgross.com
Whale of a Time Clothing Cannes Bikini Top in Pink £36, Bikini Bottoms, £34 whaleofatimeclothing.com
Cosmic Ripples Bleached Mauve Classic Long Sleeve Surf Set, £90 quiksilver.co.uk
CELEBRATE THE RETURN OF TRAVEL WITH SOME HOT NEW BEACHWEAR FOR SUMMER 2022
String Bikini Bottoms £30, top £32 boden.co.uk
Azores Crochet Sandals in Cream, £65 hush-uk.com
Pop surf LS onesie, £70 roxy-uk.co.uk
The Holkham, Cornflower Blue Suede Sandals, £85 fairfaxandfavor.com
Ria Monogram Basket, £165 raefeather.com
£50 davyj.com
GAIA Skincare believes in harnessing the power of mother nature to make the most nourishing, natural skincare products. Mindfully blending together plant actives and essential oils to produce a range of skincare products full of intention and integrity.
Forage – the new fragrance collection from Miller Harris - presents three perfumes inspired by botanical treasures to be found each summer in the city. The new fragrance trio captures the allure of urban foraging. With evocative names, each scent explores how nature and the city co-exist and the surprises which can be discovered in London’s green spaces. Nature is everywhere, even in the unlikeliest of places. We just need to know where to look.
WANDER through the parks blends fresh notes of pink grapefruit and juicy mandarin to balance green, sappy nettle.
LOST in the city combines the intense verdancy of fresh ferns with the sharp pink snap of wild rhubarb.
DANCE amongst the lace captures the unique scent of cow parsley, with geranium bourbon leaves, invigorating mint, mouth-watering lime and zesty verbena, over a woody base.
Wellness expert, author, and founder of JOGB Living, Jo Glanville-Blackburn reveals why the power of nature’s scents in the home make for a better way of living
As an author and wellness beauty expert for over 25 years, my life has always inspired self-care, and lifestyle advice to make people live a better, healthier, stronger life. My belief has always been that to look good on the outside you had to feel good within.
When I had my three children, Olivia, Will and Phoebe, time became precious; home became sacred. At the birth of each child, I’d breathe in my own aromatherapy essential oil blend of geranium, rose and sandalwood to help my body and mind relax. It still works today, on my children too. Knowingly, I began to cultivate their sense of smell, using plant oils in their bath. One day, my son hugged me after school and said, “you smell like home.” I had just lost my mother, so this meant so much to me: I carried on. Always natural, my innate passion for aroma in the home grew, not just my garden with rosemary to invigorate and lavender to chill, but with incense, candles and room sprays. In 2012, my health took a sidestep when I was diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis). Suddenly, all knowledge I’d gleaned throughout my career fell into place. My focus turned inward to selfhealing, as I genuinely believe that our body is so clever that if I could lower my stress, calm my senses, I may improve my health long-term.
“I began to cultivate their sense of smell, using plant oils in their bath One day, my son hugged me after school and said, “you smell like home.”
“JUST BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WE RELOCATED TO SOMERSET, TO OUR BEAUTIFUL HOUSE, ‘RANDOM THATCH’...INSPIRED BY OUR SURROUNDINGS, WE’RE FINDING FRESH NEW CREATIVE INSPIRATION IN WOODWORK, SCULPTURE, WILDFLOWERS AND WEAVING.”
“We’ve been through one of the toughest tests of modern life. In the process, my pure scent passion has evolved to help others: that’s an amazing feeling. Now more than ever, people are looking for comfort and contentment – for me, that’s a scented home.”
JO GLANVILLE-BLACKBURNI worked on my breathing, learned meditation techniques (I highly recommend Autogenic meditation), became a Reiki master, all in my quest to heal myself. Along the way, I interviewed countless experts from a naturopath, aromatherapist, acupuncturist, a Shaman, and even my neurologist; each one recommended I remove artificial aromas from our home that were potentially aggravating a weakened immune system. Out went surface cleaning sprays, replacing them with homemade (pure and cheap) bicarbonate of soda; no air sprays – just pure essential oil drops di using in a bowl.
But candles? I love them: their ambience, the way they instantly make me pause, breathe, and calm. On research, I found that more than 95% use para n waxaka mineral oil that’s cheap, always burns no matter what you put in it, and emits the equivalence of a diesel engine running in your room. Rather than live without them, my husband James and I, in partnership with a natural artisan perfumer in Somerset, created JOGB Pure Scented Candles.
Each of the three handcrafted and exclusive scents reflects di erent moods: uplifting GOJO, balancing sensual MOJO, and relaxing SLOJO. Each has a wonderfully therapeutic aroma - your favourite might shift from day to night: that’s the beautiful power of aroma as a positive therapy. The candles are luxurious because of the quantities of pure oil used - our oils are therapeutic level and 100% pure blends. Eco cotton wicks nestled in a
sustainable soy and rapeseed oil wax, recycled boxes, made exclusively in the UK: this was always our feel-good way from the start. Customers can now send back empty candle glass to repurpose; they get a 20% discount o their next purchase to say thank youthat also covers the postage.
We’re so used to the word ‘aromatherapy’ we’ve rather forgotten its potent use to connect ‘aroma’ as a mind and body ‘therapy’. We’ve been through one of the toughest tests of modern life. In the process, my pure scent passion has evolved to help others: that’s an amazing feeling. Now more than ever, people are looking for comfort and contentment – for me, that’s a scented home. Just remember, if things get crazy or overwhelming, your peace is within you and within your walls.
Just before the pandemic, we relocated to Somerset, to our beautiful house, ‘Random Thatch’. Somerset is such an awesome county full of energetic souls. Inspired by our surroundings, we’re finding fresh new creative inspiration in woodwork, sculpture, wildflowers and weaving. randomthatch.co.uk is an extension of our wellness pursuits, with our own random style of dried botanicals, crystals, incense, rustic interiors, and original artful pieces to complement our JOGB botanical blends. We’re living a slightly wilder, greener way of life, based on joy, and creating together.
Check out our journal Random Life over on jogbliving with tips for a more holistic home.
@randomthatch @jogbliving
Educate your sense of smell to tune into a moment of genuine relaxation: di use, spray, sprinkle, light it… love it. Choose one or two (or our three!) aromas you engage with and sit peacefully surrounded by the aroma whenever you feel happy and content. Gradually this aroma will become your ‘go to’ and help bring stress levels down. Practice makes perfect.
A simple breathing technique to bring calm and mental clarity is to make your exhalations longer than your inhalations. Often taught in yoga: inhale for four and exhale for six. As you gradually feel calmer you can extend to a count of eight. This technique works well because it calms the vagus nerve: our longest nerve, from the brain to the colon, that feeds the entire central nervous system.
If I’m shocked, worried, or upset, I press the thumb to the index finger of each hand to create a circle, with the other three fingers held upwards, for about 3 minutes. It kicks into the body’s ability to disengage your response to any external stressor, lowering stress levels.
Rekindle your carefree, inner child. I have always loved art, ink drawing, painting, sewing, creating. You get absorbed, time runs away, and yet you’ve created something. Our children recently bought us a pottery course: they know us so well.
These once-daily ingestible capsules from Vida Glow’s Advanced Repair range have a unique blend of natural antioxidants and a potent infusion of Vitamin C and Zinc, which treat dull, discoloured skin caused by excess melatonin production. Brighten tired complexions just in time for summer.
VIDA GLOW Radiance Advanced Repair, 30 capsules, £49 uk.vidaglow.com
Get set for the sun with our edit of the best beauty pick-me-ups for perfect summer skin
feeling super-soft and hydrated, thanks to powerful niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate, for a refreshed and renewed feel.
Skin Proud Rise and Defend Stress Rescue Kombucha Face Wash, 100ml, £12.95
for the repair of skin, nails and hair. The crystals are enriched with avocado oil, abundant in micronutrients, which results in a silken formula that softens the skin and soothes the mind.
Olverum Bath Salts, 200g, £30 uk.olverum.com
This anti-pollution, waterbased serum contains an e ective complex of alpine rose and raspberry stem cells, cultivated for their rejuvenating properties. Alpine rose stimulates cells at the deep levels of the skin, whilst raspberry stem cells promote gentle yet ective exfoliation to reveal revitalised, freshlooking skin. Apply once or twice a day before moisturising to face, neck and décolleté.
Bamford Stem Cell Serum, 30ml, £70 bamford.com
your skin whilst aiding relaxation. Pure essential oils of chamomile, clary sage and orange blossom blended with organic olive and sweet almond, will leave your mind and body calm and clear, giving you a feeling of comfort and protection.
GAIA Calming Body Oil, 100ml, £30 gaiaskincare.com
This refreshing yet regenerative serum strengthens the skin’s defences against all forms of ageing, and delivers an even, luminous complexion.
Royal Fern Phytoactive Serum, 30ml, £240 royalfern.com
A gentle rinse-o weekly exfoliant peel that dramatically resurfaces skin. The multi-acid blend refines rough textures and unclogs pores, whilst brightening and toning the face to visibly smooth wrinkles.
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel, 30ml, £39
A deliciously rich cream with rose floral water to refresh, moisturise and soothe dry or sensitive skin. Honey helps boost the skin’s moisture and radiance, whilst mineral salts, vitamins and argan oil give longterm protection by combatting free radicals.
Diptyque Rich Butter for the Body, 200ml, £55 diptyqueparis.com
Energize the eye area with this botanical-powered cooling balm that helps soothe and blur imperfections in the delicate undereye area, while ca eine helps melt away the look of pu ness and reduce the appearance of dark circles for a brighter-eyed look.
r.e.m.beauty Cooling Blurring Undereye Balm,
Like a smoothie for your skin, this nourishing creamyclay formula is packed with plant-based, nutrientdense greens to help reboot and reset tired, dull complexions. With a deep-cleansing action, it refines texture, and helps keep the skin shine-free for summer. ESPA Clean & Green Detox Mask, 55ml, £40 espaskincare.com
This fast-acting gel combines apple fruit extract, malic, lactic, and glycolic acids to nibble away at dead skin cells to reveal a brighter, clearer, and smoother complexion. Apples are high in polyphenols, antioxidants and vitamin C which can help promote healthy, radiant skin. This light gel gently exfoliates the skin, leaving it fresh and even textured.
Q+A Apple AHA Exfoliating Gel, 75ml, £8.50 qandaskin.com
wildflower talks inspiration, botanicals, sustainability and seasons with 100 acres co-founder Ellea whamond
PHOTOGRAPH BY KATRINA BARTLAM
Why is the brand called 100 Acres? I grew up in the countryside and remember long, idyllic summer days spent running free, swimming in lakes, and eating outdoors. My childhood gave me a love of nature, and to this day, exploring acres of green fields and ancient botanical gardens, dining alfresco, walking barefoot on the grass and gathering wild herbs, flowers, and fruits is my idea of heaven. What inspired the creation of the range? I’ve had a lifelong love a air with perfumery. I’d walk through the garden and fields filling a basket with rose petals, lavender, rosemary or wild fennel and then try to steep or distill them all at home. My surroundings were my inspiration. What connects 100 Acres to the British countryside? Everything! 100 Acres is a botanical perfumery which uses 100% natural ingredients. We take freshly picked botanicals – leaves, petals, fruits, herbs –distil them into essential oils, and then blend and balance these oils together to create ‘perfumes’, which we then infuse into our products. Our botanical fragrance range captures the green hills and leafy gardens of the English countryside. With more than ten botanicals in every product, each has unique top notes, but they’re all underpinned by the same base notes - like siblings in a scent family. It is truly remarkable how uplifting just one deep breath of a beautiful botanical scent can be. Can you describe your approach to sustainability? As lovers of nature, sustainability is paramount. We’re not perfect, but we are proud of our progress. All our ingredients are sustainably sourced and cruelty-free, and our packaging is either recyclable, biodegradable or already recycled. We’re also exploring glass alternatives and refills.
What is your involvement with Rewilding Britain? We are so proud to partner with Rewilding Britain. We get so much joy from the countryside and it’s only right to give back - to ensure the countryside is still there for future generations, and to preserve and restore our wildlife ecosystems. The work Rewilding Britain does is extraordinary. As a nation, we’ve lost 97% of our wildflower meadows since the 1930s. Rewilding Britain continues to work
tirelessly in their aim to ensure 30% of land in Britain is rewilded by 2030, and we wholeheartedly want to help them achieve this. Each time you purchase a 100 Acres product, a portion of your money is handed directly to Rewilding Britain.
If you had to choose, which is your favourite season? Summer is my favourite season. I fling open the windows and doors, and I never sleep with curtains! I try to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner outdoors –even if it means blankets, and I work outside too. I fill my home with fresh foliage, placing large, random bunches on my kitchen table, on my desk, next to the bath, or by my bed - waking up to the fresh scents of nature is such a mood-boost at the start of the day. I love cow parsley, common snowberry, or green alkanet. And I go out and gather, once or twice weeklythe ritual is enormously therapeutic - I highly recommend you do it.
What products are best for summer? My favourite for summer is our 100 Acres Body Lotion. Packed with hydrating plant ingredients, it leaves your skin feeling silky soft and hydrated for hours. I put it on as soon as I get out of the shower - it soaks straight in and combines beautifully with our Bath & Body Oil – you get a mingling of botanicals subtly scenting your skin all day. For further information or to purchase any 100 Acres products, visit 100acres.co.uk and instagram @100_Acres
treat yourself or a friend to a year of wildflower for just £32 anD receive a free gift of 100 acres hand cream (300ml), worth £20. join us today and subscribe at wildflowermagazine.co.uk/ subscribe
TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY. *
FIRST 30 READERS TO SUBSCRIBE RECEIVE THIS GIFT. SEE WEBSITE FOR FULL DETAILS. **THIS OFFER APPLIES TO UK SUBSCRIBERS ONLY. EMAIL FOR OVERSEAS PRICES. ALL PRICES ARE CORRECT AT THE TIME OF GOING TO PRINT AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
“Summer is my favourite season. I fling open the windows and doors, and I never sleep with curtains! I try to have breakfast, lunch and dinner outdoors –even if it means blankets, and I work outside too”
“Try to not play games in the disclosure process, as trust and respect are vital for a good ending”
The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 brings into force changes to the basis upon which couples can dissolve their marriage or civil partnership in England and Wales. It introduces, what is being referred to as the ‘no fault’ divorce, whereby since 6 April 2022, an application can be made either jointly by a separating couple, or one of them, solely based on an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage or civil partnership. The intention is that these changes will result in less acrimony.
While the changes are welcomed by many, B P Collins’ family team warn that these procedural changes cannot themselves remove the pain and uncertainty of separation, which often cause di culties at the end of a relationship. But there are a number of things separating couples can do to achieve a better divorce.
Allow time for you both to accept that your relationship is over. Within the new procedure there is a mandatory 20-week cooling o period before being able to proceed with the divorce, the aim being, to give time for reflection, but try, where possible, to take time before lodging the initial application.
disclosure process, as trust and respect are vital for a good ending.
Counsellors can o er crucial help. Talking in a neutral environment can help you and your former partner to vocalise your upset, which may be more important now that you can no longer do so in a divorce petition.
The changes don’t take away the need to discuss child arrangements with your former partner. When you have children, their needs and interests should be considered first. This is vital for their wellbeing, and it can help to build a strong foundation for you to co-parent your children.
Provide comprehensive information about your financial and other material circumstances, including any intention to live with someone else or remarry. Try to not play games in the
Instruct a specialist family lawyer, with whom you have a rapport and will provide clear and constructive advice, even if that includes things you don’t want to hear.
Although ‘no fault’ divorce is welcomed, a commitment to having an amicable divorce is vital from a wellbeing, cost and time perspective. Email the family team at enquiries@bpcollins.co.uk or call the Gerrards Cross o ce on 01753 279046 or Thame o ce on 01844 397397. For the full article, visit bpcollins.co.uk
Is it the cure-all many people hope it will be?
A high protection SPF 50 anti-ageing cream that delivers seven actions in one formula. Valmont Restoring Perfection SPF 50, 30ml, £172 lamaisonvalmont.com
A creamy, water-resistant and frictionresistant formula that allows you to enjoy the sun in comfort.
Sensai Silky Bronze Cellular Protective Cream for Body (SPF 30, SPF 50+), 150ml, £76, sensai-cosmetics.com
Buckthorn, Olive Fruit Oil and Jojoba Seed Oil, this soothing water-resistant sunscreen protects against UV damage and is ideal for the entire family, including babies.
Vivaiodays Turmeric Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30, 100ml, £24, vivaiodays.com
An SPF 50+ sunscreen disguised as a serum, it’s lightweight, glowing and scented with roses.
ULTRA VIOLETTE Queen Screen Luminising Sun Serum SPF 50+, 50ml, £32
This lightweight, deeply hydrating clean sunscreen lotion gives daily sun protection and blends easily with all skin tones, without leaving a trace.
Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30, 50ml £23, biossance.com
A UV blocking emulsion that allows you to tan whilst protecting the skin from burning. Enriched with plant extracts to promote skin conditioning, firming and hydration.
Paul & Joe Suntan Body Primer, 80g, £22 beautybay.com
Daily sun protection with antioxidants and vitamins A, C & E via Green Tea, Olive, Avocado and Rosemary extracts - perfect for those with sensitive skin.
Scent Free Facial Sun Cream SPF 30, 50ml, £21 greenpeople.co.uk
Suitable from age 3 years and up, this light, refreshing mist is quickly absorbed into the skin. The 99% biodegradable formulation and a recyclable bottle help to keep the ocean and the beach clean.
BIOTHERM
Waterlover Sun Mist, 200ml, £33.10 lookfantastic.co.uk
Delightful dahlias how to grow your own prize-winning blooms, with tips from the experts
Nature’s
holistic wellbeing and natural skincare this autumn venice fall under the spell of Italy’s most enchanting city
Featuring sleep tight Cosy up for autumn and get set for sweet slumber with our picks of the best beds and bedding
See pages 26-27 for our special subscriptions offer or go online to pre-order your copy wildflowermagazine.co.uk
SFSOxford Summer Fields, Oxford
