Forest Life - September/October 2019

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Forest Life The lifestyle magazine of The National Forest

An empire of mean machines born in the creativity of a teenage mind.

A picture-perfect wedding at a beautiful historic home.

Calendar with assorted activities to keep the whole family busy this autumn.

A stunning and awe-inspiring immersive experience, this event will see the Arboretum and some of its memorials ‘shown in another light’.

11 - 20 DECEMBER 2019 FROM 6PM

Visit www.thenma.org.uk or call 01283 245 100 for more information about our autumn and winter events and activities, and to book.

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EARLY BIRD* TICKETS FROM: Adult: £10 Under 16: £6 5 and under: Free Discounts available for Groups of 10+. Advance booking required. * Early bird tickets available until 31 October 2019. Standard tickets from £12.50.

Image: Staffordshire Live

National Memorial Arboretum Part of The Royal British Legion

www.thenma.org.uk T: 01283 245 100 E: info@thenma.org.uk Charity No. 1043992

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Forest Life Editor George Dove Assistant Editor Mike Trott Contributors George Matthews, Jo Brown, Ephrat Livni, Suzanne Hind, Ian Hewitt, Dominic Stoney, Jeanette Dickson Design David Stoney LH Design Services Group Editor Alan Kidd Advertising Executive Abigail Cooper Tel: 01283 553246 Advertising Sales Managers Gary Simpkins Tel: 01283 553245

The origins of Forest Life magazine can be traced back to 2007, when the magazines’ founder David Stoney began his first publication, BTN. Prior to this, David’s background was in print and graphic design and this was reflected in the magazine’s bold, eye-catching design. The magazine started with a focus on Burton-on-Trent but gradually expanded to include Derby, Sutton Coldfield and other surrounding areas in the form of a number of sister publications. David built up a series of lifestyle magazines that explored and promoted local events, food, businesses and communities.

Colin Ashworth Tel: 01283 553244 Group Advertising Manager Ian Argent Tel: 01283 553242 Publisher Sarah Moss Email: sarah.moss @assignment-media.co.uk

BTN continued well into the mid 2010s when it moved its base to the heart of the National Forest. Following the move, and inspired by its new surroundings, the magazines were all merged in 2017 to become what is now known as Forest Life. This allowed the magazine to tap into the full potential of the National Forest, an area which covers three counties and is home to a population of over 200,000 people, plus boasts an annual footfall of over 8 million tourists to its many attractions.

Founder David Stoney Every effort is made to ensure that the contents of Forest Life are accurate, however Assignment Media Ltd accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions nor the consequences of actions made as a result of these.

The new publication expanded on the design concept that was so successful in BTN, but now reflected the growing understanding of the benefits of outdoor pursuits whilst maintaining the ever appealing lifestyle element that had made BTN so popular.

When responding to any advert in Forest Life, you should make appropriate enquiries before sending money or entering into a contract.

The publishers take reasonable care to ensure advertisers’ probity, but will not be liable for any losses incurred as a result of responding to adverts Forest Life is distributed by Self Select Distribution Where a photo credit includes the note CC-BY-SA, the image is made available under that Creative Commons licence.

Details are available at www.creativecommons.org Forest Life is published by Assignment Media Ltd, Repton House, Bretby Business Park, Ashby Road, Bretby DE15 0YZ © 2019 Assignment Media Ltd ISSN 2633-1977 (Print) ISSN 2633-1985 (Online)

Following David’s unexpected passing in June this year he will sadly no longer be the day to day driving force behind the publication but all those now involved share his passion for the concept and will continue to move it onwards and upwards, inspired by the vision that David invested so much energy and enthusiasm to realise.

5% of the profits of each issue of Forest Life are donated to I Can in honour of David Stoney – whose vision brought this publication to life.

David ensured the future of Forest Life earlier this year through its incorporation into Assignment Media, whose previous experience in publishing 4x4 Magazine and The Landy, will ensure the magazine will go from strength to strength over the coming years, inspired by David’s enthusiasm and unique eye for design and continue to serve the National Forest.

Dominic and Ian

Forest Life Every issue of Forest Life is available to read FREE online at www.forestlifemagazine.co.uk Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/forestlifemag

INSIDE ISSUE 4

Contents

6

Autumnal Activities

10

A Tapestry of Nature and History

12

What a Wonderful Wedding

16

Strong as Ever

20

The Real Benefits of Forest Bathing

22

Volvo XC60 Review

26

Dream Machines

28

Enter the Dragon

31

Fabulous Hot Tub Showroom in Staffordshire

32

Lichfield Cathedral Schools

33

Climate Change Gardening

37

Lifting the Lid

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AUTUMNAL ACTIVITIES

21st-22nd SeptemberDerbyshire Woodland Festival 14th September – Shugborough Hall Bat Walk The grounds of Shugborough Hall are not only beautiful by day, but they’re also bustling with life come nightfall. With bat detectors in hand and lead by a knowledgeable tour guide, explore the nightlife as a variety of native bat species arise, on a walk deep into the grounds of Shugborough Estate.

You’ll meet your tour guide in the main visitor car park at 7pm and due to the terrain, you’ll require suitable outdoor footwear and your own torch. Inclusion is £5 for all and booking can be completed online.

This tour is a wonderful chance to learn more about these fascinating creatures, their habits and habitats with the hand of a local bat expert.

Being the perfect location, for one September weekend, Elvaston Castle is the home of the wonderful Derbyshire Woodland Festival.

The Gothic castle and its grounds will be packed with everything from entertainment to food.

There will be professional demonstrations from sawmills and woodcarving experts, plus weaving and horse logging with plenty of opportunities not just to watch but to join in, too! Other attractions include Arbor, the treepuppet who stands a whopping 18feet tall, plus the Vikings of Middle England will set up a Viking camp packed with crafts, re-enactment and even live combat to entertain you and your little ones. Plus, the Green Man will bring the fun with his songs and tales of the forest.

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For animal lovers there will also be shire horses and birds of prey in attendance, whilst for refreshments there will be wild food, campfire cooking and a vast array of catering and food stalls to keep you sustained throughout the day. There are no tickets, but car parking is £10 for the day or £15 for weekend access. Search the festival on the Derbyshire County Council website for more details and a discounted entry voucher.

22nd September – 8th Annual Chilli, Cheese and Chocolate Show A Sunday morning spent in beautiful surroundings, with fun and fiery food aplenty. What could be better?

The 8th Annual Chilli, Cheese and Chocolate Festival inhabits the 12 acres of the Dorothy Clive Garden, Market Drayton, and will bring together several facets of food including a market, cooking demonstrations, plus an eye-watering chilli-eating contest – amongst other things (including live music).

Add to this the fact the entire event is in the name of charity and the delights on offer will taste that bit sweeter. The on-site tearooms will be opening with their own spiced up menu and a fully licenced bar, whilst event sponsors, Kiddy Castles Shropshire, will be supporting those at the Garden with their bouncy castle by the children’s play area.

Gates will open at 10am and close at 6.30pm. Entry costs £5 for adults, £2 for those aged between five and 17-years-old with younger guests granted free entry. For more details, visit the Dorothy Clive Garden’s website.

27-28th September Derby Festé Over the final weekend in September, Derby Festé will return to the city centre with a programme packed with local, national and international artists and performers. Having first run

in 2007 to celebrate the opening of the Westfield Shopping Centre, the arts festival has grown to attract thousands of guests each year.

This year the show’s theme is ‘moon, space and tides’, with dance acts, art installations, street performances and unique parades amongst much more. A host of partners offer support for Derby Festé, with Derby LIVE, Quad and Derby Theatre all on board, whilst it is funded

by Derby City Council and Arts Council England.

© Edwin Houdevelt

This year, the Festé looks to continue its positive cultural and economic impact on the city of Derby in its twelfth year as it brings in floods of visitors both local and travelling in. All of the information you could need can be found at www.derbyfeste. com, where you can view the schedule in full and start planning your trip.

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Forest Life 4-6th October – Stone Food & Drink Festival As with any food festivals worth their salt, Stone Food & Drink Festival is a joyous celebration of all things food and drink.

Descend upon Westbridge park and you’ll discover the finest artisan produce, learn with live cookery demos, talks, tastings and masterclasses, enjoy street food, family fun, live music, licensed bars and much more besides.

A park and ride service will run from Aston Marina to Westbridge Park, whilst many local businesses across Stone town centre will be getting into the festival spirit, with everything from themed meals and special offers to foodie quizzes ensuring that the party continues.

Tickets can be bought on entry to the park, or booked online in advance at www.stonefooddrink.org.uk, where you can also download a programme for the festival.

12-13th October – Alton Towers Scarefest If there’s anyone who knows how to make fear a positive experience, it’s Alton Towers. They’ve become famous over the years, not only for the theme park itself, but also the extra-curricular events that take place in the grounds – chief among which is the annual Scarefest. The whole resort becomes home to Halloween, scare mazes, the Alton Towers Dungeon, the Attic: Terror of the Towers, plus extra spooky rides and a ghostly playland for younger scare-seekers.

For this event, it is advisable to book admittance in advance – not only for availability but for bigger savings, too. For more information on the occasion, including up to date pricing and alternative dates, visit altontowers.com.

18-19th October – Oktoberfest, National Brewery Centre This October, the National Brewery Centre will transform their courtyard into a traditional footstomping Bavarian carnival of bier and music for their Oktoberfest.

Be prepared to be entertained.

With a Bier Tent, you’ll always be able to keep your stein topped up to the soundtrack of traditional

folk and Oompah music, whilst stomping, table bashing and hearty singing are actively encouraged.

With sessions on the Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and evening, both seated and standing tickets are available – plus a VIP table for ten option is on the cards. Either head to www. nationalbrewerycentre.co.uk or call 01283 532 880 to book a spot for your stein.

Forest Life “DSCF0926 Blue Tit” by Steve Herring @ flickr.com, CC BY 2.0.

19th October – Bird Watching for Beginners, National Memorial Arboretum During a three-hour guided walk at the National Memorial Arboretum, an expert will teach you how to recognise the wide variety of birds seen at the Arboretum over the course of the year.

Your dedicated guide will explain migration and which birds to look out for throughout the seasons.

They will help you to recognise common bird song as a means of identifying different species and also give tips on attracting birds into your own garden.

©National Trust Images/Gillian Day

Held at a leisurely pace, this walk is a relaxed affair that is suitable for all ages, but as this event is held on the Arboretum grounds, it is recommended that participants wear appropriate footwear and clothing – and whilst the course follows much of the dog-walking route, the walk is for those with two legs only, as it may deviate should the wildlife dictate.

Running from 9am until noon, the informative walk is free to attend, although pre-booking is required (www.thenma.org.uk) so head online to avoid disappointment.

26th October – Capture Calke on Camera For a Saturday of photography, Calke Abbey are welcoming snappers of all abilities into their grounds for a creative walk around the park, guided by their in-house photography team, pointing out the best spots on the ground.

and clothing appropriate for the weather and remember to bring your own camera along.

With this running from 10.30am for two hours, an equivalent session for young photographers will run for an hour from 13.30pm. For both outings it is important to wear suitable outdoor footwear

The walk is free to attend, although it doesn’t waive entry fees to the grounds. Guides will meet their groups by the ticket office before setting off on the tour at the scheduled times.

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A TAPESTRY OF NATURE AND HISTORY

By George Matthews

Situated on the edge of the National Forest, just south of Burton upon Trent, the National Memorial Arboretum is one of the Forest’s most visited sites. Welcoming around 300,000 visitors every year, it has become a nationaltreasure in the heart of the country.

The National Memorial Arboretum Croxall Road, Alrewas Burton-on-Trent, DE13 7AR Open daily 9am-5pm www.thenma.org.uk tel: 01283 245100

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Every season brings new reason to visit the Arboretum and with an abundance of autumn colour across the site, November, the month of remembrance, is a wonderful time to see it. As the UK’s year-round centre of reflection, the Arboretum hosts around 200 events every year.

Remembrance Sunday is an especially moving occasion to be a part of and this year’s free- toattend service will take place at the base of the Armed Forces Memorial at 10:30am on Sunday 12 November.

With 350 memorials spread across the site, the Arboretum represents a rich tapestry of stories waiting to be discovered. During the Centenary of the First World War, a visit to the thought-provoking Shot at Dawn Memorial is a must, alongside visits to the memorials for the Christmas Truce and the Battle of Gallipoli. Whilst most are

military in their origins many are not, and a variety of organisations are remembered for their service and sacrifice. The Women’s Land Army and Timber Corps Memorial, for example, remembers the dedication of those who fed the nation in two world wars, whilst the National Memorial to Scouting pays tribute to Scouts everywhere who have served their communities in countless ways.

Of course, more recent conflicts are remembered in the form of the Bastion and Basra Memorial Walls which stand as a poignant reminder that 100 years on, there are many who continue the ultimate sacrifice for our safety and way of life.

Whilst the Arboretum is a sanctuary of everyday remembrance, it is also a celebration of life. It is an uplifting oasis where our history and heritage meet nature in a tranquil riverside setting and as winter approaches and the festive season beckons, there is no better place to enjoy quality time with family and friends.

In December the Arboretum starts its festive calendar with a Food and Gift Fair on the 2nd and 3rd December. Visitors can browse the wares of local artisans and producers to find that perfect gift to put under the tree. Younger visitors can enjoy a spot of Christmas craft whilst festive music will provide the perfect ambience for the whole family.

Carols by Candlelight will take place on Saturday 16th December and is a wonderful chance to enjoy some traditional carols in the atmospheric setting of Heroes’ Square, surrounded by quaintly illuminated trees and live music.

Throughout December, visitors can book a mouth-watering Christmas lunch** with all the trimmings.

Forest Life Using the freshest locally sourced ingredients, the Arboretum chefs have the perfect fare for families looking for a central location to meet right through the festive period. As January arrives, a range of Winter Warmer Offers will be available to enjoy on a daily basis including a special 2 for £12.95 offer for hot lunch***.

Whether you’re a resident of the National Forest or just visiting the area for a short spell, there is sure to be something to capture your imagination at the Arboretum over the next few months.

Here are a few ways to enjoy the site: Three Exhibitions Land Train Buggy Tours Children’s Play Areas Guided Walks Daily Act of Remembrance Special Events Audio Guide Restaurant and Coffee Shop Gift Shop The Arboretum is open every day except Christmas Day and is FREE to enter. *In 2014 The National Memorial Arboretum topped a public vote of the favourite places funded by the National Lottery in England. **Book by calling 01283 245100

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WHAT A WONDERFUL WEDDING: SARAH AND ANTHONY MOSS In early June Yeldersley Hall, Ashbourne, was the perfect setting for the wedding of Sarah and Anthony Moss.

The hall has stood in its grounds at the foot of the Peak District since the early 19th century and has played home to many a historic family.

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From duchesses to industry magnates, the hall has quite a past. Such a grand structure had plenty of room for celebrations, with a ceremonial hall, beautifully converted stables for mingling and an exquisite conservatory for the wedding breakfast. But what was it that made Yeldersley the perfect choice for this wedding?

“One of the best things about this venue is that they only hold one wedding a week – so you really feel like special guests on your wedding weekend,” explains Mrs Moss. “You can also sleep up to 18 members of the wedding party there at the venue, which gives the whole event a really homely feel which is comforting. We both love the way the venue has lots of different charming elements to it, and the gardens are just incredible, at any time of year.”

But by no means was Yeldersley Hall the only piece of the pictureperfect puzzle that made the Moss wedding such a special day.

In the acutely decorated ceremony hall, Anthony stood awaiting his bride in the ceremonial hall in Moss Bros’ full Royal Ascot suit, which matched that of his brother Greg who was best man, the four young page boys including Anthony’s son Franklin and Sarah’s boys George and Oscar, the rest of the groomsmen and the father of the bride.

To become Mrs Moss, Sarah walked down the aisle to Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” wearing an intricate dress from the Justin Alexander Group’s Sweetheart label. It was bought from Alison Evans Bridalwear, located in Swadlincote.

“I wanted something simple and elegant without looking too over the top,” Sarah says of the

dress. “I still wanted to look like mummy to my two boys! It was the first dress I tried on, and it made me feel so happy when it was on – none of the other dresses I tried on had the same effect. The moment I took it off I wanted to put it back on again!”

The rest of the bridal party wore dresses picked from the collection at Alice Rose Bridal in Ashbyde-la-Zouch, with each of the bridesmaids in beautiful Amanda Wyatt dresses and the flower girls wearing Tiffany’s.

Soundtracked by beautiful piano arrangements of songs dear to the couple and performed by local pianist Laura Watson, the ceremony included also included lyrics of Etta James’ “At Last”.

Once the ceremony turned to celebration the weather sadly didn’t get the memo. By no means was it a heavenly downpour, but the drizzle was enough that few braved to dare the walled garden and many enjoyed their refreshments inside the homely stables. The first taste of the

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wondrous catering from Chris The Chef came in the form of canapes that included mini shepherd’s pies, mini cheeseburgers with relish and pears wrapped in parma ham with rocket – washed down with cocktails, of course.

Before long, it was time to be seated with champagne for the rib-tickling speech from the best man, heart-warming words from the father of the bride and an emotional address from a proudly newlywed groom. Smiles on faces were kept in place after the final toast as more delicious food was delivered to the tables. Around the hall there were starters of homemade fishcake, a trio of English salad and chicken liver parfait, mains were a mix of herbcrusted lamb loin, spiced cod and summer vegetable risotto, whilst dessert bore a trio of Sarah and Anthony’s favourites – blackberry pannacotta, black forest torte and a classic lemon tart. But it wasn’t just the glorious food that impressed Sarah with the catering.

“Chris was brilliant at keeping us calm. He provided us with everything we asked for on the day, plus we got our very own personal taster session two months before the wedding itself, where he cooked us all of our wedding breakfast choices to try. He’s certainly a very talented chef!”

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The tables were each designated an album close to the hearts of the happy couple, with vinyl albums central to the table setting that also included Lego representations as name labels. This theme of small, yellow personification began with a depiction of Sarah and Anthony on the invitations – a nod to the Groom’s love of Lego.

“My aunt made our cake – it was a semi-naked three tier cake with Victoria sponge, carrot cake and red velvet layers,” said Anthony.

As festivities continued, evening guests arrived before the cake was cut and the couple enjoyed their first dance to Tom Odell’s “Hold Me”, during which the couple’s beaming children excitedly joined in before the dancefloor was opened to all with a playlist brought to life by Sliding Vinyl.

As night drew in, the celebrations gleefully carried on, with Chris The Chef serving oriental chicken noodles in takeaway style carboard cartons, plus vegetable spring rolls and fish tacos – and, to the delight of everyone with a sweet

tooth there was sticky toffee pudding, too. Dancing and drinking continued, with the stables serving late night cheese and whisky.

The very next day the newlyweds set off on their dream honeymoon.

Their TUI package gave them a four-day self-catering tour of Monteverde, the Cloud Forest and Guanacaste where they would be led by a TUI representative, then topped off with a three-night stay in an all-inclusive resort.

“Our first day started in Arenal with an early breakfast,” Sarah explained. “Then we headed north to Los Chiles near the border with Nicaragua and went on a boat trip along the Rio Frio.”

That was followed by an afternoon relaxing in the Tabacon hot springs back in Arenal before heading off the next morning. “The hot springs were Garden of Eden-esque. There were bubbling thermal waterfalls cocooned by tropical palms,” recalls Anthony.

Day two they crossed Arenal Lake by boat before transferring to

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Hotel Heliconia in Monteverde.

Once settled into their base for the next two nights, the newlyweds set off on a guided tour to discover the secrets of Costa Rica’s worldfamous coffee. Not only is this tour a mesmerising insight, but you are also surrounded by breath-taking scenery for the duration.

The next day was spent exploring the magical Cloud Forest in Monteverde. Mist hangs low over the greenest of canopies with the tour crossing paths with toucans, hummingbirds and electric bluewinged butterflies.

“The Cloud Forest was amazing, but the highlight of the Canopy Tour was without doubt the set of hanging bridges,” shares Anthony.

“There are eight of them strung between treetops which resemble the Ewok village!”

Bride and groom: Sarah and Anthony Moss Venue: Yeldersley Hall (yeldersleyhall.co.uk) Wedding dress: Justin Alexander Group, Sweetheart / Alison Evans Bridalwear (alisonevans.co.uk) Groom’s suit: Royal Ascot / Moss Bros (mossbros.co.uk) Bridal party dresses: Amanda Wyatt, Tiffany’s / Alice Rose Bridal (alicerosebridal.com) Catering: Chris The Chef (christhechef.com) / The Cheese Shed (thecheeseshed.com) / West Country Cheese (westcountrycheese.co.uk) Flowers: Varnish and Sprigs (facebook.com/varnishandsprigs) Music: Laura Watson / Sliding Vinyl (slidingvinyl.com) Down the Aisle: Elton John “Tiny Dancer” First Dance: Tom Odell “Hold Me” Photography: Sally Ashworth Photography (sallyashworthphotography.com) Honeymoon: Costa Rica Wedding gift list: Online list (prezola.com)

Once darkness fell, Sarah and Anthony continued the adventurous day with a locally led night tour, which bore a whole new side to the wildlife that only ventures out at night.

For the final three-nights in Guanacaste, the happy couple stayed at the Riu Palace, Playa de Matapalo. Here they enjoyed gifts from the wedding day guests. Many of those who had been present at the wedding had bought wedding presents on Prezola, a website that allowed friends and family to purchase meals, activities, treatments and all manner of surprises for Sarah and Anthony to enjoy in Costa Rica. Which was the only part of their wedding and honeymoon experience that they hadn’t planned meticulously, but it was still exactly how they wanted.

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AS STRONG AS EVER Words and pictures, Jeanette Dickson

A shining example of the work done by the National Forest Charitable Trust, Conkers has epitomised the whole ethos behind the National Forest since it opened in 2001.

From dereliction to a thriving attraction, it was about time we checking in again.

is a great place to just wind kids up and let them loose in a safe environment, with unstructured play being the name of the game.

M In the modern age, it seems hard to find many “freerange” children – the cries for Netflix and YouTube are frequent in my home.

Many of you will know that Conkers is an outdoor activity and education centre found between Overseal, Moira and Church Gresley, with the main roads of A444 and A511 just a few minutes in either direction. It was created to regenerate waste land after coal mining operations in the region were closed down. As it’s now almost two years since our last visit, I thought we’d pop by to see how it is, and what is new.

In the modern age, it seems hard to find many “free-range” children – the cries for Netflix and YouTube are frequent in my home. Conkers

The site opens at 10am, although the leaflet we are given at admissions suggests this may be different in winter months. There is a queue for admission, and even arriving at ten past the carpark is already filling up, so it’s worth arriving early on a sunny day.

We knew we had just under four hours, so time would be tight.

When we were in, we opted to go on the Low Ropes first. The rope activity is an added cost on top of admission, with an extra discount for members, and you are given a time slot. There are two types. The High Ropes is only for children who are both over 8 years old, and at least 140cm tall. If you aren’t a regular measurer of your kids don’t worry, there is a height guide at the point of purchase to avoid disappointment. The Low Ropes are for children over a metre tall, who are then helped into their harnesses and helmets by the team of four guides. Stood watching the little ones enjoy the course, it was clear that even the youngest among them had understood the clear instruction they had been given.

Forest Life I can guarantee that you will be delighted with the range of activities at Conkers. In many places just off the paths there are little stop offs to encourage climbing, jumping, running, or just looking out over the landscape.

Last year The Warrens opened, which is a system of underground tunnels running over about 65m, with hidden rooms inside. While adults can go in, bear in mind that you will need to either crawl or bend double to walk through, but the area is safe for children on their own and there are seats nearby to wait patiently as they enjoy their time beneath the surface.

Close to the main entrance is the waterplay area which proved to be very popular indeed with many children. An old-fashioned hand pump pushes water into parts of the system. The handpump takes a while to get going, but with many children today being used to instant gratification, it is an exercise in patience. But even though it was hard they were queuing to get their chance to have a go!

For some more relaxed fun, that parents are more inclined to join in with there is a Fairy Labyrinth.

It is beautifully designed out of

carefully grown trees and hedges, trimmed and stooped over time to create covered archways, great to keep the hot sun at bay on a particularly warm day. Inside the maze, little boards are hidden, telling visitors about the fairies, and which you would be based on your birthdate. This encouraged us to cover the entire maze to find our own fairies. I’d recommend going to find yours!

My favourite part was the Barefoot Walk, however. Take a left out of the main entrance, past the waterplay and train station, and you will discover a safe location to

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walk over different types of terrain with bare feet. This includes gravels and mud hidden in water so that you’re not quite sure what you’ll stand on. It’s great for kids, with their lighter weight ensuring it isn’t painful, but it may be a little more challenging for adults. Next to each part of the walkway is a path so that you can opt out and keep track from the comfort of your shoes. At the entrance to the walk is a hut with shoe storage shelves, benches plus taps and dryers to clean your feet after your trek around the obstacles.

Although I took plenty of snacks, a hungry seven-year-old blasted through them and dictated our final stop was for refreshments at the café. The options are exactly what you would expect, with a range of fish, burgers, breakfast items and a children’s menu consisting of nuggets, fish fingers and pizza. A kids’ lunchbox was

available with a choice of jam, ham or cheese sandwiches, a bag of crisps, a chocolate bar and a drink.

Each of the children’s options were priced at £4.95. There were two or three Gluten free options amongst the main meals for both adults and children. A falafel burger is the main option for vegetarians, and if you are vegan the staff will leave off the cheese to make it suitable for you. The options aren’t particularly inspiring, and the lunchbox feels overpriced in comparison to the main children’s meals, so in future, I’ll take a bigger lunch of our own. There are plenty of picnic areas outside and some indoor tables also, so finding somewhere to eat it wouldn’t have been a problem.

Four hours turned out to be nowhere near long enough to cover the whole park, so we upgraded to Annual Membership and plan to visit again next week.

If you do this at the time of your visit, you get your trip’s admission cost taken off the membership price. This means that even if you only visit Conkers twice in a year, you will have saved money. Still to visit, we have the 4D cinema (the type of show where wind and rain are included!), the train to the other site where there are play areas and a treetop walk, and if it happens to rain, an indoor play zone near to the café.

Conkers also plays host to events such as music nights, outdoor cinema earlier in the summer and in the Autumn large family friendly Halloween and Bonfire night events. Details for these are on the Conkers website.

After revisiting the site and getting reacquainted, our final verdict is this: Conkers is still a gem of the National Forest.

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Conkers also plays host to events such as music nights, outdoor cinema earlier in the summer and in the Autumn large family friendly Halloween and Bonfire night events. Details for these are on the Conkers website.

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THE REAL BENEFITS OF FOREST BATHING ON BOTH BODY AND MIND Forest bathing – basically just being in the presence of trees – became part of a national public health program in Japan in 1982 when the forestry ministry coined the phrase shinrin-yoku (forest medicine) and promoted topiary as therapy. Nature appreciation – picnicking en masse under the cherry blossoms, for example – is a national pastime in Japan, so forest bathing quickly took off. The environment’s wisdom has long been evident to the culture. Japan’s Zen masters asked: If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears, does it make a sound?

Just be with trees. No hiking, no counting steps on a Fitbit. You can sit or meander, but the point is to relax rather than accomplish anything.

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To discover the answer, masters do nothing, and gain illumination.

Forest bathing works similarly: just be with trees. No hiking, no counting steps on a Fitbit. You can sit or meander, but the point is to relax rather than accomplish anything. “Don’t effort,” says Gregg Berman, a registered nurse, wilderness expert, and certified forest bathing guide in California.

He’s leading a small group on the

Big Trees Trail in Oakland one cool October afternoon, barefoot among the redwoods. Berman tells the group – wearing shoes – that the human nervous system is both of nature and attuned to it. Planes roar overhead as the forest bathers wander slowly and quietly under the green cathedral of trees. From 2004 to 2012, Japanese officials spent about $4 million dollars studying the physiological and psychological effects of forest bathing, designating 48 therapy trails based on the results. Qing Li, a professor at Nippon Medical School in Tokyo, measured the activity of human natural killer (NK) cells in the immune system before and after exposure to the woods. These cells provide rapid responses to viral-infected cells and respond to tumour formation.

They are also associated with immune system health and cancer prevention. In a 2009 study Li’s subjects showed significant increases in NK cell activity in the week after a forest visit, and positive effects lasted a month following each weekend in the woods. This is due to various

essential oils, generally called phytoncide, found in wood, plants, and some fruit and vegetables, which trees emit to protect themselves from germs and insects. Forest air doesn’t just feel fresher and better – inhaling phytoncide seems to actually improve immune system function.

Experiments on forest bathing conducted by the Centre for Environment, Health and Field Sciences in Japan’s Chiba University measured its physiological effects on 280 subjects in their early 20s. The team measured the subjects’ salivary cortisol (which increases with stress), blood pressure, pulse rate, and heart rate variability during a day in the city and compared those to the same biometrics taken during a day with a 30-minute forest visit.

“Forest environments promote lower concentrations of cortisol, lower pulse rate, lower blood pressure, greater parasympathetic nerve activity, and lower sympathetic nerve activity than do city environments,” the study concluded.

Forest Life In other words, being in nature made subjects physiologically less amped. The parasympathetic nerve system controls the body’s rest-and-digest system while the sympathetic nerve system governs fight-or-flight responses. Subjects were more rested and less inclined to stress after a forest bath.

Trees soothe the spirit too. A study on forest bathing’s psychological effects surveyed 498 healthy volunteers, twice in a forest and twice in control environments.

The subjects showed significantly reduced hostility and depression scores, coupled with increased liveliness after exposure to trees.

“Accordingly,” the researchers wrote, “forest environments can be viewed as therapeutic landscapes.”

City dwellers can benefit from the effects of trees with just a visit to the park. Brief exposure to greenery in urban environments can relieve stress levels, and experts have recommended “doses of nature” as part of treatment of attention disorders in children. What all of this evidence suggests is we don’t seem to need a lot of exposure to gain from nature – but regular contact appears to improve our immune system function and our wellbeing.

Julia Plevin, a product designer and urban forest bather, founded San Francisco’s 200-member Forest Bathing Club Meetup in 2014.

They gather monthly to escape technology. “It’s an immersive experience,” Plevin explained to Quartz. “So much of our lives are spent interacting with 2D screens.

This is bad because there’s a whole 3D world out there! Forest bathing is a break from your phone and computer... from all that noise of social media and email.” Before we crossed the threshold into the woods in Oakland, Berman advised the forest bathers to pick up a rock, put a problem in and drop it. “You can pick up your troubles again when you leave,” he said with a straight face. But after two hours of forest bathing, no one does.

Joy Chiu, a leadership and life coach on the forest bath led

by Berman, explained that this perspective on problems lasts long after a bath, and that she returns to the peace of the forest when she’s far from here, feeling harried.

“It’s grounding and I go back to the calm feeling of being here.

It’s not like a time capsule, but something I can continually return to.” So, if this suggests anything, it’s that we should be spending as much time as possible in the outdoors – and where better to forest bath than right here in the National Forest?

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Forest Life

VOLVO XC60 T8 TWIN ENGINE AWD INSCRIPTION PRO AUTO For many years, Volvo has been known for being smart, sensible and the Swedish champions of safety. They were the first to introduce the three-point safety belt in 1959; are pushing the envelope of modern safety tech and they’re working towards Vision 2020. This is an ambition that as of next year, nobody should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo. The parting line of their mission statement reads: “While we are proud of what we have achieved so far, we are not satisfied yet.”

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Every Volvo currently in production has a five-star rating in the Euro NCAP testing, however the XC60 is their outright highest scorer in the Adult Occupant (98%) and Safety Assist (95%) and joint top in Pedestrian (76%) and Child Occupant (87%) tallies.

But safety isn’t the only big push for motoring manufacturers in the current climate. The other pressing issue, one that we’re particularly conscious of here at FOREST LIFE, is cleaner powertrains – aka electrification.

Polestar is Volvo’s all-electric sister company, however there are many arguments that electric cars are not fully ready for the mass market. So what is happening is we are seeing more and more hybrids with smaller

Forest Life

engines working alongside an electric motor to boost frugality with fuel. That is what we have here with the Volvo T8 Twin Engine setup.

This range-topping powertrain offers up a healthy total of 385bhp from a supercharged two-litre petrol four-cylinder with an 86bhp electric motor. Pair this with an equally healthy 472lbf. ft and the XC60 can hit 60mph in five and a half seconds – which is remarkable for any vehicle, let alone one that is quoted 134.5mpg.

But, as with any NEDC quoted economy, you’ll have to drive in an utterly bizarre nature to achieve anything like it. Yes, the car can achieve those figures, but not in real-world situations. In such situations, you can expect to get a figure much closer to half of that.

We found a return of 53.4mpg, with a variety of driving types including stop-start commutes, longer motorway trips on a weekend away – and we didn’t recharge the battery over the course of the week. But if you rarely drive longer distances and can plug it in at both ends of your commute,

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then you’ll undoubtedly get a figure comfortably above ours.

Out on the road the two facets of the powertrain integrate seamlessly. In Hybrid mode, the electric motor will take the strain at low speeds before the combustion engine takes over.

However, the transition is so smooth that you’d never know there were several forces at play – such is the refinement of the hushed petrol unit.

Whilst it is a plug-in set-up, the powertrain also features a generator which charges on the move, plus it retains charge with regenerative braking. However, if you do run the battery down on a lengthy city-run or stint of traffic, it will take less than three hours to replenish to full capacity.

The drive modes offer brilliant flexibility, with the Pure setting using the electric battery in isolation (with a range of

Forest Life

23 miles), AWD engages permanent power to all corners and Power offers the total combined potential of both power sources. Turning to the latter mode does result in brutish pace that belies the size of the vehicle, but significantly doesn’t leave its refinement in tatters. But should you want to mix and match the ride characteristics there is also an Individual setting.

Whilst the XC60 is packed to the rafters with technology, it is sometimes the simplest of things that stands out. During our time with the XC60, the adjustable ride height to make loading the boot easier did just that.

By no means is that saying that the suite of gadgets and equipment was underwhelming.

When you’re fronted with a nine-inch central touchscreen, a sensational 15-speaker Bowers and Wilkins sound system, heated steering wheel and front massage seats, a head-up display, 360° parking camera, plus sensors and Automatic Parallel and 90° Parking – overwhelming is a much more apt use of vocab.

There are so many touches here and there that both make the vehicle a pleasure to use, but also feel truly premium. The seats are draped throughout in perforated Nappa Soft Leather

that are sculpted in such a way that passengers sink into them.

They remain comfortable for the duration – even on long-haul trips.

It’s also an airy cabin, with soft colours and plenty of light let in through the windows and the panoramic sunroof. But of all of the lush interior fitments, it’s the bejewelled gear selector that is the cherry atop the well-iced cake.

It sounds (and arguably looks) show-offy, but it doesn’t feel out of place in here, but it does make it feel that bit more special.

Which is exactly what the XC60 is all about – especially in this range-topping version. From the effortless power and performance to the exquisite and finely executed interior, this Volvo feels not only a quality product, but every inch a luxury product. Yes, it is flawed in a few aspects, such as the charging cables taking up more space than perhaps you’d like in a boot that isn’t the biggest. But, other than that, the XC60 certainly holds its own against more established luxury SUVs.

Volvo XC60 Inscription Pro T8 Twin Engine AWD Auto List price: £59,770 Price as tested: £67,010 0-60: 4.9-seconds Max power: 385bhp Max torque: 472lbf.ft Economy: 134.5mpg (NEDC) Our economy: 53.4mpg CO2 emissions: 49g/km

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Forest Life

DREAM MACHINES Jack’s Shack, Campervans and Custom Trucks wasn’t established in 2017 – though yes, that is what it says on the sign.

In fact, it began in the dreams of a young lad from the heart of The National Forest in the late 90’s. A young lad that grew up watching his fix-anything dad turn lumps of old metal into beautiful machines with nothing more than his trusty welding gun, a huge bag of spanners and a curious mind.

Jack’s Shack 90, Islington Street, Leicester, LE2 7SQ jack@jacks-shack.co www.jacks-shack.co Tel: 01162-555081

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Today at Jack’s Shack they create bespoke campervans and custom trucks, to the exact specifications of the dreams of others, but when Jack were just a lad his time was spent turning his wacky youthful mind’s thoughts into hard, and often fast, reality.

To truly understand the ethos that drives Jack and his ubercreative team of mechanics and technicians, you really do need to see what has gone before. And as you read on, ask yourself: “If he could do that when he was 14, what could he do with my dream campervan now?”

While most 13-year old boys were otherwise engaged, Jack was in his parents’ shed, beginning in earnest a career of irritating his neighbours with the whirring

of angle-grinders, the whoosh of welding torches and clink of hammer on metal.

By 16 things had escalated and Jack was already set on keeping well away from the norm.

Motoring trends be damned, he was going to make his first Mini unique. So, welding torch at the ready, his dreams once again began to take shape. The ‘Mini’ was actually sitting on a Triumph Herald chassis and, equally peculiarly, it was rear-wheel drive.

But the teenage dreams made real do not stop there. Jack was disappointed by the Mini’s weak, if willing, little engine, so decided that a Ford Z-tec twin-cam would far better suit his needs.

At some point early in his 13th year he decided that his toy cart, enjoyed greatly in his younger years, needed an 80cc engine, a steering wheel, go-kart tyres, a re-appropriated fire extinguisher as a fuel tank and enough horses to have him whipping along at a neighbourhoodwatch infuriating 35mph.

To those who know him, it is plain to see that Jack is a man of both humour and creativity. A man of boundless enthusiasm. So, it should come as no shock that Lil’ Trumper was created when, by chance, Jack saw a ‘nice piece of metal’ and his mind did the rest.

The piece of metal in question

Forest Life or small, Jack’s Shack are willing to take on any campervan conversion challenge. In short, they can do as little or much as required and of course, they’re there to advise and guide but not pressurise - this is your dream after all, not theirs.

Some people just like to pick the essentials: a 2 berth campervan conversion with a long wheelbase, or a 4 berth conversion with a short wheelbase, that can legally and safely seat 5. Others though, want to pick every detail. And that is fine with Jack and the rest at the Shack! They can walk you through choices for each and every item, but they know that some people find this option over facing. They know that the best way is to work together to achieve the best result for your budget. certainly did not look like a motorised tricycle to your average Joe, in fact, it was simply a sort of ‘C’ shaped piece of metal that in Jack’s eyes morphed into the beginnings of a chassis. Lo and behold, just a few days later, this unassuming piece of metal had grown into something altogether more exciting.

By 20 it was fair to say that the bug that affected Jack would take more than a bit of Benylin to shift and despite the fever, the builds just kept coming.

So, what Jack sees when he looks at the ultra-versatile Volkswagen T6 is a blank canvas that presents fantastic opportunity. Yes, he can make it run-of-the-mill but, for those who dare to dream, he can make something truly unique and utterly perfect just for you.

While most 13 year old boys were, ahem, otherwise engaged, Jack was in his parents’ shed, beginning in earnest a career of irritating his neighbours with the whirring of angle-grinders, the whoosh of welding torches and clink of hammer on metal.

At Jack’s Shack, they’re proudly open, honest and upfront about all of the work they do and the prices they charge. Take a look at their standard product and fitting costs, compare them to the competition or grab your calculator and start building your dream campervan today.

While Jack and the team love the opportunity to start with a blank canvas, they fully understand this isn’t the right option for everyone, so they offer full professional campervan conversions in their Leicester HQ. Like all aspects of their business, their campervan conversions depend on what you want: bring them your campervan and talk them through your dream camper – they can make it happen.

However, you may have a great camper already that just needs tweaking: an electric pop-top roof, a new kitchen, a Sportline body kit or new upholstery. However big

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Forest Life

ENTER THE DRAGON

Words: Mike Trott Head to the pretty village of Willington and alongside the Trent and Mersey Canal you’ll find a rustic country pub of friendly atmosphere, with a menu just as welcoming to your taste buds

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Located within the nest of villages in South Derbyshire, Willington’s nucleus presents an array of pubs in a small area, but perhaps the jewel in the crown is The Dragon.

The establishment has changed a lot over the years, though it now stands as one part of the quartet that makes up the Bespoke Inns collection, with the others being The Boot at Repton, The Cottage also situated in Willington and finally the Harpur’s of Melbourne.

Most offer accommodation for people visiting from further afield – but for now it’s the food we’re looking to explore.

Inside, The Dragon has an upmarket country aura with dark and cosy corners to settle into, or for special occasions and menus, there’s the bright and airy Conservatory to suit bigger parties.

Seeing as the sun was shining, we opted for a seat at one of the many tables outside to the rear of the pub, where you’ll find the ‘Garden Room’, a designated undercover area to dine should a small shower spring from the heavens.

Perched adjacent to the Trent and Mersey Canal, the spot is ideal for walkers and outdoor explorers, but equally The Dragon would fit the bill for both a casual drink or a special occasion. If you’re planning on picking up a knife and fork, you’re in luck, because The Dragon has a fantastic selection of dishes to get stuck into.

Forest Life

The main menu centres on good whole-hearted food, with a number of steaks, pies and burgers to choose from, including the enticing Philly Cheesesteak Burger.

There’s a selection of sandwiches available between 12 and 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, with the Cajun Spiced Chicken Breast served with poppyseed coleslaw catching our attention.

An assortment of salads, and a variety of mains, from classics like sausage and mash to more exotic options like the Massaman Curried Mussels may also tempt your taste buds.

If you want added value with your grub, there’s always the set menu option as well, available all day Monday to Thursday and from noon till 5.30pm on Fridays. Two courses costs £15.95, while the three courses (if you’re feeling particularly hungry) looks even better value at £18.95.

On sunnier days, the chefs will fire up the outdoor grill for those seeking burgers, dogs (of the hot

edible sausage variety) and wings, there’s a breakfast menu for weekend brunch, but also separate menus for afternoon tea, Sundays, vegan diners, and those seeking something a little more special, such as the Pizza and Prosecco or Champagne Breakfast menus.

The Dragon has you covered.

And to quench your thirst? Well, sip on wines of the world, go giddy for gin, coo over the cocktails or just bask in the beers from their very own micro-brewery. The list of liquids is just as comprehensive as the food.

Being a Tuesday lunchtime, myself and editor, George Dove punted for the set menu, which offers four options for each course. With myself gravitating towards the Mushrooms on Toast, my colleague decided on the Whipped Feta and Lime Dip. Our starters came quickly, presented smartly and impressed both hungry guests. The Mushrooms on Toast consisted of garlic butter and a blend of basil

and pesto coated over a generous helping of mushrooms, atop a slice of lovely toasted sourdough bread.

If you’re the kind of person who enjoys a mushroom starter, this is right up your street, with good flavours and a dish that doesn’t sit as heavy on the stomach as a gratin or cheese-packed creation.

The starter sitting opposite was just as appealing. Served alongside toasted flatbread, the colourful concoction of pomegranate and whipped feta gave a rich tasting appetiser, but well balanced with sweet and sour notes from the pomegranate and lime, respectively.

Our main courses were a tad more conventional, with the Fish and Chips swimming its way to my end of the table and the Garlic & Basil Linguini heading for George.

The portion size for both was impressive, with my ‘whale’ finished in a very crispy and light batter and accompanied with hand-cut chips, the essential mushy peas, tartare sauce and a wedge of lemon. Simple, but effective. The chips were delightful and the fish was cooked beautifully, although perhaps the one slight criticism would be that it lacked a punch in flavour and ended up feeling like a generic fish and chips dish.

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Forest Life My colleague’s linguini had been garnished with a large chicken breast (pan-fried Pollock being the other option on the menu) and this too was cooked adeptly, leaving it both juicy and tender. The healthy dose of pasta came with a very strong tomato sauce and a complimentary saltiness from the olives, balanced with the hints of garlic and basil. It was a substantial hit in more ways than one.

Two courses could well be enough for most appetites, but for you, we took that extra step and indulged in the final course – the White Chocolate Cheesecake with mango and passion fruit, and the Jamaican Ginger Cake served with roasted pineapple and crème fraiche ice cream were the options elected for evaluation.

The cheesecake was presented on a slate and is a great choice if you want to refresh and cleanse the palette after your meal; not

too rich and with a nice mixture of flavours with those subtle fruity tones coming through to finish.

My ginger cake was something I’ve not come across on many occasions, but this is a delicious little dessert for those who may be partial to the old McVitie’s Jamaica Ginger treat.

You might expect the cake to be a touch dry and heavy, but with the scrumptious yet refreshing crème fraiche ice cream, together they create a pudding that’s big on flavour and just enough to fill any remaining holes in your hunger.

The Dragon is capable of serving up dishes of real substance and equally full of flavour. The variety means there should be plenty of options for each and every diner, and whilst the prices are edging towards the ‘expensive’ label, you’re sure to enjoy a satisfying experience within The Dragon.

Forest Life

FABULOUS HOT TUB SHOWROOM IN STAFFORDSHIRE

M Malibu Hot Tubs are the only official Jacuzzi® dealership in Staffordshire and are classed as a Jacuzzi® superstore due to their vast range of display and demonstration hot tubs. Their very knowledgeable staff are highly trained to advise you on the best hot tub to suit your budget and needs and can also advise you on keeping your hot tub in the best condition possible. They have a large range of chemicals and

hot tub accessories whether you are buying a new tub or just looking for somewhere local to buy what you need.

Showroom located at: Yarlet Bank, Yarlet, Staffordshire, ST18 9SD – (Easy to find directly on the A34).

Tel. 01889 508787 www.malibuhottubs.co.uk

Malibu Hot Tubs’ showroom in Staffordshire recently won the ‘Most Innovative Showroom’ award from Jacuzzi®, making it a great place for you to see a good range of hot tubs for demonstration and testing.

Malibu Hot Tubs also specialise in the complete installation of your new Hot Tub or Jacuzzi®. Whether it be a standard installation or something more complicated involving a crane, their experienced team can help advise and arrange the best method of installation to suit you.

www.malibuhottubs.co.uk OUTDOOR LUXURY and more

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Yarlet Bank (A34), Yarlet, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST18 9SD info@malibuhottubs.co.uk | 01889 508787 facebook.com/malibuhottubs

Tree School Academic & Musical excellence for boys & girls aged 21/2 to 18

Forest Tots Forest adventures for under 5s whatever the weather!

Thursdays 9.30am to 10.30am at Lichfield Cathedral Junior School Longdon Green WS15 4PT just off the A51 Led by qualified Forest School practitioner £24 per child per term, parent free

Booking essential: call Amelia on 01543 306168 or a.grey@lichfieldcathedralschool.com

Forest Tots is a great way for young children to connect with nature and learn new skills. Held on Thursdays between 9.30 and 10.30am at Lichfield Cathedral Junior School, Forest Tots offers outdoor learning in a woodland environment for children aged under five years. From bug hunting and mud painting, to building dens and cooking over a fire, these classes help to improve stamina and dexterity while children learn to respect and appreciate the natural world around them.

Juno Hart, Forest School practitioner, explains: “Forest School sessions involve hands-on learning and teaching of new skills. We explore art, science, numeracy and literacy through a range of exciting and engaging activities in an outdoor setting.”

After the activities, children and parents have time for free play, to observe nature and enjoy being outdoors – in all weather conditions. Each session will finish with circle time around the campfire, with hot chocolate and marshmallows!

Juno continues: “Research has demonstrated that children who receive a rich variety of learning during their pre-school years can achieve measurably better academic results at age 10. “Interacting with other children means learning how to wait, how to take turns, and how to listen. Watching other children pursue a challenging task is also helpful. Young children learn important social skills when they interact with other children and these skills are critical to a developing personality, and also help with problem solving and beginning to learn how to identify and manage risk, which are immensely valuable skills for life.”

Limited to 16 places, Forest Tots costs £24 per term – which works out at £2 per week. If this sounds like something that would get your little ones excited, call Amelia on 01543 306169 or email a.grey@ lichfieldcathedralschool.com to book them a place.

Academic & Musical excellence for boys & girls aged 21/2 to 18

Open Events Seniors: Friday 4 October 9.30am to 11.30am

Sixth Form: Tuesday 8 October 6.30pm to 8.30pm Excellent academic results Traditional education built on Christian values

Discovering Developing Championing glorious individuals since the 12th century To book your visit, call Admissions on 01543 306168 lichfieldcathedralschool.com

@LichfieldCSchl

Green Gables, Longdon WS15 4PT | The Palace, The Close, Lichfield WS13 7LH

Small class sizes Unique Ethical Leadership qualification Outstanding Forest School programme Extensive extra-curricular activities School minibus service and before & afterschool care available

Academic, Art, Drama, Music, Choral and Sport Scholarships available from September 2020

Forest Life

CLIMATE CHANGE GARDENING Gardening for a changing climate is set to be a key trend for 2019. Designer Sue Townsend MSGD says she is creating more ecological gardens to cope with the extreme weather conditions experienced in the UK in recent years. Her advice is to plant the right plants for the conditions of each garden, to store water and to allow excess water to be collected then dissipated throughout the soil. Joe Perkins MSGD agrees, saying he frequently designs planting schemes that are drought- resistant and has noticed that his clients are less inclined to pamper plants with state-of-the- art irrigation systems because they feel it is more environmentally responsible to use plants which can fend for themselves.

H The continuing rise in popularity of houseplants is being translated outside with exotic-style plants with architectural leaves and stems making bold statements inside and out

HOUSE PLANTS AND HANGING PLANTS Sculptural and architectural plants will dominate in 2019. Joe Perkins says “the continuing rise in popularity of houseplants is being translated outside with exotic-style plants, with architectural leaves and stems making bold statements inside and out.” Joe also predicts that we will be seeing more hanging plants in our gardens.

Not traditional hanging baskets, but plants with foliage, colour and texture which can be used as accessories as an addition to pots and planters.

INTERIOR MEETS EXTERIOR Both Darren Hawkes and Barbara Samitier MSGD think the colourful approach to interiors will be creeping into the garden in 2019.

Darren Hawkes predicts the arrival of bold print, clashing colours and the inclusion of large leaved plants in our gardens. He thinks we should be “taking kitsch in to the garden” by introducing bedding plants in bright coloured planters or letting Pompon Dahlias take centre stage. While Barbara Samitier expects industrial and reclaimed materials and encaustic tiles to be used more and more in urban gardens to compliment the growing interior trends.

TEENAGE HANG-OUTS Karen Rogers thinks the growing demand for teenage hang-outs in gardens will gain momentum in 2019. Karen designs these gardens with secluded garden buildings or separate seating areas featuring outdoor fire pits or fireplaces. She says: “these spaces require clever screening from neighbours as well as good lighting and planting that absorbs as much noise as possible.” Joe Perkins expects the trend for fire pits, outdoor kitchens and other lifestyle accessories will continue way into the new year as we still want our gardens to be a setting for shared experiences with friends and family.

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Forest Life WILD AND LOOSE Nature is coming to the fore in 2019 says Louise Harrison-Holland MSGD of Blue Tulip Garden Design and we will see on-going support for wildlife corridors in the wider landscape, especially around the survival of our native hedgehog, whose numbers have plummeted in the past years. “The move toward a slightly looser, wilder style of garden design will help support this initiative,” said Louise. She predicts hedging will become the number one choice for garden boundaries next year. Jon Sims MSGD of Alladio

Sims echoes this. “We will see a move towards more natural, less manicured gardens, which we create mixing strong architectural styles with an abundance of naturalistic planting.

has become so familiar in our gardens in recent years. She says: “Don’t be surprised to see a shift towards orange and even yellow which has taken a back seat in many gardens of late”.

VIBRANT HOT COLOUR According to Sue Townsend sizzling jewel colours are set to make a return to our gardens in 2019. Sue predicts vibrant, hot colours combined with sultry purples and blues, while Barbara Samitier MSGD expects to see a move away from the blue and pink colour palette that

Designer Jon Sims MSGD expects a rise of porcelain in garden design, which means it wouldn’t be long before the demand for indoor colour creeps outdoors.

He envisages a move away from using replica stone in the garden and an increase in colour choice and pattern in hard landscape materials.

Gardeners are less inclined to pamper plants with stateof-the- art irrigation systems because they feel it is more environmentally responsible to use plants which can fend for themselves.

Forest Life

For a garden that suggests luxury, Joe Perkins recommends combining red and purple alongside greys and blue-greys in plant foliage. He too is seeing a trend in younger garden enthusiasts looking to style their outdoor space as they would an indoor room, using bright coloured accessories or furniture. Joe cautions that simplicity and repetition are the key for success here.

CRAZY PAVING Crazy paving, charred timbers and gabion walls are all expected to dominate in 2019. “I never thought I would say this,” said Sue Townsend, “but crazy paving and stepping stones using large irregular slabs - the bigger the better – are making a come-back.”

Sue also foresees the continued popularity of porcelain paving which she says looks like real stone but due to its low moisture absorption has a non-slip quality which is really useful in shady areas and around swimming pools.

LOG WALLS AND MULTIPLE METALS Barbara Samitier confesses to being obsessed with log walls.

“They can act as a feature wall, a boundary or a screen while providing a necessary habitat for insects and a wide range of wildlife,” she says. She also expects we will be seeing more metal in the garden as it is “such a versatile material that lends itself to so many applications.” Barbara is designing metal arches and pergolas for many of her current projects. She has incorporated metal walkways, mirrored stainless steel and perforated Corten steel in her gardens for walls and pergola roofs.

GABION WALLS Both Louise Harrison-Holland and Barbara Samitier are introducing more gabion-style walls and structures into their garden design. Louise predicts that stone work will be used in a less structured way in 2019 and when used vertically will be more like a ‘rubble’ stone, but softened with planting. She says: “I have noticed a move away from stark modernism towards a style that still retains a strong geometry but is tempered with a choice of materials in softer tones.”

EXTERNAL MDF Prepare to see more charred timber cladding in gardens this year. Jon Sims MSGD has been experimenting with Shou-SugiBan and is also introducing rough shutter-faced concrete into his projects. He foresees more designers using external MDF

in garden designs as it offers numerous options in terms of colour and unusual shapes.... and durability too.

WILD AND PERENNIAL MEADOWS Lots of designers have been experimenting with wildflower and perennial meadows throughout 2019 and this trend is set to continue into the new year. The good news is you don’t need a large plot to incorporate them into your garden as Sue Townsend explains: “I’ve really enjoyed creating small to medium sized meadows in many of the gardens I have designed this year. The most exciting venture was sowing my first perennial meadow. It will take a few years to establish properly but my clients are loving watching it develop. In a few years, it will provide interest from April to late November with relatively little maintenance.”

Log walls can act as a feature wall, a boundary or a screen while providing a necessary habitat for insects and a wide range of wildlife”

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The sentiment is echoed by Louise Harrison-Holland who expects planting to have a looser, less clipped feel to it and gardens to appear slightly wilder in 2019. She says: “This wilder style has been helped along by the increasing use of instant wildflower meadows.

I see designers trying to recreate this look with a mix of herbaceous perennials and grasses that have a more permanent structure, helped by the increasing use of shrubs in planting borders.� Louise also predicts that rather than en-masse block planting of a small number of plant types, designers will be working with a greater number of varieties creating a much looser style of planting.

For help bringing your garden bang up to date in 2019, the Society of Garden Designers provides access to garden designers right across the UK, offering a complete garden design service including planting plans, hard landscape design, construction drawings and specialist design elements.

For more information about the Society of Garden Designers and its members, take a look at the SGD www.sgd.org.uk.

Forest Life

LIFTING THE LID

THE UNLIKELY STORY OF MARMITE

By George Matthews

Few foodstuffs divide opinion as vividly as Marmite, it has even entered the lexicon as a commonplace representation of anything or anyone that provides a firm split, you either love it or hate it. But what do you know about it?

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Have you ever wondered where Marmite came from? Well, allow us to enlighten you on its history and its greatest fans – as well as some others who cannot stand its taste, smell or texture.

It was back in the 1880s that German scientist and nutritionist Justus Von Leibig began experimenting with making yeast into a healthy and comparatively inexpensive dietary supplement

for the mass market. In one of history’s more bizarre outcomes, it was in Burton upon Trent in 1902 and not Germany that this substance would first be produced and marketed.

The reasons behind how Burton became the location for the birthplace of this particular foodstuff make good sense. With the town being in a privileged position of having an almost limitless supply of brewer’s yeast from the many small breweries – at the turn of the 20th century there were 30 breweries in and around the town – all of which produced yeast sludge that was left over. So, after the beer had been brewed this waste could now be repurposed as the basic ingredient of what became Marmite.

As yet unnamed, the company was therefore able to produce this mysterious black substance in industrial proportions. Another bonus was the town’s excellent distribution network established by the breweries to transport

their alcoholic produce around the country, so it made economic sense to base the company in the East Midlands and not in industrialized Germany.

Taking the name of the product from a type of French casserole dish and pronounced mar-meet, the self-same French dish that graces the logo on every jar to this very day, the now christened Marmite Food Company Limited was formed, and the factory that churns out 50 million jars per year remains the solitary producer of Marmite in the world.

The recipe, made from brewer’s yeast, salt, various spices, celery, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, and vegetable extract has remained unaltered this past 117 years. It is also rich in vitamin B complex and is an excellent source for folic acid. The actual production process is as well guarded a secret as that of Coca-Cola but the ingredients remain basic and unaltered. In the first stage of the aforementioned process the

Anyone familiar with Burton will know the smell, which greets us with it’s acrid fumes as soon as we return to the town.

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Forest Life brewer’s yeast is broken down into proteins and soluble amino acids. The mixture is then filtered before being passed through a top-secret flavouring process. The end result is the famously divisive yeast extract paste.

Essential to the unique recipe is the component of brewer’s yeast, an often-misunderstood element that is essential to the product.

It’s made from a monocellular fungus known as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is used in the manufacturing of beer. Did you realise also that the combination of vitamins in every jar have a number of scientifically proven health benefits? It can help break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats to help our bodies maintain energy. It also helps to maintain a healthy nervous system, supporting our digestive muscles and assisting our liver, hair, skin, mouth and eyes in maintaining good health.

Historically it has been used for its remedial powers, too, and to this day it has a reputation as a healthy drink or spread. For all of those non-believers who point out its high salt content as a deterrent to its advocates, the retort that Marmite was a staple in soldiers’ rations for two world wars is always a sturdy counter argument.

It was included in their diets along with Bully Beef, Spam and condensed milk in the First World War and was a much-loved luxury with soldiers and civilians between 1939 and 1945. Even in 1999, the company sent extra supplies to homesick British peacekeeping troops stationed with the United Nations in Kosovo.

Marmite also has its champions.

If you are eager to take sides depending on the famous faces who have made a stand on our own black gold, you’ll need to know that all of the Rolling Stones, the actor Eddie Redmayne and singers Britney Spears and Dido

are all unapologetic fans. The actor Bill Nighy was once stopped at Heathrow Airport for trying to smuggle an extra-large jar within his hand luggage, while the celebrity non endorsements came from that famously fussy eater Madonna, who was quoted once as saying she would do anything for her children except give them a Marmite sandwich.

Sulky footballer Nicolas Anelka told friends that he was scared of it, and when Russell Brand briefly domiciled himself in California several years ago he was inundated with copious supplies by acolytes convinced that the Booky Wook author was a fan – only to discover that the tousled haired lothario could actually not stand the stuff!

Anyone familiar with Burton will know the smell, which greets us with its acrid fumes as soon as we return to the town. The smell also divides opinion, some regard the olfactory sensation as an abomination, something akin to an old pub carpet after a particularly wild night. Others regard the smell as reassuring, nostalgic and not at all unpleasant, like the taste, it is an utterly personal choice.

Well what do we care? Marmite has survived wars and the everchanging tastes of the human race.

It remains a worldwide favourite and an export, that is sold at the rate of 27 jars per minute with reported overseas sales of £47million per year, that we can be proud of and is synonymous with our neck of the woods.

Breathe in deep Burtonians! Love it or loathe it, it’s the smell that reminds us all of home.

The recipe, made from brewer’s yeast, salt, spices, celery, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, and vegetable extract, has remained unaltered this past 117 years.

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