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MAGAZINE

SPRING 2020 ISSUE 5

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Art Director Samantha Brownstein

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editor’s letter

W

elcome to the spring issue of Wildflower.

We are now well into the bright, fresh days of this glorious season and many of us will be turning our attention to sprucing up

our homes and seeking new ideas for a seasonal refresh.

We have plenty to inspire you. One of this season’s hottest home trends is so-called super-sized wallpapers, so turn to page 62 to discover the secrets of decorating with these simply breath-taking botanicals and fantastic florals.

Elsewhere, we talk to top kitchen design gurus, who give us their thoughts on long-lasting trends for 2020 (page 49), while biophilic expert Anna Walton has plenty of tips on how to bring nature into the home (page 40).

Of course, the arrival of spring heralds the start of the gardening season. It’s wonderful to head outside and to

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start planning what to grow this year. I’m delighted to welcome garden expert Sarah Raven (page 72), who shares her love of dahlias, her passion for home-grown food and

P81 Get your garden spring ready with our pick of the season’s buys

her top spots to see wildflowers.

And it wouldn’t be spring without the Wildflower team’s pick of the very best events and happenings around the country. From wellness festivals and family fun-runs, to adventure days and bluebell walks, there’s much to inspire you and your loved ones.

I hope you enjoy the issue.

Zöe Levey Zoë Levey, Editor

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WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 5

JESSICA JONZEN Writer

Jessica Jonzen is a journalist and editor and has worked for the Sunday Times, Net-a-Porter and Matches Fashion. She is also the co-founder of an online homes and lifestyle magazine. In this issue, Jessica writes about her love of Cornwall (P102) and why it calls her back year after year. thehomepage.co.uk @jessicajonzen

6 | SPRING 2020 | WILDFLOWER

SARAH LAYTON Garden designer and wellbeing mentor

Wildflower’s new columnist — see “The mindful gardener” on P87 — Sarah Layton is a garden designer, wellbeing mentor and founder of Growthfully, which offers garden design advice and support, and helps women harness the wellbeing potential in their gardens to enhance their lives. She also offers regular “Garden Design and Wellbeing” walks around Oxfordshire. Listen out for her podcast My garden, my life, which launches on 25 March. growthfully.co.uk @growthfully

JONATHAN BUCKLEY Photographer

EMMA MORTONTURNER Interior stylist

An award-winning specialist garden and flower photographer, Jonathan has collaborated with many of the great garden writers and his work has been widely published in books, magazines and newspapers worldwide. You can see his work on our feature about gardening guru Sarah Raven (P72). He has taken pictures for several of Sarah’s books, including one that involved a year spent travelling all over the UK photographing wildflowers.

He lives in Gloucestershire with his family and three border terriers. jonathanbuckley.com @jonathanbuckleyphotography

An interior stylist and writer for 18 years, Emma has styled magazine photo shoots, company brochures and press launches and has filmed video tutorials for social media. In this issue, she reveals the kitchen trends that are made to last (P49). Emma has worked with an impressive list of magazines, including Ideal Home, House Beautiful, Style at Home, Woman & Home, Country Homes & Interiors, Prima and Beautiful Kitchens, as well as brands including Talking Tables, Harveys Furniture, Kenwood, Delonghi and Tesco. When she’s not writing features for interiors magazines, she running an interiors website, writing blog posts and recording podcasts. She can turn her hands to anything crafty — except knitting — and has been craft editor on Essentials and Prima.

She is never happier than when she is baking, sewing or upcycling old furniture, as well as walking her dog Alan Taylor. insidestylists.com @emmamtstylist

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featuring

17–21 JUNE 2020

I N S PI RAT I ON A L LI V I N G

Rooms created by interior designers chosen by House & Garden editors Plus talks, advice and stylish shopping ideas

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FITNESS FESTIVALS | WILDLIFE WALKS | RETRO REVIVAL | WARHOL’S WONDERS

DISCOVER THE GLITZ AND GLAMOUR OF CECIL BEATON’S BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS, AT THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, LONDON, 12 MARCH-7 JUNE Paula Gellibrand, Marquesa de Casa Maury

by Cecil Beaton, 1928. © The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive npg.org.uk

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 11

Bright lights A new exhibition chronicles an infamous set of socialites through the lens of Cecil Beaton

Cecil Beaton at Sandwich, early 1920s. Š The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive

Below: Tallulah Bankhead by Cecil Beaton, 1932.

The Museum of the City of New York. © National Portrait Gallery, London. Clockwise from left: The Bright Young Things at Wilsford by Cecil Beaton, 1927. © The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive, Cecil Beaton and Stephen Tennant

by Maurice Beck and Helen Macgregor, 1927. National Portrait Gallery, London

EVENTS

T

hey were the darlings of a golden age, the so-called bright young things who charmed high society with their avant-garde antics.

And at the heart of this glamorous group from the 1920s and 30s was photographer Cecil Beaton, chronicling their every move with his inimitable style.

Now London’s National Portrait Gallery is hosting a major exhibition of the famed photographer’s works, bringing together some 150 pieces — many of which are rarely exhibited. Cecil

The Silver Soap Suds (left to right: Baba Beaton, the Hon. Mrs Charles BaillieHamilton and Lady Bridget Poulett) by Cecil Beaton, 1930. © The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive

Beaton’s Bright Young Things takes visitors through a glittering, long-gone world, bringing to life “a deliriously eccentric, glamorous and creative era of British cultural life”, according to curator Robin Muir.

Expect to see portraits of the leading socialites of the day, such as Edwina Mountbatten — whose affairs shocked London society — and Diana Mitford, who went on to marry British fascist Oswald Mosley. American actresses and confirmed Anglophiles Tallulah Bankhead and Anna May Wong make a very elegant appearance; then there are the fabulously costumed images of friends such as Stephen Tennant, considered the brightest of the bright young things. The former lover of poet Siegfried Sassoon was said to have inspired the character of Lord Sebastian Flyte in Brideshead Revisted.

We will also see vintage prints of Beaton’s earliest subjects — his glamorous sisters Nancy and Baba — plus glimpses of high-spirited revels at country house weekends and city balls.

Beaton’s own life and relationship with the group is also woven into the exhibition with self-portraits and images by his contemporaries, and we see his transformation from middleclass suburban schoolboy to darling of the social scene and much-soughtafter photographer — he would be Vogue mainstay for some 50 years.

The portraits will delight lovers of this glittering era, with letters, magazines, invitations and the like all helping to capture the hedonistic, extravagant and endlessly fascinating world of the Bright Young Things.

Below: Constant Lambert by Christopher Wood, 1926. National Portrait Gallery, London

Cecil Beaton’s Bright Young Things is at the National Portrait Gallery, London from 12 March to 7 June 2020

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 13

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events

THE EVENTS EDIT from ancient art to adrenaline-fuelled adventures, wildflower’s pick of the season has something for everyone

TUTANKHAMUN: TREASURES OF THE GOLDEN PHARAOH, SAATCHI GALLERY, LONDON UNTIL 3 MAY Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the ever-fascinating boy king’s tomb, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see these artefacts before they head back to Egypt to be permanently displayed at the vast new Grand Egyptian Museum near the pyramids of Giza. This touring exhibition has already broken visitor records in France and it’s not hard to see why — more than 150 glittering pieces are on display, including the statue that guarded the burial chamber and even the gold-inlaid miniature coffin that contained the king’s liver after it was removed for the mummification process. saatchigallery.com

25 APRIL–31 JANUARY You can never have too many bags, as the saying goes — and this exhibition is bound to leave you wanting even more.

Dedicated to the ultimate accessory, visitors will see everything from Margaret Thatcher’s iconic handbag to statement pieces worn by the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Kardashian. There’s also a workshop available if you want to learn how to make your own. vam.ac.uk

GAUGUIN AND THE IMPRESSIONISTS, THE ROYAL ACADEMY, LONDON 29 MARCH-14 JUNE With works by Manet, Monet, Renoir, Pissarro and Degas, this exhibition is a rare treat for lovers of Impressionism.

Many of the 60 works from this private collection from Denmark have never been seen before in the UK and provide something of a roll-call of Impressionist masters. The headline act here, though, is Paul Gauguin, one of the Impressionist movement’s most influential — if controversial — figures.

Renowned for his bold use of colour and expansive style, the exhibition includes a series of works that span his career, giving an insight into his influences and artistic innovations. royalacademy.org.uk

BAGS: INSIDE OUT, V&A, LONDON

LET’S MISBEHAVE — THE 1920S AT BLENHEIM PALACE UNTIL 14 APRIL Step into the heady world of the Bright Young Things at this wonderful exhibition celebrating the Roaring Twenties. Organised by Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, expect costumed characters, vintage cars, music, dancing and plenty of fabulously decadent fun. blenheimpalace.com WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 15

OXFORD LITERARY FESTIVAL, OXFORD

12 MARCH-6 SEPTEMBER The king of pop culture, Andy Warhol defined the Swinging Sixties and created an art movement the like of which had never been seen before. This major retrospective is the first Warhol exhibition at the Tate Modern for some 20 years and includes works never before seen in this country. His iconic images of Marilyn Monroe, Debbie Harry and Campbell’s soup cans are all there, of course, but there are also little-seen works from his Ladies and Gentlemen series of portraits of black and Latino drag queens, plus the immersive Silver Clouds and Exploding Plastic Inevitable. tate.org.uk

27 MARCH–5 APRIL Prue Leith and Janet Ellis join a host of authors at the 24th annual Oxford Literary Festival, taking place at various locations across Oxford. Harry Potter fans will delight in a celebration of JK Rowling’s books at the Sheldonian Theatre, while there’s also plenty for fans of Shakespeare and, should you wish to put pen to paper and become an author yourself, there are also plenty of creative writing workshops to take part in. oxfordliteraryfestival.org

NICK KNIGHT: ROSES FROM MY GARDEN, WADDESDON MANOR, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 28 MARCH-25 OCTOBER In a departure from the high-fashion photography for which he is best known, the ever-innovative Nick Knight looks to his garden for this new exhibition.

Although inspired by the work of 16th and 17th still-life painters, Knight has created his incredible shots of fresh-cut roses with the use of an iPhone and the latest cutting-edge technology. waddeson.org.uk

LITTLE WELLY, HENLEY-ON-THAMES 6-7 JUNE Run, jump, climb and get seriously muddy! Little Welly is back for its sixth year with new obstacles and an even longer obstacle course. There’s also live entertainment and plenty of food and drink in the festival village, plus Laser Quest and a circus skills workshop.

Exclusive to Wildflower readers, there’s a 10% discount on all ticket types when you use the code WILDFLOWER10 at the checkout. thelittlewelly.co.uk

ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987). DEBBIE HARRY 1980. PRIVATE COLLECTION OF PHYLLIS AND JEROME LYLE RAPPAPORT 1961 © 2020 THE ANDY WARHOL FOUNDATION FOR THE VISUAL ARTS, INC. / LICENSED BY DACS, LONDON

ANDY WARHOL TATE MODERN, LONDON

events

ART OF THE WILD: GERTRUDE HERMES AND THE NATURAL WORLD, HENLEY RIVER & ROWING MUSEUM UNTIL 4 MAY Drawing on the rich collections of Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, this features innovative prints influenced by the British sculptor’s fascination with the natural world, as well as wood engravings of birds, fish and flowers, and her colourful 1950s linocuts. rrm.co.uk

DUXFORD AIR FESTIVAL, DUXFORD, CAMBRIDGESHIRE 23-24 MAY Watch those magnificent men (and women) in their flying machines take to the air for a festival like no other. Representing the past 100 years in aviation, it brings together the classic and the modern, with Spitfires, Chinooks and even wing walkers among the aerial acrobats taking to the skies. On the ground, explore the Imperial War Museum Duxford, home to hangers housing B-52 bombers, Tiger Moths and Concorde. And, if you can’t get enough aviation, there’s another taking place in September to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle Of Britain. iwm.org.uk

STONOR SUPERCAR SUNDAY, OXFORDSHIRE

YOUNG REMBRANDT, THE ASHMOLEAN UNTIL 7 JUNE Exploring the early years of Dutch artist Rembrandt, this new exhibition is the first in the UK to explore his formative years.

Starting from his earliest-known paintings, prints and drawings in the mid-1920s, the installation will continue until the moment he rocketed to stardom in Amsterdam 10 years later. With 34 paintings, including the newly-discovered Let The Little Children Come To Me, visitors will see his astonishing transformation to iconic artist. ashmolean.org

17 MAY Set in a sweeping valley in the heart of the beautiful Chiltern Hills, the lush green lawns of Stonor House will once again be filled with everything from pioneering race cars and classic sportscars to modern hypercars. Petrolheads are in for a real treat — last year’s stars included a pioneering 1932 Bugatti Type 55, two Ferrari 250 SWBs, a mint McLaren F1 and a fleet of modern hypercars including a Lamborghini Huracan Performante. Street food stalls, gourmet picnics and children’s activities such as the Stonor Wonder Woods Adventure Playground, fairground rides and Laser Tag make this a great family day out. stonor.com WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 17

events GIFFORDS CIRCUS, VARIOUS LOCATIONS 9 APRIL–27 SEPTEMBER When Giffords’ inspirational and muchloved founder Nell died last December, she left behind a lasting legacy, bringing the traditional travelling shows of old back to life with a whole new audience.

Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, Giffords is promising one of its most spectacular shows yet with The Hooley, inspired by the rhythms and magic of ancient Celtic culture. For an extra treat, head to Circus Sauce after the show — a unique 60-seater restaurant that follows the circus to each ground. Housed in two showman’s wagons with a wonderful awning lined with old tapestries, the grand candlelit oak tables are set up with Emma Bridgewater crockery and mis-matched cutlery. giffordscircus.com

THE BEAR GRYLLS ADVENTURE, NEC BIRMINGHAM OPEN DAILY Skydive, swim with sharks or tackle an assault course at Bear Grylls Adventure, which promises a truly adrenaline-fuelled family day out. Everybody’s favourite Boy Scout and all-round adventurer, Bear has devised a heart-thumping set of challenges that include escape rooms, Europe’s tallest high ropes course, a zip wire experience like no other, plus archery, shooting and an appropriately named Fear Zone at this brand new attraction from theme-park masters Merlin.

Suitable for ages 8+. beargryllsadventure.com

VE DAY 75 CELEBRATION BLETCHLEY PARK, MILTON KEYNES 8-9 MAY It was one of the first organisations to learn about the surrender of Germany, the day before VE Day was formally announced on 8 May 1945. Now Bletchley Park, the former top-secret home of Britain’s Second World War codebreakers, will be celebrating that momentous event with a family-fun-packed weekend. Enjoy dancing to live 1940s music, plus delicious food and drink at a special street party — you can even “meet” Winston Churchill and listen in to one of his iconic speeches. bletchleypark.org.uk

GARSINGTON OPERA WORMLEY ESTATE 28 MAY-15 JULY Kicking off the season with a programme to make your heart sing, Garsington brings one of Verdi’s rarely performed operas, Un Giorno di Regno, to spectacular life, plus Mozart’s incredible extravaganza Mitridate, re di Pono, composed when he was just 14 years old.

Garsingtonopera.org 18 | SPRING 2020 | WILDFLOWER

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Running mates

back at runfest for another action-packed weekend, athlete extraordinaire paula radcliffe tells wildflower why she is keen to keep spreading the wellness word

20 | SPRING 2020 | WILDFLOWER

T

here’s nothing like a fun-packed festival to kick-start the summer, but many of today’s discerning festival fans are often looking for something a little more enriching for mind, body and soul than the traditional booze, bands and mud bath that often accompany a weekend of live music.

Step forward Virgin Breakfast Show host Chris Evans, who will be hosting his second annual RunFestRun weekend camping festival, dedicated to — you guessed it — running.

“There’s something for everyone — the vibe is very relaxed, familyfriendly and lots of fun,” champion marathon runner Paula Radcliffe tells Wildflower. As one of the team captains at the event, which takes place at Windsor Great Park in May, she is looking forward to introducing as many people as possible to the joys and benefits of running.“It really is such an inspirational weekend,” she says.

Chris agrees. “RunFestRun was off the charts last year,” he says. “It was so completely different to any event I’ve ever been to before.”

EVENTS

CHRIS EVANS

This year’s attendees can expect more of the same feel-good factor as thousands of families and runners from all over the country take part in everything from costumed family fun runs to neon-clad night dashes. There are also plenty of challenging races, meanwhile, where runners compete against each other over distances of up to a half-marathon.

“There was a run for everyone last year — and we will be doing the same this year,” says Paula, who is joined by fellow team captains Steve Cram and Colin Jackson, plus Chris’s wife Natasha. “I love the extra camaraderie and fun created by the team aspect,” she says. “You get your runs in, but also spend some really fun, quality time together with family and friends.”

For those not charging around Windsor Great Park, there are classes to suit all ages and abilities at the Get Active Studio, from the bound-to-be-fabulous Voga — a mix of yoga and Voguing — to high-intensity workout sessions. If you feel you are flagging, there are

inspirational talks a-plenty from the likes of ultra-marathon runner Ben Smith, mental health activist Dan Keeley, track champion Sally Gunnell and many more.

And there’s no need to worry if your kids aren’t as keen on a 5k as you — the organisers have thought of everything. Parents can safely leave their charges at a nurserystyle yurt run by Mortimer Nannies while they run footloose and fancyfree — or head to The Retreat spa for a restorative massage.

Away from the exercise, there is, of course, the music. A spectacular line-up this year includes Toploader, All Saints and The Feeling, as well as a DJ set from Basement Jaxx.

There’s also an extensive shopping village, healthy food stalls — and the opportunity to retox at the bar. We’ve even spied a cheeky cocktail caravan that’ll be pitched up on site.

“There used to be a preconception that if you paid attention to health and wellbeing you couldn’t also have fun and enjoy yourself,” says Paula.

“Going for a run makes me feel better, helps me to gain a better perspective on life and enables me to think more clearly. If I have a problem to solve or a lot of work to do, going for a run helps me to think more clearly and work far more productively” Paula radcliffe

“RunFest clearly demonstrates how wrong this is. Families can come, find something for every family member, spend quality time together, improve their health and wellbeing, listen to some great music, eat some great food and have a lot of fun.”

She is excited, she explains, to be spreading the word to such a big crowd about the benefits of running. “The physical health benefits of running are talked about so often and are fairly obvious, but it is equally beneficial for mental health. Going for a run makes me feel better, helps me to gain a better perspective on life and enables me to think more clearly. If I have a problem to solve or a lot of work to do, going for a run helps me to think more clearly and work far more productively when I get back.

“I believe it makes me a nicer person to be around for the rest of the day.”

RunFestRun, Windsor Great Park 22-24 May runfestrun.co.uk

PAULA RADCLIFFE

STEVE CRAM

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events

Best of the rest wellness festivals SOUL CIRCUS, ELMORE, THE COTSWOLDS

VERVE, CHALKE VALLEY, WILTSHIRE

21-23 AUGUST A festival for healthy hedonistics, Soul Circus is billed as a wellbeing festival where “music, yoga and holistic therapies meets glittery, festival antics and after parties”.

By day, stretch it out in yoga tipis while sipping a green juice, while come night the site comes alive as revellers sip cocktails and dance the night away under the stars.

World-renowned teaches, speakers and musicians only add to the feel-good factor. soulcircus.yoga

5-6 SEPTEMBER Back for its second year, Verve is well worth the weekend away, with its celebration of health, wellness and nature with a unique blend of fitness, food and drink, forest bathing and that all-important Saturday night party. Enjoy Pilates, yoga and meditation, while kids can learn bushcraft, try a yoga class, or take place in art workshops. feeltheverve.com

WELLFEST, OLD DEER PARK, RICHMOND, SURREY 6-7 JUNE Making its debut in the UK after many successful years in Ireland, WellFest brings its high-energy health and wellness to a whole new crowd. With fitness guru Davina McCall launching proceedings, expect inspirational talks, action-packed workouts and plenty of wellness advice from experts in everything from fitness and nutrition to yoga and mental health. Kids, too, are well catered for with special yoga and dance classes. wellfestuk.com

WILDERNESS, CORNBURY PARK, OXFORDSHIRE 39 July-2 August A four-day music, arts, fine dining and wellness festival that takes place on an idyllic lake-side location in the heart of the ancient Oxfordshire parkland. Revellers can expect international musical acts including Foals and Supergrass, wellbeing classes and workshops, as well as wild swimming in the lake — as well as relaxing spa treatments when a spot of rest and relaxation is required. wildernessfestival.com

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 23

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LOVE IS IN THE AIR WITH THIS SEASON’S WHISPER-SOFT FABRICS AND FLOATY FLORALS Iria belt, £35 hush-uk.com

Garment dyed navy linen dress, £130; Lola canvas wide-brimmed hat, £145 toa.st/uk

Seamus high-waisted pleated pant, US$495 goop.com/ g-label

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 25

wyselondon.co.uk @wyselondon

fashion Camille Geo frame sunglasses, £59 jigsaw-online.com Pink green cardigan, £217 jumper1234.com

Mixed lace frill top in ivory, £139 whistles.com

; cord widesilk top, £215 lt, Zip-up pink user and be tro er rm fo legged trans eandem.com m £160

Perusia reversible metallic belt, £49 hush-uk.com

Fion leather trainer, £95 irisfashion. com

SWEET DREAMS

Furla 1927 mini crossbody bag, £255 furla.com

xxx, £xx xxxxxxxx. com

LIGHTEN UP YOUR LIFE WITH SPRING'S PRETTIEST PASTEL SHADES

Sandy open shirt, £119 primroseparklondon.com

Pink cuff bracelet, £89 lesgeorgettes.com

Constellation dress, £1,495 temperley london.com

Mini crescent bag, £425 strathberry.com

Kirkby sandals, £55 hush-uk.com

Cotton batwing sweater, £98; bias-cut skirt, £110; suede toe post strap sandals, £89; silver ox statement cuff, £45 thewhitecompany.com

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 27

@alissyalondon alissyalondon.com

fashion Keira bow neck blouse in mid vintage denim, £60; Richmond 7/8 checked trousers, £65 boden.co.uk

Regatta necker in orange, £55 laslettengland.com

Freya sunglasses, £69 jigsaw-online.com

Ace hairclip, £19 hush-uk.com Alana necklace in brass, £34 wolfandmoon.com

Lacoste women’s Graduate 120 trainer, £77 very.co.uk

PAST PERFECT

Roux cord fitted jumpsuit, £165 irisfashion.co.uk

JOIN THE RETRO REVIVAL WITH BOLD TWEEDS, BRILLIANT SHADES AND PLENTY OF SHINY-BRIGHT ACCESSORIES Hello Sunshine t-shirt, £35 hush-uk.com

Worker cargo jacket, £349 whistles.com

Haddon silver boots, £185 hush-uk.com

Monogram denim Rae Tote, £95 raefeather.com

Jessamine white floral embroidered blouse, £420 beulahlondon.com

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 29

play

Child’s

Bucking the fast fashion trend, Little Cotton Clothes are designed to last — and made to be played in

“We want our clothing to be worn every day”

S

isters Imogen Driver and Leonie Taibi created children’s clothing brand Little Cotton Clothes in 2013 after struggling to find beautiful clothes for their daughters that could also withstand the rigours of childhood play. The duo tell Wildflower all about their design ethos — and what their children really think of their clothes…

We found it hard to find clothes we really loved for our little ones — simple, natural, affordable, but beautiful and practical clothing.

We decided to design some pieces ourselves and didn’t really think anything would come of it, but a friend of ours in India helped us to produce the tiny number of items we started with. Today, we sell online and can be found in over 60 stockists worldwide.

Our clothing is inspired by our childhood. We grew up in the countryside near Worcestershire and loved to be outdoors. Little Cotton Clothes are made for adventurers and explorers — small people with big imaginations, children who want to splash in puddles and climb trees. Mums and dads, meanwhile, want simple, quality clothes that let their children be children. We pride ourselves on the quality and the wearability of our clothes — pieces can be dressed up for a party or down with wellies. We just want our clothing to be worn every day and passed down to siblings for years to come.

Blouse, £25; bloomers, £15

fashion

Blouse with floral yoke,£30

Floral bloomers, £15

Cardigan, £35

Green floral dress, £35

CHECK MATES: (opposite page from left) gingham dress, £35; blouse, £35; bloomers, £15; (above) floral blouse, £30; dungaree shorts, £30; (right) Imogen and Leonie wear blouses from the Ladieswear capsule collection

Every item is designed by us here in England, then handmade in a handful of small factories in India and China.

We choose our factories carefully, making sure that they work ethically and have happy, fairly-paid employees.

All of our clothes are made from natural fabrics and every trim and detail is carefully selected by us. Any waste fabric is donated to a charity in India that recycles it to make clothes for families in need.

We’re known for our florals and small details, but our ethos is simplicity and keeping our collections timeless. We’re inspired by clothing from the 1920s right up to the 1970s — many of our patterns are inspired by antique finds and clothes we wore ourselves as little girls.

We keep the team around us very tight. Our mum does the packing for us and our sister does our customer service. And everything is tested on our children — we have five between us. The girls mostly love our clothes, but Imogen’s two-year-old refuses to wear anything from Little Cotton Clothes — we’re hoping she grows out of that quickly!

Our spring collection is very feminine and delicate, with muted colours inspired by Cornish summer days. The florals are tiny and printed on muslin and poplin. Our favourite is the Maggie dress in tiny buttercup floral — there is something so old-fashioned (in a good way) about the shape of it.

We’ve started using designers to illustrate florals for us and we’re experimenting with new fabrics.

Expanding into ladieswear has also been super exciting. We’ve started with just a few items, but will definitely be expanding in the seasons to come.

The best bit, of course, is that we can design pieces that we love, so we can create our dream wardrobe. NB littlecottonclothes.com WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 31

www.bpcollins.co.uk/personal | 01753 889995

Rule no. 4

Create your own sunshine.

by your side Corporate & commercial | Dispute resolution | Employment | Family | Property | Wills, trusts & probate | Brexit Business immigration | Criminal | Environment

fashion XXXXXX Dummy description £xxx

Dora floral patterned headband, Newbie, £6 newbiestore.com

Martha dress in Cinder Floral, £35 littlecottonclothes.com

Sweatshirt with floral pocket in pink, £12 newbiestore.com

Bluebell prin t Whisper Pink dress in , £32; white cardigan, £3 0; Striped sparkle notc h dr thewhitecom ess, £30 pany.com

NATURE WATCH

Sweatshirt with hood, £16; ribbed knitted hat, £8; animal print leggings £8; animal print sweatshirt, £16, all from the Friendly Farmer collection newbiestore.com

GET YOUR KIDS KITTED OUT FOR THE WARMER WEATHER WITH FLORALS AND FABRICS INSPIRED

BY THE NATURAL WORLD

Brogan blazer, £230; white smart shirt, £79; Dayln chinos, £144 mariechantal.co.uk

Trousers with braces, Friendly Farmer collection, £22 newbiestore.com Edwina yellow exclusive print apron dress, £150 mariechantal.co.uk

Fun low top trainers, from £35 boden.co.uk

Floral dress, Secret Garden collection, £16-20 newbiestore.com

Blossom print dress, £30 polarnopyret.co.uk WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 33

BLUE YONDER

Bursting with beautiful colour, the exquisite carpets of bluebells that adorn woodlands across the country are an uplifting sign that spring is truly on the way

living

O

ne of our best-loved British flowers, bluebells have inspired poets, writers and artists for centuries with their delicate blooms combined with incredible colour. And it’s not just creative types — these flowers attract bees, butterflies and hoverflies in their droves, with their nectar providing vital sustenance in the early spring months.

Ancient deciduous woodlands provide the perfect environment for wild native bluebells — they are happiest in ground that has lain undisturbed for years, with plenty of moisture in winter and shade in summer. They also grow in hedgerows and park or grassland, often following the line of an old hedge or where trees once stood.

Bell-shaped, with six petals and up-turned tips, the sweet-smelling flowers droop to one side of the flowering stem and have creamy white-coloured pollen inside. They are reasonably rare outside the UK, with more than half of the world’s population found in this country. However, their delicate nature has meant the rise of a hardier usurper — widerleaved, upright and scent-free Spanish bluebells were introduced to this country some 300 years ago and hybrids of the two can now be seen in the wild, leading to fears that our fragile native might disappear altogether.

There is nothing like a walk through the dappled shade of an ancient wood to see these brilliantly hued beauties, but do take care: bluebells have soft, succulent and very sensitive leaves. If they are trodden on, they are easily damaged and are then unable to absorb the sun and photosynthesise so they die back. In turn, this means they can’t put food back into their bulbs, reducing their ability to produce flowers and seeds. By sticking to the paths, you will ensure that these fragile flowers are enjoyed for generations to come.

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 35

“There is nothing like a walk through the dappled shade of an ancient wood to see these brilliantly hued beauties�

living

Top ten spots to see bluebells ASHRIDGE ESTATE, NEAR BERKHAMSTED, HERTFORDSHIRE Follow a guided trail through Dockey Wood to see the woodlands as they burst with spring colour. nationaltrust.org.uk

CLIVEDEN HOUSE, TAPLOW, BERKSHIRE Take a self-guided bluebell walk away from the gardens of this infamous country house and into the woods, with panoramic Thames views. clivedenhouse.co.uk

BASILDON PARK, READING, BERKSHIRE 400 acres of beautiful parkland around this imposing country house provide a perfect day out.

Join a ranger-led walk to discover the best places to see bluebells. nationaltrust.org.uk

GREYS COURT, HENLEY-ON-THAMES, OXFORDSHIRE Set in the rolling hills of the Chilterns, the estate grounds surrounding this Tudor house are full of wooded parkland and rambling walks. nationaltrust.org.uk

BLICKLING ESTATE, AYLSHAM, NORFOLK This Jacobean mansion house is surrounded by some 950 acres of woodland and parkland.

Go bluebell spotting on an Estate walk through the Great Wood. nationaltrust.org.uk

HEARTWOOD FOREST, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE Head to Langley Wood within this 858-acre forest. From its easyaccess, all-weather paths, you’ll see a brilliant display of bluebells throughout the spring. heartwood.woodlandtrust. org.uk

FLORAL TRIBUTES: TAKE A WONDROUS WOODLAND WALK THIS SPRING TO ENJOY THE STUNNING SIGHTS OF THE SEAS OF BEAUTIFUL BLUEBELLS

HUGHENDEN, HIGH WYCOMBE, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE With more than 680 acres, the estate around this country house has plenty of the native beech woodland so beloved by bluebells. nationaltrust.org.uk KINGS WOOD, NEAR CHALLOCK, KENT Renowned for its stunning displays of spring bluebells, you’ll find this 1,500 acre ancient woodland in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. visitkent.co.uk

PENN WOOD, NEAR BEACONSFIELD, BERKSHIRE One of the largest ancient woodlands in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this 435-acre wood erupts into a beautiful sea of blue in spring. woodlandtrust.org.uk SISSINGHURST CASTLE GARDEN, NEAR CRANBROOK, KENT Head out of the worldrenowned garden created

by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson, and explore 180 acres of beautiful bluebelldecked woodlands. nationaltrust.org.uk

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 37

From Bentley to Wedgwood, Britain’s luxury brands are the greatest in the world

Walpole is the official body for this sector, which is worth ÂŁ48 billion to the UK economy.

Discover more at thewalpole.co.uk Illustration by Timorous Beasties

BIOPHILIA FOR BEGINNERS | WALLS WITH WOW FACTOR | MASTERING KITCHEN DESIGN

PANEL DISCUSSION: MAKE YOUR WALLS A TRUE TALKING POINT WITH LAPICIDA’S WAINSCOT PANEL CERAMIC WALL TILES, £79 PER SQ M LAPICIDA.COM

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 39

HEART

Connecti Connecting Conn ectinng with with nnature aature ture is iimportant mporrtttant ant for wellbe wellbeing, ing but you don’t have to venture outside to enjoy it, as Anna Sjöström Walton of sustainable interiors store Chalk & Moss explains

interiors

T

he love of nature is deep rooted in many, translating into not just enjoying the great outdoors itself, but bringing the outside in when it comes to interiors. Biophilic — literally, a love of the natural world — design aims to reduce stress and improve wellbeing, as well as create a beautiful home. Anna Sjöström Walton of online biophilic homeware company Chalk & Moss, explains: “We humans have an innate need to connect with nature for our wellbeing and incorporating biophilic design at home can really help you feel happy and healthy.”

She tells Wildflower how to embrace biophilia at home and the impact being more connected to nature can have on your wellbeing...

WILDFLOWER SPRING 2020 41

“Nature-connected homeware design, to me, means a return to simplicity — raw, honest and long-lasting materials in natural colours and textures, with real, breathing, air-purifying, mood-lifting plants” ANNA SJÖSTRÖM WALTON

interiors I’m Swedish and nature really is an important part of who I am. I don’t think I appreciated until I was in my teens how I need to get into the wild for my physical and mental wellbeing. When it comes to my home, I’ve always used natural materials and colours in a calm, Scandinavian style. When I heard about biophilic design for wellness, it was a real light bulb moment — I knew what I wanted to do.

Biophilia refers to our love of life and innate need to connect to nature for wellbeing. So, with biophilic design, the boundary between inside and out is blurred. In the corporate world, it’s been shown that bringing nature into our spaces improves our productivity, creativity and wellbeing, as well as reducing absenteeism. Switched-on companies such as Apple and Google aim to improve the health and wellbeing of their employees and spend huge sums creating green spaces

indoors, outdoor workspaces, expansive nature views, water features and surfaces in natural materials.

However, Chalk & Moss was the first to focus on biophilic design in the home. As awareness of environmental issues has increased, people are eager to find eco-alternatives and I felt making healthy and responsible choices in their homes.

Nature-connected homeware design, to me, means a return to simplicity — raw, honest and long-lasting materials in natural colours and textures, with real, breathing, air-purifying, moodlifting plants. Having natural materials in your home also has the added benefit of reducing toxins and plastic waste, so it goes hand in hand with sustainable living.

When it comes to adding biophilic design elements to your home, research shows that we tend to have a preference for colours, patterns and textures that link to or allude to nature.

Calming interiors with natural textures evoke the calm feeling we experience when we’re in or close to nature. Try to bring in elements such as natural wood flooring and soft furnishings in natural materials such as wool and leather. It can also be artwork, a pattern, a wool blanket or a tactile wooden surface — calming

OUTSIDE IN: INTERIORS WITH NATURAL TEXTURES HELP TO EVOKE THE CALM FEELING EXPERIENCED WHEN IN OR CLOSE TO NATURE

WILDFLOWER SPRING 2020 43

CALMING EFFECTS: ADD BIOPHILIC DESIGN ELEMENTS TO YOUR HOME WITH SIMPLE ARTWORKS, TACTILE MATERIALS AND NATURAL TEXTURES, TOGETHER WITH BEAUTIFUL GREEN PLANTS,

biophilic features that will improve overall feelings of wellbeing. If you’re fortunate to have a green view, angle furniture to look out of a window or a door to the garden. If not, hang plants in front of the window to create a green view.

In my own home, we’ve brought the outside in with wooden floors that match the stone slabs outside, and allow lots of light in through bi-fold doors and four Velux windows.

I love having plants all around the house. Many are herbs to add natural scents. I often work outside, surrounded by sounds, smells and sights.

If you surround yourself

with natural textures, light a comforting candle and care for houseplants, this gives you a calming antidote to daily stresses. You may be less tempted to get back to your laptop or phone and instead opt for a bath, read a book, do some crafts, pick up the guitar or play a board game with your family — you’ll have a better night’s sleep for it. .

When I am choosing the items to sell in my store, what often strikes me is how a product makes me feel and what the maker’s story says about their ethos. I look at how the product is made and from what materials, whether it helps us live sustainably

interiors space. It needs to be either beautiful or useful, a keepsake that won’t need replacing soon. All products in my shop are sustainably and ethically made, free of toxins and made in natural materials.

I work with independent designers, makers and brands that know the lifecycle of their products. If we want to make sustainable choices, it’s really important for us to dig into the backstory of what we buy — don’t feel shy about asking those questions. Among my customers, there’s a clear link between outdoor living, natural interiors, ethical living and sustainability. Those who want to be in nature also care for it deeply. NB chalkandmoss.com

Mete Turkish dressing gown, £95

COMFORT ZONE: LIGHT A CANDLE, TAKE UP CRAFTS AND SURROUND YOURSELF WITH NATURAL TEXTURES FOR AN ANTIDOTE TO DAILY STRESSES

Luks Linen Pom Pom blanket, £105

WILDFLOWER SPRING 2020 45

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interiors

NATURAL WONDERS

Daylesford has always been at the forefront of sustainable living — but it’s not all about the food.

Check out its range of natural homecare products, all kind to the environment but packing a powerful cleaning punch.

From £2.95 daylesford.com

No 3 Eco Wash for Cashmere and Wool From £14.99, clothesdoctor.com

Kinn Eco Friendly Lavender Bathroom Cleaner, £4.25; Glass Cleaner, £4.50 kinn-living.com

SARTORIAL SECRET

CLEAN AND GREEN FROM FOOD WRAPS TO FASHION SAVIOURS, WILDFLOWER BRINGS YOU THE LATEST ECO-FRIENDLY OPTIONS

aiming to cut the environmental costs of fast fashion, clothes doctor offers a range of cleaning, repair and restoration services to prolong the life of your favourite garments. whether your luxe leather jacket needs relining or that vintage designer dress needs an update, just parcel up your clothes and pack them off to its busy workshop in rural cornwall. take a look at its super-eco-friendly clothes-care products, too. clothes-doctor.com

FOR A GREENER HOME

HEAVEN SCENT

Make some deliciously scented as well as environmentally sound additions to your home cleaning kit. With Heart of the Home and Kinn including powerful, antibacterial essential oils in their ranges, cleaning never felt so good!

Heart of the Home from £8.50, re-foundobjects. com

ALL WRAPPED UP

not only practical, these 100% natural reusable food wraps come in a range of pretty prints and are a planetfriendly and very effective alternative to clingfilm.

From £4.99, beegreenwraps.co.uk WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 47

interiors

ENDLESS love

Kitchen trends are a tricky thing. You want the heart of your home to look stylish, but you don’t want to invest in a design that’s soon going to date. Wildflower asked the masters of kitchen design for their thoughts on the latest long-lasting trends for 2020

Words: emma morton-turner

it’s all in the details:

how handles can transform a space Tom Howley, Creative Design Director at Tom Howley Kitchens “Polished chrome handles and hinges punctuate a matte finish, serving as adornments and balancing the space. Using metallic handles to offset a matte-finished kitchen will bring it to life.

I think that the single most underrated element of the overall

design process of a kitchen is the positioning of the handles — it’s an incredibly important and largely overlooked element of kitchen design. There is no particular format; no supporting geometrical theorems. It is intuitive for me and my designers.”

The Hartford collection in Loveage, from £20,000, tomhowley.co.uk WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 49

“This year, we’re going to be seeing a lot more care about where our cabinetry is coming from and being made. Consumers are aware of the issues with fast fashion and there’s a similar trend in interiors of fast furniture. people are becoming more aware of and asking the right questions about where and how their cabinetry is made.”

Elly Simmons, director, Herringbone Kitchens

Cupboards:

sleek, flat-front units give a modern yet classic look

Abigail Ahearn, interior designer “For me, it is all about beautifully designed cabinetry — a modern look, yet classic feel with sleek, flat front units with fuss-free lines in dramatic hues that bring out personality and unique styles.

I want a kitchen that is timeless with a mix of finishes that have been around for ages and will continue to be around for ages. I know that when I stand in my kitchen in 10 years’ time, it wouldn’t have dated and every decision I’ve made I will still love a decade from now” Abigail Ahearn x Herringbone Kitchens, from £5,000, herringbonekitchens.com

unique pieces: make it personal If you have the space, add a big, beautiful and bespoke cabinet to show off all your favourite pieces. Inspired by old museum display cases, DeVol’s stunning Curiosity Cupboards are handmade and hand-painted to the shade of your choice — and are guaranteed to give your kitchen real wow factor.

From £2,800, deVolkitchens.co.uk

interiors

colour: keep it simple

Ishini Perera, Kitchen Designer at Neptune Cambridge “Whether you’re painting the walls the same colour as the cabinets for a blanketed look or seeking stark contrast between cabinet and worktop, colour is the element that brings your home’s foundations to life.

“Using one colour throughout your kitchen means there’s less for your eye to read. Multiple shades will switch your focus as you read one

colour to the next, and creates more obvious dynamism, whereas a single colour simplifies your scheme and give it a constant.

“Walls and cabinetry in dark shades will give you a muted, cosy atmosphere, but there’ll be undertones of bravery and drama.”

Suffolk Kitchen, from £835 for a 600ml cabinet, neptune.com

Colour is the element that brings your home’s foundations to life

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 51

“The use of raw materials that are rich in tones and textures will continue to rise in popularity, Especially natural-inspired colours. patinas such as marble, copper, concrete, slate and rust offer a unique aesthetic.”

Wren Kitchens Design Director, Darren Watts”

INDUSTRIAL edge: take a textured approach

Mix up natural textures such as copper, concrete, wood and glass to give your kitchen a timeless industrial feel. Ticking all the industrial style boxes is this spectacular shelving unit from Wren Kitchen’s Autograph Elements range, which is a unique way to showcase your high-gloss appliances, as well as artfully-designed kitchen utensils.

Shown here in Burnt Flamed Oak & Chalet Oak, prices start from £6,000 for an industrial island, wrenkitchens.com

open secrets:

show off with simple shelving

Open shelving is a simple way to soften any harsh lines in your kitchen. Whether you pack shelves with mismatched glass jars full of cooking essentials and boxes overflowing with herbs, or simply add an artful ornament or two, it’s a trend that will suit every style.

Harvey Jones kitchens, from £20,000, harveyjones.com

52 | SPRING 2020 | WILDFLOWER

fabulous FLOORING:

special effects that go beyond wood

Luxurious vinyl flooring is a hard-wearing alternative for your kitchen.

Keep it natural with a wood effect and add extra wow by laying in a herringbone design. Amtico’s Rotterdam range comes in simple planks that can be laid in a variety of eye-catching designs and comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Signature Rotterdam Oak, £70 per sq m, amtico.com

interiors

METALlICS: shine some light

Charlie Smallbone, founder, Ledbury Studio “Metallics came to the forefront in kitchens last year and I see this continuing for some time yet. What’s important, though, is that the metallics used are not just there for the sake of it or because they add a bit of design edge, but are executed properly. The trend, for me, is metals in the kitchen that look good, have a reason to be there and will last.”

Ledbury Studio kitchens start from £50,000, ledburystudio.com

Discover Danesfield House Hotel & Spa with the stunning surrounding countryside steeped in natural beauty. Danesfield House is now a luxury hotel hideaway that is a must for a weekend away or private celebration and right on our doorstep!

The Hotel has earned itself an esteemed reputation for food. Dining takes place in the magnificent Oak Room with its wood panelling, towering ceiling and huge fireplace and the Orangery and Terrace with views out onto the gardens and Chiltern Hills beyond.

The hotel is a must for that short luxury staycation or the perfect spot for a party to accommodate the whole family.

The award-winning spa, specialising in overall wellbeing and relaxation, features a 20-metre swimming pool, eight treatment rooms, studio and fully equipped gym and offers overnight packages, spa days, treatments and health club membership.

Enquiries: 01628 891010 | enquiries@danesfieldhouse.co.uk Henley Road | Marlow | Buckinghamshire | SL7 2EY | www.danesfieldhouse.co.uk

interiors

Geometrics and textures Bluehex hand-glazed Onda hexagon mosaics in Aquamarine £147.07 per sq m, Fired Earth, firedearth.com

tiles:

add eye-catching contrast Colin Roby-Welford, Creative Director, Fired Earth

“Interiors are becoming all about detail and character, with people wanting to surround themselves with the things that make them happy. Kitchens tend to be filled with strong horizontal and vertical lines created by cabinetry, islands and appliances, so beautiful geometric mosaics or decorative tile designs are a fantastic way of introducing eye-catching visual contrasts”

Natural effects

Be inspired by the organic shapes and shades of nature with these Zellige hand-crafted Moroccan natural clay tiles, glazed in vibrant colours.

Zelige, £110 per sq m, Otto Tiles, ottotiles.co.uk

Go for gloss

With their light-reflecting properties, high-gloss tiles are a great way to brighten up a darker kitchen.

Salerno tile, available in nine colours, £59.40 per sq m, Stone and Ceramic Warehouse, sacw.co.uk WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 55

SPACE ODYSSEYS By mixing old and new, interior designer Hannah Lohan creates unique spaces that tell a story. She talks to Wildflower about her life in style

interiors

W

BACK TO NATURE: LAYERS AND TEXTURES ADD INTEREST TO THE TREE PERCHES AT THE FISH HOTEL IN THE COTSWOLDS

hat led you into a career in interior design?

I have a pretty varied and fairly unconventional background: my career started in television, producing interiors and lifestyle programmes for the BBC and Channel 4. From there, I went on to run my own events company, designing, styling and orchestrating large-scale theatrical parties. I loved the work, but I hated the fact that we had to rip down beautiful sets after just one night — it felt like such a waste. I was determined to do something more permanent, so I decided to retrain at the Interior Design School in north London. It was here I learned how to do technical drawings and space planning, which I absolutely loved. It was a very old-school approach, with training on drawing boards, which I think is a great way to learn. The rest of the course came naturally to me as I was used to developing concepts and mood boards for clients in the events industry, and researching and sourcing suppliers had been a big part of my role in TV.

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 57

What is your particular design philosophy?

The thread that runs through all my careers is storytelling. I’m passionate about creating spaces that draw on the history and heritage of a property and the people who own it. Often it’s a mixture of the two. This is part of the reason why I love to incorporate vintage pieces into schemes — they add interest and a unique quality that feels truly authentic.

Many of your projects are for the hospitality industry. Can you tell us why you love to design for hotels?

My brother and sister-in-law are the founders of Mr & Mrs Smith, the boutique travel specialists, so I’ve been involved in their hotel world for years. When Tamara, my sister-in-law, was pregnant with my niece and nephew, I was lucky enough to go on trips with James as a stand-in Mrs Smith, travelling to amazing places such as Turks & Caicos and Jamaica. James’s enthusiasm for hotels and the guest’s journey certainly rubbed off on me. He was also in event production before he started Mr & Mrs Smith and we both agree that it gives you a fastidious attention to detail, which is so crucial when you’re critiquing — or in my case, designing — hotels.

It’s about creating an experience, a form of immersive theatre.

Every touch point, from the moment guests arrive until they go home, should be considered and fabulous. That’s why I prefer designing hotels, restaurants, pubs or spas to residential projects. I’ll still work on homes, of course, if the client is looking for something particularly imaginative, but I live for that sense of “showtime” you get in hotels.

What is your studio’s approach to a new project?

First, it’s really important to us to spend time with clients and take a very thorough brief. Then we’ll have workshop days in the studio where we use an exercise I learned at design college: you basically take all the key adjectives from your client’s brief and illustrate them in a very abstract way by ripping up magazine articles. There’s no sourcing anything at this stage; it’s about expanding your mind and seeing where the emotions behind the words and images take you. You can end up developing schemes from colours, textures and materials that you never would have thought of otherwise.

I don’t believe ideas should be plucked out of nowhere; they have to be rooted in something, however loosely. You need to honour the creative process — it’s where the magic happens.

What is your approach to the use of paints, wall coverings and fabrics?

I’m obsessed with using wall coverings at the moment. I especially like the grasscloth range from Phillip Jeffries as the colours are so gorgeous. I love layering and texture in interiors, so introducing it to walls and ceilings can create a really interesting backdrop. From chunky woven hessian for a rustic look, to colourful oriental-inspired papers for something slicker, the creative possibilities are endless.

And if you use paint tonally next to wall textures, it can add another dimension to a room that is very pleasing. We work with all sorts of paint suppliers depending on the finish and colour range we need. We’ve also recently discovered a French manufacturer called Ressource that has a spectacular range.

“Designing hotels is about creating an experience, a form of immersive theatre.

Every touch point, from the moment guests arrive until they go home, should be considered and fabulous”

MAKING A SPLASH: THE DUNSTANE HOUSES INCLUDES LUXURY INTERIORS WITH PLENTY OF FLAMBOYANT TOUCHES

interiors Please tell us about Woolsery and how you approached this rather unusual project?

We won the Woolsery commission back in 2017 and it’s a dream project for us. Our clients Michael and Xochi Birch are the founders of social networking site Bebo, and they have bought a number of properties in the North Devon village of Woolsery, the ancestral home of Michael’s family, with the aim of bringing the village back to life. Not only are they lovely to work for, they’re also creative, imaginative and passionate about the task ahead. The scope of work there is huge. We’ve already re-opened the local pub, The Farmers Arms, and completed the Birches’ holiday home. We’re now working on the manor house and several cottages that will become a boutique hotel in 2022. It’s all very exciting.

What other projects have you especially enjoyed undertaking?

Another one of my favourites was the Dunstane Houses hotel in Edinburgh. The owners had the hotel for years and it was in urgent need of updating. I still love looking at the before and after photos. The very handsome Victorian main house was covered in dark wallpaper and swirly carpet. We brought it into the 21st century with light walls and added colour with beautiful Persian rugs and luxurious textiles. We made sure we included some flamboyant touches and extravagant wallpapers here and there — not only to celebrate the building’s decadent neo-classical architecture, but also as a nod to Shirley, the owner, who really loves a splash of glamour. It was a fine balance, creating a timeless look that was bold and fun, but still tasteful and restrained where it needed to be.

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 59

You mention that you enjoy mixing old and new — vintage pieces with modern.

How do you source such pieces?

Visiting flea markets, antiques fairs and auction houses has been a hobby of mine for a long time. I love the excitement of not knowing what you’re going to find and I enjoy seeing all the crazy stuff that people load into their cars at the end, from stuffed alligators to 1970s home bars. It’s wonderful to watch all these things start a new life. One of my favourite events is the IACF (International Antiques and Collectors Fair) in Ardingly, West Sussex — it’s a lovely rustic showground that fills up with traders from all around Europe a few times a year. It’s great to be outdoors all day and the banter and bartering is all part of the fun.

Tell us about your shop...

I used to go in to the Old Cinema in Chiswick, West London, to source pieces for clients. As the name suggests, it’s a former cinema that is now full of different dealers selling all sorts of vintage, retro and antique artefacts and furniture. I went in one day three years ago and they were just completing an extension on the back. I asked about it and they said it was available for rent, so I went for it. It was impulsive, but it’s the best thing I’ve done.

We sell all sorts of things, from vintage rugs to industrial dining tables. We’ve also started to include some interesting new things from worldwide suppliers.

I try to pick up new artisans to work with wherever I go, whether that means hand-dyed cushions from Sri Lanka or ceramics from Italy.

Are there any suppliers that you particularly enjoy working with?

We definitely have a few favourites that we have worked with for years.

For lighting, I love Fritz Fryer (fritzfryer. co.uk), which has a wonderful range of decorative antique lamps. For something a bit different, Rothschilds & Bickers (rothschildbickers.com) do glass pendants and wall lights in beautiful colours — you can mix and match all its fittings and cable colours, too. We’ve also started to stock some wonderful pieces from Danish homeware brand Madam Stoltz

(madamstoltz.dk) in our shop — its not vintage, but for me it’s about mixing old and new. It’s also a very ethical company that supports a charity in India that helps mothers and children.

What are your favourite trends this year?

The 2020 Pantone colour of the year is Classic Blue, reminiscent of the sky at dusk. Blue is definitely the new grey for homes this year. This shade in particular is so versatile and will go with so many other accent colours — I love pairing blues with a bit of matt blush pink.

Traditional British prints such as William Morris fabrics and wallpapers paired with clean, modern furniture will be a big trend this year. It’s that juxtaposition that’s key. I love the designs from Lewis & Wood and Linwood, which are both classic in their approach but have a fresh, modern feel. “Maximalism” is also here to stay in 2020 — clashing prints and patterns with eclectic furniture styles. It’s a fine art to not make a pig’s ear of it, but it looks so good when you get it right — which I like to think we do.

“Make your Easter table really special, with a mishmash of brass candle sticks and green candles with lots of fresh flowers in between” What advice would you give to our readers who want to revamp their homes for spring?

First, a good declutter is very cathartic.

I do one every year and my head instantly feels better when my house is organised. Next, add some greenery.

Plants instantly freshen up your home and create a feeling of calm. I just ordered a few from Patch (patchplants. com) which, helpfully, provide online videos on how to keep them alive.

Then, switch your soft furnishings from winter to spring. Bed and sofa cushions are easy to swap out,

especially if you just store the covers and keep using the inners. Madam Stoltz’s cushion selection includes some lovely modern floral patterns in spring colours, from muted oranges to yellows, blues and greens — we’ve got a great selection coming in to our shop soon. We’re currently selling some gorgeous kilim rugs, too, for very good prices — they’re a great way of injecting colour into your house, too. We also have a wonderful French lady who hand-dyes beautiful vintage linens — her green tablecloths and napkins are perfect for spring. And if you want to make your Easter table really special, a mishmash of brass candle sticks with tonal green candles will look lovely with lots of fresh flowers in between.

When you are not designing, how do you like to relax?

I love spending time with my niece, nephew, brother and sister-in-law. We’re a very close family who do a lot of stuff together. I love to cook — we all enjoyed a Mexican Boxing Day at mine last year, which was brilliant. Tacos and margaritas make a nice change from turkey and I styled the house in brightly coloured festoons and a piñata. Entertaining is a great excuse to use all my lovely crockery I’ve collected over the years and to indulge my obsession with styling. I also love being outdoors, walking and wild swimming. I’ve recently started an annual walking weekend with girlfriends in the Brecon Beacons.

We stay at Oldlands, an old school friend’s place that has holiday cottages for rent, which I highly recommend for families. Breathtaking scenery and epic landscapes are so good for the soul — and are best followed by dinner and a lovely bottle of red in the Black Bear Inn, which is definitely my favourite pub in the area. I’m also becoming rather obsessed with camper vans and I think this year may be the year that I splash out.

Obviously it will have to have a beautiful interior… Otherwise, work does keep me busy. I’m actually planning on expanding our shop this year and launching our own line of ceramics, so watch this space! hannahlohaninteriors.com

interiors

STYLE SECRETS: (CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT): VINTAGE ITEMS FOR SALE AT HANNAH’S ECLECTIC SHOP IN CHISWICK; THE DINING ROOM AT THE FISH HOTEL; THE FARMERS ARMS IN WOOLSERY; THE BIRCHES HOLIDAY HOME IN WOOLSERY; THE TREE PERCHES AT THE FISH HOTEL

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 61

TAKE A WALK Unleashing a riot of glorious colour, the best-dressed rooms this season are bursting with the boldest botanicals. From joyous jungle scenes complete with resident wildlife to huge handdrawn florals that celebrate the beauty of the garden in stunning close-up, there is something to suit every home — and breathe new life into the concept of a feature wall

Sepia Flowers From ÂŁ29 per sq m wallsauce.com

INTERIORS

“We’ve seen a shift in trends when it comes to floral design,” says Rachel Kenny, Head of the design studio at wallpaper mural specialists Wallsauce. “Whether it be a wall covering or a cushion, demand has taken a

DELICATE MATTER

with its dainty dragonflies, fluttering butterflies and plump peonies, sanderson’s andhara wallpaper is as pretty as a picture — and perfect for a first foray into the world of florals. in a classic archive print rooted in Chinoiserie, it’s available in five colourways to bring a delicate charm to any room.

backgrounds to giant, bold florals on deep, dark and intriguing backgrounds.”

As designers continue to look to the natural world for inspiration, this is a trend that bucks the muted shades of the everpopular Scandi look. This is a more surreal approach to style that brings the outside in in all its colourful glory.

Delicate botanical drawings from yesteryear provide a huge mine of inspiration, reimagined as vast blooms that would grace any garden in Alice’s Wonderland, together with all sorts of brilliant-hued birds and curious creatures.

This is not a look for shrinking violets — be bold and embrace your inner anthophile with this season’s most exuberant wallcoverings, all hand-picked by the Wildflower team.

From £79 per roll, stylelibrary.com

Stand-out style Contrast vibrant patterned walls with a simple, vivid shade that will make those fabulous floral details really stand out.

Menagerie W6950-01, £102 per roll, Matthew Williamson at Osborne & Little osborneandlittle.com

Keep it green in natural shades.

Sanderson Madhu in Celeste £79 per m stylelibrary.com

Rachel Kenny, Wallsauce WILDFLOWER SPRING 2020 63

pick of the bunch

It’s not just exotic birds and blooms — this trend embraces all things natural. wallpapers adorned with delicatelydrawn, vibrant-hued fruits aren’t only for the kitchen, though. looking almost good enough to eat, this luscious capri lemons wallpaper from barneby gates is guaranteed to bring mediterranean sun and sparkle to any room scheme. “We couldn’t bottle the scent unfortunately, but hopefully we’ve managed to evoke the feeling of lazy days in the shade of lemon trees,” says barneby gates co-founder vanessa barneby. £93 per 10m roll, barrnebygates.com

Paradise found

Timorous Beasties is renowned for its statement-making wallcoverings — and this tropical-themed print, with its riot of flora and fauna, doesn’t disappoint.

Merian Palm Superwide wallpaper, £126 per m, timorousbeasties.com

Jess Howard, MuralsWallpaper

Sanderson’s Anaar tree, £79 per roll stylelibrary.com

INTERIORS Delicate botanical drawings from yesteryear provide a huge mine of inspiration, reimagined as vast blooms that would grace any garden in Alice’s Wonderland.

Turn over a new leaf Create your very own oasis of calm with the large, lush leaves of MuralsWallpaper’s Vintage Botanicals collection. Based on the detailed drawings of 18th-century artist Pierre-Joseph Redouté, these thoroughly modern prints bring the intricate beauty of botany to glorious life.

From £36 per sq m, muralswallpaper.com WILDFLOWER SPRING 2020 65

Bug’s life Brightly coloured bugs and butterflies provide an endless source of interiors inspiration. Give small spaces an insect-friendly burst of life with this anatomical-style print from Clarke & Clarke.

Papilo wallpaper, ÂŁ39 per roll, wallpaperdirect.com

INTERIORS

MIRROR, MIRROR

the natural world provides inspiration of a different kind for anthology’s foxy wallpaper. reminiscent of the natural foxing found on antique mirrors and metallic surfaces, it has a subtle, softly distressed effect that adds a contemporary edge.

fan club

feathers, fans and flowers are the main feature of these fabulous curtains. set against a plain backdrop, they bring bold contrast as well as earthy appeal to your space.

Hakimi fabric by Sanderson, £89 per m, stylelibrary.co.uk

£119 per roll, stylelibrary.co.uk

From brilliant blues to gentle greens, the natural shades of the outside world provide the perfect backdrop to this season’s bold schemes. Shake up your style with soft-sheened cushions and curtains in vibrant shades bursting with brilliant swirls of pattern, set against a plain wall or piece of furniture. Add natural texture — soft woods and shimmery metals— and plenty of pretty plants. Above all, be brave and unearth your hidden explorer.

Pavone by Clarke & Clarke, £39 per roll, wallpaperdirect.com

Sanderson Kasuri wallpaper, £46.90 per roll, stylelibrary.co.uk

Vanessa Barneby, Barneby Gates

WILDFLOWER SPRING 2020 67

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@WILDFLOWERMAGAZINE

CREATIVE, INFORMED AND ALWAYS INSPIRING. JOIN THE WILDFLOWER NETWORK TODAY

interiors

PHOTOGRAPH BY AGA PUTRA ON UNSPLASH

BLOOM WILD

BY BARI J ACKERMAN Abrams, £21.99 Already a favourite in the interiors world with her floral-filled wallcoverings and fabrics, Bari J Ackerman reveals her design secrets in this fabulous book. Packed full of practical advice for adding florals to every room of the house, it also has easy do-it-yourself tips, detailed source lists and advice on staying within budget. From wallpaper and upholstery to table settings and lampshades, Ackerman shows how to create a gorgeous, layered floral look that will lift the mood of the whole house.

enjoy and

W

ith its bright blooms bursting into life, Spring is the season for new beginnings. For those looking for a style shake-up, we have the perfect books for you, packed full of inspirational advice and ideas that take their cues from the brilliant colours and fabulous flora that are in abundance at this glorious time of year. So grab a coffee, snuggle into the sofa and turn the pages of these big, bold and beautiful books, each guaranteed to make your heart sing...

Floral-fil le

s to inspi k o o re db

BLOOMING MARVELLOUS

PRINTS CHARMING

BY JOHN LOECKE AND JASON OLIVER NIXON Abrams, £25 The exuberant duo behind US-based interior design company Madcap Cottage show readers how to create a seriously stylish, pattern-packed home in this bright, lively book. Readers will learn how to choose, use and layer patterns to create fresh, exciting and unique spaces. The book is delightfully illustrated with inspiring images of design elements and finished rooms, with plenty of DIY projects to try, plus those all-important dos and don’ts.

LONDON IN BLOOM

BY GEORGIANNA LANE Abrams, £14.99 Photographer Georgianna Lane is renowned for her love of flowers and her romantic, light-filled style of shooting them. London in Bloom — the third in her Cities in Bloom trilogy, which has also taken her to New York and Paris — is packed full of beautiful images as she takes readers on a unique tour of the city, showcasing the botanical beauty of the capital’s fabulous parks, romantic gardens, chic florists and lively flower markets.

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 69

Create your perfect garden with fine quality designs, hand crafted

by Haddonstone Call 01604 770711

Visit haddonstone.com

DELIGHTFUL DAHLIAS | PERFECT PATIO PICKS | GO-TO GARDENS

HIDDEN TREASURES Set to delight audiences of all ages, much-loved children’s classic The Secret Garden comes to cinemas across the country this summer. Starring Colin Firth and Julie Walters, plus newcomer Dixie Egerickx as orphan Mary Lennox, the film is a new take on Frances Hodgson Burnett’s timeless novel, with the action set in the aftermath of the Second World War. Expect some glorious garden locations from makers StudioCanal, such as Ilford Manor’s wonderfully wild planting, steep stone terraces and hidden statues tucked into the idyllic Frome Valley in Wiltshire.

The Secret Garden is in cinemas from August

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 71

HOMEGROWN SUCCESS From her love of dahlias to her favourite daily dish, celebrated gardener, cook, TV presenter and author Sarah Raven shares her secrets

gardens

“I am really hands on in the business — I like to get my hands dirty!” says Sarah Raven, describing life at her working farm, Perch Hill.

Set in the rolling East Sussex countryside, the 90 acres of glorious grounds are something of a mecca for keen gardeners everywhere, providing open days and a wealth of courses presided over by gardening guru Sarah. An on-site shop and extensive online store, meanwhile, provide Sarah’s carefully selected seeds and bulbs.

It’s a busy life, as Sarah explains. “I trial every bulb, every seed and every perennial and shrub in my garden here at Perch Hill Farm before it goes into the catalogue. We select plants on whether they perform well, without too much tender loving care. For cut flowers, we record how long they flower and how many buckets we are able to pick from them per square metre, so we can directly compare one with the next.

“Also, of course, we only include things that we find very lovely,” she laughs.

With her renowned love of plants, the hard work is something Sarah welcomes. “I was actually a doctor before I moved into this world. I had a tiny SARAH baby but, working on a very busy renal unit, I had an early ward round at the start of most days and one quite late in the evening — I was barely seeing my baby. I took time out intending to go back — but I never did,” she says.

Instead, a life of bucolic bliss beckoned. “I was inspired by my love of plants to do something else and change careers,” she explains. “From an early age, I had always loved picking flowers and when I moved to the country from London, that’s the first thing I did — make a mini patch of flowers I could pick. My business literally grew from the experiments I did with that.”

Her book The Cutting Garden soon followed which, with its practical advice combined with innovative ideas for beautiful flower arrangements, became a runaway bestseller, as well as winning the Garden Writers’ Guild Award for Best Specialist Gardening Book. More best-selling books followed and Sarah also become a well-known face on TV, presenting BBC Gardeners’ World, as well as other nature and gardening shows.

However, it is Perch Hill — her family home as well as business — where she is usually to be seen, teaching as well as gardening. Sarah and her husband Adam Nicolson made the move to the-then rather ramshackle ex-dairy farm some 25 years ago and have since converted it into a range of cutting, ornamental, rose and herb gardens, all purely organic. They have also introduced a herd of Sussex cattle and a flock of Romney cross sheep.

It’s a perfect environment for the successful business.

“Our courses at Perch Hill are always popular, particularly ‘Grow Your Own Cut Flowers’ and ‘Magnificent Pots’, plus RAVEN ‘Year-Round Veg’,” Sarah explains. “Interest in growing your own — whether flowers or vegetables — appears to be at an all-time high.”

She extols the virtues of natural-looking gardens and the beautiful blooms they produce.

“I want flowers that look like they are home grown,” she says. “I love the look of flowers that have come straight from the garden, rather than mono-cultural, greenhouse-grown varieties with regular, straight stems. Home-grown flowers have much more variability, shape and scent.

“I really like things to look loose, unfussy, not over-

PHOTOGRAPHY © JONATHAN BUCKLEY

“From an early age, I had always loved picking flowers and when I moved to the country from London, that’s the first thing I did — make a mini patch of flowers I could pick. My business literally grew from the experiments I did with that”

WILDFLOWER SPRING 2020 73

It’s not only beneficial for the bees, though. “Gardening is so therapeutic and so good for your mental health and wellbeing,” says Sarah. “We like to support TWIGS (Therapeutic Work In Gardening in Swindon) in any way we can. It aims to give people who experience mental health problems the chance to regain confidence and self-esteem, and to learn new skills — all vital work.”

PHOTO BY AARON BURDEN ON UNSPLASH

When choosing flowers to grow, Sarah also has an eye on the local wildlife. “It’s really important to support Britain’s bee population,” she says. “I would say to anyone planning a garden to try and choose flowers where you can see the reproductive parts of the flower — the filaments, anthers and stigma. If you can see them, the bees almost certainly can, too, and there should be plenty of pollen and nectar for them to forage.”

gardens

O

f course, it’s not just gardening that Sarah is famous for — she is a renowned cook and has produced several successful cookbooks exploring seasonal food, including the award-winning Garden Cookbook.

“My most recent book, Good Good Food, seemed to be the obvious book for me to write, combining my background in health with my love of cooking and growing food,” says Sarah. “I am hugely proud of it, drawing together a lot of quite indigestible — sorry for the pun —

scientific data and putting it across in an easy-to-understand way.”

Sarah is a renowned exponent of cooking and eating seasonally. “I love to change ingredients week by week, not just month by month,” she says. “The one constant I have every day is a homegrown, home-picked salad with maybe five just dress it with a good extra virgin olive oil, cider vinegar and salt — delicious!”

Between writing — Sarah’s next book detailing her gardening year is out in

Spring 2021 — gardening and cooking, there is little time to relax, although she makes time to walk her dogs. “I love spending time walking them by the sea.

Big landscapes and huge views are good for creative thinking,” she says. “I also love to visit Crete whenever I can — I love the wild flowers there, the unspoilt simple life that people lead and it’s my favourite fished-straight-from-the-sea or pickedfrom-outside-the-door-that-day sort of food.” Growing your own has never tasted so good.

There are many versions of squid stew, but this one has a particularly rich flavour.

Squid goes brilliantly with tomatoes and together they make excellent heart-healthy food.

Serves 4

1 tbsp cold-pressed rapeseed oil 1 small onion or shallot (about 150g), finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 600g tomatoes, chopped, or 1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes 200g small waxy new potatoes

8-10 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, roughly chopped 800g squid, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 small sprig of rosemary 3 sprigs of thyme 100g Kalamata olives 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 30g flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

PHOTOGRAPHY © JONATHAN BUCKLEY

Method

1. Heat the rapeseed oil over a medium heat in a large frying pan or hob-proof casserole dish. Add the onion or shallot and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for a further 3 minutes until the onion and garlic are slightly softened, but not browned.

2. Add the tomatoes along with the potatoes and sun-dried tomatoes. If using tinned tomatoes, fill half the tin with water, give it a swirl and add that to the pan as well. Stir and simmer for 20 minutes until the potatoes are cooked. Pour in a splash of water if it looks too dry. During this time, add the squid, rosemary and thyme sprigs to the pan (the squid will need 5-15 minutes cooking, depending on the size).

3. Season to taste. Stir in the olives and the olive oil. Leave to stand for 5 minutes. Remove the rosemary and thyme twigs.

Sprinkle with parsley and serve with a green side salad.

WILDFLOWER SPRING 2020 75

Sarah Raven’s top tips on where to see beautiful natural flowers this season

PHOTOGRAPHY © JONATHAN BUCKLEY

APRIL: the Thames water meadows in Cricklade, Wiltshire, to see fritillaries.

MAY: the chalky Kent coast to see orchids, particularly Lizard orchids in Sandwich Bay. JUNE: the Burren in County Clare, Ireland to see Arctic and Alpine flowers growing alongside Mediterranean species — coastal flowers meet mountain flowers such as gentians.

JULY: the Outer Hebrides in Scotland to see cornflower weeds such as pansies and marigolds, alongside plethoras of orchids.

gardens

PHOTO BY ANNIE SPRATT ON UNSPLASH

“I want flowers that look like they are home grown. I love the look of flowers that have come straight from the garden, rather than monocultural, greenhouse-grown varieties with regular, straight stems. Home-grown flowers have much more variability, shape and scent”

WILDFLOWER SPRING 2020 77

My favourites for 2020 are “Shipper’s Bronze” and (sorry to say!) Sarah Raven, both brilliant for bees and excellent cut flower and border fillers, flowering from July until October.

It’s so easy to grow your own, too — they are cut and come again plants, which means that the more you cut them, the more flowers you will get. Once you have picked your flowers, condition them (usually by searing stem ends in boiling water for 15 seconds), rest them in cold, deep water overnight and then arrange. So it’s pick, condition, rest, arrange — that’s my mantra.

PHOTO BY OLGA KURI ON UNSPLASH

My favourite flowers are dahlias — I love them! There’s such a huge and ever-increasing range available, too, and they are the lowest-maintenance, highest-producing plant anyone can grow as a cut flower.

I first fell in love with them on a visit to Monet’s garden at Giverny, France and spotted a variety called “Rip City” — a dark, luscious crimson. I bought three plants to bring home and grow — it’s very vigorous and an outstanding performer.

gardens

PHOTOGRAPHY © JONATHAN BUCKLEY

20% off everything you need for a beautiful garden

Sarah Raven has exclusive planting ideas and collections, and sources the best-quality bulbs and plants. All orders are delivered with full planting and growing instructions. Wildflower readers can receive 20% off* Sarah Raven’s entire range of bulbs, plants and seeds from now until the end of April.

To claim your 20% off* visit sarahraven.com or call 0345 028 0283 and quote offer code WILD20 TERMS & CONDITIONS: *OFFER VALID UNTIL 30 APRIL 2020. CANNOT BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER OFFER OR DISCOUNT. STANDARD P&P CHARGES APPLY. FOR FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS VISIT SARAHRAVEN.COM/TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.

WILDFLOWER SPRING 2020 79

INSPIRED BY YOUR LOVE OF GIN (& OURS).

LOCALLY FORAGED & HOMEGROWN

WE USE

BOTANICALS TO DISTIL OUR GREAT TASTING GIN(S).

OR

Great

OUTDOORS Get your garden spring-ready with our pick of this season’s sofas, shades and styles to suit your outdoor space

gardens LOCAL COLOUR

Breathe new life into your garden furniture with Superdec, Sadolin’s colour-popping woodstain — which is available in no less than 300 tinted shades. Water-borne and highly durable, it is easily applied to both new and previously painted surfaces, providing protection — as well as bold, bright colour— for up to 10 years.

Superdec in Crazy Daze (wall) and Blue Peter (bench), from 335 for 2.5l, sadolin.co.uk

Turn up the heat in Scandi style with Morsø’s Forno Grill II. £599, morso.co.uk

art of glass

With its handmade-to-order range endorsed by no less than the Royal Horticultural Society, Hartley Botanic is renowned as the gardener’s go-to when it comes to greenhouses. Whether looking for a contemporary addition to a modern space or a Victorian style classic for a cute cottage garden, you will find a creation to suit. hartley-botanic.co.uk

SERVICE CENTRE

Serve drinks to your garden guests in style with this pretty but oh-so-practical enamelcoated steel tray from Garden Trading. £30, gardentrading.co.uk

set in stone

Light up your landscape with these unique globes. By day a decorative garden ornament, at night they give your garden a gorgeous soft glow. Available in six different stone-effect colour finishes, they are perfect for pathways or plant beds and are oh-so-easy to install.

From £109, stoneglobelights.co.uk WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 81

PLUMP UP THE VOLUME With feathers, fronds, butterflies and bugs, Clarke & Clarke celebrates all things bright and beautiful with its Botanica range of fabrics. In hardwearing linen mix, use to create cushions and curtains guaranteed to bring the outside into your home in all its glorious colour.

From £30.50 per metre, clarke-clarke.co.uk

small wonders

soak up the sunshine whatever size your outdoor space with garden trading’s rive droite bistro set. available in five chic shades, it’s perfect for a compact patio or balcony — simply fold away should the sun have second thoughts. £120, gardentrading.co.uk

Add a splash of spring colour with Vanderhurd’s zesty-bright cushions.

Paravento (left) £158; Dahlia £640,vanderhurd.com

FIVE STAR When you are weary of all the weeding, relax in superb style on Bridgman’s luxurious modular sofa. Lounging credentials are second to none on this sumptuous five-piece set, which features fully waterproof seat and back cushions on a handmade, hard-wearing rattan base that’s suitable for all weathers.

The modular style means it can fit all kinds of spaces, too. Add the arms-reach rectangular coffee table and the afternoon is all set for loafing around.

Five piece Kingston modular sofa set, £5,799 bridgman.co.uk 82 | SPRING 2020 | WILDFLOWER

gardens

Potted charm Add a touch of contemporary chic to your

outdoor space with these coates planters from garden trading. available in three sizes, these sturdy pots are Made from tough fibre clay, making them strong enough to withstand all weathers.

art beat

Small £20, medium £40, large £65, available from May, gardentrading.co.uk

Big William parasol, £750

We love a pretty parasol — and there is surely none prettier than the William Morris range from the East London Parasol Company. Frames and covers are handmade by artisans in India, while 10% of sales go to the William Morris Gallery, increasing the feelgood factor even further.

From £450, eastlondonparasols.com

SOFA SO GOOD

tapping into the trend for all things retro, john lewis’s salsa range brings a spot of sixties style to your outdoor area. made from sturdy steel and rattan, you’ll find tables, chairs, sofas and even a super-cool swing seat, all available in brilliantly bold colours bursting with the joys of spring.

Salsa two-seater garden sofa, £120, johnlewis.com

bath time

Indulge in a spot of bird watching with this Baluster stone bird bath, which will keep your feathered friends perfectly preened. Available in colours from terracotta to slate, its simple style suits any space and it will weather beautifully over the years. £185, haddonstone.com

Plastic fantastic Made entirely from recycled plastic bottles, Weaver Green’s range of rugs, throws and cushions don’t just look good — they are cleaning up the planet, too.

For use indoors or out; this snuggly-soft set is hardwearing and easy to clean.

From £45, weavergreen.com

OPEN-AIR CINEMA IN BEAUTIFUL PLACES Bringing awe-inspiring films to stunning and unique locations for all to enjoy.

We share a love of cinema and are dedicated to making every event special.

COMING THIS SUMMER 2020… STUBBINGS ESTATE-MAIDENHEAD Dirty Dancing (12) - 5th June Rocketman (15) - 6th June

More classic films coming on these dates - 31st July, 1st August

HARROW AND HOPE VINEYARD-MARLOW Bohemian Rhapsody (12) - 25th July

HARLEYFORD GOLF CLUB-MARLOW Rocketman (15) - 11th September

CHILTERN OPEN-AIR MUSEUM-CHALFONT ST G Mamma Mia! (PG) - 12th September

To book tickets go to fireflyevents.co.uk For enquiries call 01628 302125 or email hello@fireflyevents.co.uk

gardens

Best of the rest

Neighbourhood watch

Why friendship is top of the agenda at the Royal Horticultural Society

RHS/JO THOMPSON.

T

here is probably no better mood booster than a spot of gardening — and if it helps you meet people, too, it really can’t be beaten. With the theme Sowing the Seeds of Friendship, the RHS is encouraging everyone to make friends through gardening for this year’s National Garden Week. Gardeners up and down the country are being asked to join events and gardening clubs, invite neighbours to garden parties, volunteer at an RHS garden and much more for this perennially popular event.

“We hope National Gardening Week will lead to hundreds of budding new friendships,” says Guy Barter, Chief Horticulturalist, RHS. And it’s all about friendship at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, with a very special garden devoted to making friends. Promoting gardens and gardening for good mental health, the RHS Garden for Friendship has been designed by award-winning designer Jo Thompson in collaboration with TV and radio presenter and super-keen gardener Zoe Ball.

Reflecting an urban street, the garden will give plenty of ideas on bringing colour and life to front gardens, balconies, window boxes and community spaces, with roses and poppies giving brilliant bursts of colour, and plenty of edible herbs and delicious vegetables.

Loneliness is a big issue in the UK, with some 52% of people saying in a recent poll commissioned by the RHS that they have experienced feeling alone. Initiatives such as the Garden for Friendship aim to get people outside to reconnect with nature — and meet their neighbours. “Just the mere fact that greening the front of your property and streets gets you outside means there is more chance of seeing people and starting up conversations with your neighbours to help build a friendly community,” says Jo. “Everyone involved hopes it encourages people to think about and care for people around them and consider taking part in community activities, like gardening, to create happier places to live,” says Professor Tim Kendall, National Clinical Director for Mental Health for NHS England.

And that’s not all — a national competition saw Kent and Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust win the RHS Garden for Friendship — it will be recreated after the Show by Jo using the plants and some of the landscaping to create a garden for patients and staff to enjoy.

National Gardening Week 27 April-3 May RHS Chelsea Flower Show, London May 19-23 rhs.org.uk

Harrogate Flower Show 23-26 APRIL The rip-roaring 1920s are the theme of this year’s show, celebrating a century of North of England Horticultural Society shows. As well as discovering the popular plants and garden designs of the time, visitors are also encouraged to dress the part, with a daily prize for the best outfits. With talks and demonstrations across four theatres, the show also features Britain’s biggest exhibition of flower arranging and floristry. flowershow.org.uk

Spring Walk and Lunch with The Head Gardener, Swiss Garden, Shuttleworth House, Bedfordshire 24 APRIL Take a tour of the spectacular Swiss Garden at historic Shuttleworth House with the estate’s head gardener and learn all about its history and recent restoration.

Highlights include swathes of daffodils throughout beautiful Rhododendrons, plus alpine plants in the Rock Garden. Lunch in the Garden Room afterwards offers plenty of opportunity to chat with the gardening team. shuttleworth.org

RHS Malvern Spring Festival, Worcestershire 7-10 MAY Now in its 35th year, this ever-popular event promises to be a real show stopper, with seven stunning gardens exploring everything from contemplation to Mediterranean coves.

There are also innovative shipping container gardens, a fabulous Floral Marquee, inspirational displays and, of course, plenty of food, drink, shopping and family fun. rhs.org.uk

The National Flower Show, Chelmsford 17-19 MAY With the theme of “Let’s Go to the Movies”, expect to be wowed by the florally created World of Oz. Set in the magnificent surroundings of Hylands House, you’ll also find the Floral Pavilion brimming over with beautiful blooms, plus a Food and Drink Pavilion, and Home and Country Pavilion full of gifts, jewellery and luxury goods. nationalflowershow.co.uk

The Kent Garden Show, Maidstone 23-25 MAY This long-running show at the Kent Showground is now in its 28th year and features some 300 exhibitors covering all aspects of gardening, from tiny plants to towering trees. Three main halls feature floral displays, flower arranging, crafts and food. kentgardenshow.com

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 85

promotion LIGHT TOUCH: HARTLEY BOTANIC’S GREENHOUSES ARE HANDMADE TO ORDER

HOUSE STYLE

with its bespoke, handmade and beautiful horticultural buildings, hartley botanic adds elegance to any garden

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beautiful garden deserves a beautiful garden building — and with its elegant, handmade Greenhouses and Glasshouses, Hartley Botanic is the horticulturalist’s choice.

Based in Greenfield, Lancashire, the company was founded in 1938 by brothers Vincent and Norman Hartley following their groundbreaking aluminium Greenhouse design — the first time aluminium had been used in Greenhouse construction and marking a huge improvement on its wood and wrought iron forerunners.

Today, Hartley Botanic is the manufacturer of choice for leading horticulture organisations, institutions and designers in the UK and worldwide — and its entire range is even endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society.

Every Hartley Botanic Greenhouse or Glasshouse is handmade to order to your exact requirements, using only the finest materials to ensure the very best results.

Designs are available from three ranges (Victorian, Heritage and Modern) or customers can create a totally bespoke design, in a variety of colours and sizes, along with options for “glass to ground” installation, free-standing or lean-to and internal glazed partitions.

Standard for every Hartley Botanic horticultural building: • 30 Year Lifetime Guarantee (structure and installation) • Bespoke solutions to suit requirements • Full installation service or self-assembly for select designs • Polyester powder coated paint finish • Top-hung opening lights for efficient ventilation* • Single glazing in BS6206 tempered safety glass • Glazing in individual frames • No glass-to- glass or glass-to-metal contact in glazing • Unique clear span roof design (no internal support to impede space)* *with the exception of Patio Greenhouse

FIND OUT MORE: hartley-botanic.co.uk Email: info@hartleybotanic.co.uk; Tel: 01457 819 155 Hartley Botanic, Wellington Road, Greenfield, Oldham OL3 7AG

Why Hartley Botanic?

Unrivalled, unparalleled and unique — there are Glasshouses and there are Hartley Botanic Glasshouses.

Combining inspired design with enduring quality, nothing quite enhances your garden like a Hartley Botanic building. Five key areas set the Hartley Botanic service apart:

A reputation built on trust Hartley Botanic’s brand heritage and reputation has been built on trust for more than 80 years. It has earned an unrivalled reputation for crafting the finest Glasshouses and Greenhouses money can buy using the very highest standards of craftsmanship and service.

Beauty and elegance The incomparable range of beautiful, elegant structures means Hartley Botanic can create designs that are distinctive and unique. The breadth of its range means customers don’t have to look elsewhere to find beautifully crafted, highquality Glasshouses.

Unrivalled knowledge and expertise With a wealth of knowledge and expertise built into every Hartley Botanic Glasshouse, generations of customers have put their trust in the hands of the manufacturer’s expert, highly skilled craftsmen.

Hartley Botanic creates Glasshouses of distinction from decades of knowledge and care.

Structurally superior Every Hartley Botanic Glasshouse is handmade to customers’ exact requirements. They are made of the finest materials, ensuring unparalleled durability, safety and beauty. All sections in its buildings have a structural purpose and Hartley Botanic never takes short cuts by “sticking” aluminium to glass for aesthetic reasons. It is so confident of the structural integrity of its Greenhouses that it offers customers a 30 Year Lifetime Guarantee.

Exceptional service Once an order has been handmade to customers’ personal requirements — and to Hartley Botanic’s exacting standards — the delivery and installation will be exceptional. The team at Hartley Botanic ensures the process runs smoothly, providing customers with all the information they need, whenever they need it, and keeping them up to date throughout the process.

The mindful gardener

gardens

in the first of her new regular column exploring wellbeing through gardening, sarah layton of growthfully shares the joys of spring

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pring is finally here. The trees are poised to open, the primroses are in full flow, blackbirds are making their nests and my heart is full of the joy of it. All seems well with the world, at least in my little patch.

Isn’t there something wonderful about this moment, when it’s a pleasure to be outside? The tangible feeling of growth that we’ve been impatiently waiting for finally arrives. And I don’t know about you, but I feel it in my energy, too. I’ve been waiting for this moment for ages, wanting to expand and greet the year. I’m excited and raring to go.

I live in a small village in the Chilterns and I have a brook running along the bottom of my garden, dividing us from the protected land opposite. The garden, which spreads out to the side of our curvy thatched cottage, is a work in progress.

We’re bringing it back to life, gradually softening the regimented lines of box and yew we inherited, to echo and complement the cottage. It’s a slow deliberate process and can be nerve-racking as designing for myself seems to be so much more difficult than being creative for my clients.

It was a dream came true for me when my husband, Nigel, and myself moved here four years ago. For gardens and plants are my delight and succour. Ever since I became involved with garden design some 30 years ago, it’s been like I came home. The process of creating a space to live where I can engage with nature on a daily basis and watch the plants I’ve chosen develop over the seasons lifts my heart and enhances my wellbeing daily.

My morning potter outside, often in my dressing gown, checking whatever is in season and spending a few minutes dead-heading or weeding, grounds and supports me and acts as an antidote to an otherwise busy life.

The garden helps me calm, come present and connect to what really matters.

Sometimes, when I can’t sleep, the only thing that is sure to help is to remove my slippers and stand on the lawn in the dark in the middle of the night gazing up at the stars. I touch my favourite tree and listen to the stream

and within a few minutes I feel myself relax. Back inside, I fall asleep again the moment my head hits the pillow.

I feel so lucky to have this space in which to play with my ideas, working from a layout plan I’ve designed to scale so I can tweak and change things to my heart’s content before touching the actual ground.

Last spring, we cut new beds to reduce the lawn and create a better habitat for wildlife with an annual meadow mix. It was a great way to see how the new shapes worked before committing to the permanent prairie planting I am planning. Imagine swathes of grasses and perennials wafting in the breeze and you’ve got the idea. My plan is to sow the meadow for another year soon and get started on growing the plants I will need for the prairie from seed. It’s going to take a while.

Having a greenhouse has been a revelation. It’s not only a place to raise seeds, grow tomatoes and cucumbers and keep compost at the ready for an emergency house-plant repot, but also a refuge, a place to go when it’s cold or wet outside and I need to connect.

A few minutes sowing seeds, potting on, watering or inspecting the growth out there transforms my mood so fast — it really seems to blow the cobwebs away. I kept things going through winter — autumn-sown sweet-peas, garlic, ammi and nigella, as well as little plug-grown hellebores and wallflowers — for exactly this purpose.

But now it’s spring and time to expand my efforts and I can’t wait. There’s the scent of newly mown grass in the air and the garden centres are full of delights. I love how jobs that might feel like chores become activities that swell my heart once spring arrives.

There are so many lovely things happening in the garden right now, too, with hellebores still in full bloom joined by pulmonaria (otherwise known as lungwort), the sunny faces of the daffodils, mounds of fresh perennial leaves beginning to show and the promise of tulips so nearly here.

I’ve got lots to do: vegetable and annual cut flower seeds to sow and the bed next to the front door needs attention.

The sedums are showing their nubby little shoots and the grasses are beginning to be green again at the base.

I absolutely love this time of year — so full of the promise of warm sunny days, happiness and freedom. Enjoy! growthfully.co.uk @growthfully

PHOTO BY SKYLA DESIGN ON UNSPLASH

put a little work into your garden now and you will reap the benefits next year, says caroline oden of where inspiration blooms, who reveals what to plant this autumn to ensure everything comes up roses next spring

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 87

Seasonal dining at The Stables Tuck into our brand new menu at The Stables.

Sample fresh, flavoursome, seasonal dishes prepared with sustainably sourced ingredients including Laverstock buffalo mozzarella, Daphne’s Welsh lamb with Jerusalem artichokes or our salt-baked truffled celeriac Wellington.

Call 01923 296010 to book a table.

The Grove • Chandler’s Cross, Hertfordshire WD3 4TG • reservations@thegrove.co.uk • www.thegrove.co.uk

ECO-FRIENDLY EATING | SPICE OF LIFE | RECIPES TO RECHARGE

COOKING UP A STORM

As we look towards lighter, brighter days and all things new, why not shake up your cooking skills at The Raymond Blanc Cookery School at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons? One of the only schools in the world to offer participants the chance to watch, learn and practice in the kitchens of a two-Michelin starred restaurant, budding chefs can learn the tricks of the trade from some of the world’s leading culinary experts. All you need is a passion for food and the desire to have plenty of hands-on fun while learning. Look out for full or half-day courses including Spring Dinner Party, Patisserie and The Magic of Macarons. belmond.com/hotels/europe/uk/oxfordshire/belmond-le-manoir-aux-quat-saisons

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 89

Melissa Hemsley — London-based chef, best-selling cookbook author and one half of the Hemsley + Hemsley duo with her sister Jasmine — is on a mission to get us all to eat sustainably.

In her new cookbook, Eat Green, she delves into the topic of flexible, planet-friendly cooking and eating, showing readers how easy it is to create mouth-watering dishes that promote sustainability and create less food waste in the process. Here, she shares three recipes with Wildflower and explains how easy it is to eat green…

F

ood production is responsible for 25% of global emissions, yet a third of all food produced is wasted, so the way we eat and our food choices can have a massive impact on our environment.

Everything from what you buy to the packaging it comes in, to the farm it’s from and how you your carbon footprint. Cutting food waste is one of the most sustainable actions we can take. None of us feel good throwing away food, but we can all play our part to waste much less.

Cooking and eating in a planet-friendly way can

great thing is we can all make a few small changes in our daily lives that can make a huge collective choice doesn’t have to mean making the perfect choice all the time, it’s simply about making better choices. Perhaps what’s important to you is cutting right back on food waste; perhaps it’s reducing your singleuse plastic; maybe it’s eating with the seasons and enjoying a greater variety of veg; or it might be cooking from scratch a little bit more.

Whatever it is, pick one thing and stick with it.

Rather than thinking about flexitarianism as a diet label, I encourage us to think about it as a way of eating that is simply flexible, with lots

of options — we are all unique and want to eat is about cooking and using up food in a flexible way so that you can ultimately cut right down on food waste and make a more positive impact on the planet. You can start today. Make twice as much as you need for a bonus packed lunch. Next week, buy something unpackaged and in season. Before you know it, you’ll be wasting less, shopping smarter and noticing the My book, Eat Green, is all about inspiring a more positive footprint on the planet in a way that is exciting, nourishing and delicious. I’ve written more than 100 feel-good, delicious, wholesome and time-saving recipes to help us all waste less and champion a greater variety of seasonal vegetables at the centre of the plate, while eating less but better-quality meat and fish — although every recipe can be vegetarian, too.

Veg-centric food can be so tasty, comforting and satisfying. It’s all about finding what you like and how to cook it in a way that makes the most of it. Try roasting chunky cauliflower steaks in spices, for example, or make a cheesy Soups might sound boring, but jazz them up with roasted butter beans and a dollop of pesto.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH MALCOLM

food & drink

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I’m a huge fan of my rescue soup, so called because I find it uplifting and grounding.

It’s a fantastic way to eat lots of vegetables. I love to slurp the nourishing broth — if you like, you can add in leftover shredded chicken from a Sunday roast, a little flaked fish, ramp up the veg content with some mushrooms or add a soft-boiled egg.

People told me that they love the “use it up” tips in my last book, Eat Happy, which give ideas for what to do with leftovers and to stop them feeling boring.

So, I’ve combined the two,

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people a helpful way of looking after themselves by sharing recipes and home-cooking inspiration with them. I love converting a new friend who says they’re a “hopeless cook” and then, pretty soon, they feel kitchen confident.

Sometimes people say learning to cook is lifechanging for them because it changes their outlook on what they can do and also changes the way they look out for themselves.

That makes me very happy.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH MALCOLM

tricks, flexi swaps, seasonal guides and an A-Z of practical ideas for using up veg ends and scraps that you usually throw away. I hope to show how to get as much as possible from everything you buy and celebrate ingredients in all their edible entirety.

My dream until I was 17 was actually to become a doctor. I like to think that

food & drink There’s nothing quite like a warming bowl of homemade soup to make you feel a thousand times better. If I’ve had a Sunday roast chicken, I make this on a Monday to get a great boost of vegetables in. It’s based on store cupboard and freezer ingredients like frozen peas, onion, garlic and carrots, although you could swap in anything that needs using up. You can up the amount of vegetables or noodles here, so adjust to your liking. Post-Christmas and other celebrations, this is a fantastic way to use up leftover turkey or any other leftover meats.

serves 4

30 MINS PREP 1 tbsp ghee or butter 1 large leek or onion, diced 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1.2 litres vegetable stock or bone broth 1 big handful of a mix of fresh herbs, such as parsley and dill, leaves and stems chopped 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves or 1 tsp dried 1 bay leaf, dried or fresh 2 celery sticks, diced 2 carrots, thinly sliced 2 handfuls of 2cm chunks of root veg

such as sweet potato, squash, pumpkin, potato or (in the summer) courgette 400g noodles or spaghetti, any type 1 tsp olive oil 300g mix of cabbage, rainbow chard and/ or chard, stems finely chopped and leaves shredded 300g leftover shredded chicken Juice of ¼ lemon or 1 tsp apple cider vinegar 2 big handfuls of frozen peas or sweetcorn Sea salt and black pepper

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHILIPPA LANGLEY

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Method

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For a vegetarian version, swap the chicken for 500g roughly chopped mushrooms and a pinch of dried seaweed or seaweed salt.

Sometimes I add even more garlic and a thumb of grated ginger, plus 1 tsp ground turmeric for an extra boost. Try adding a tablespoon of miso or tamari just before serving or swap the herbs for coriander and mint.

1. In a large wide saucepan, heat the ghee or butter and fry the leek or onion over a medium heat for 8 minutes while you prep everything else.

Add the garlic and fry for another minute.

2. Add the stock or broth, chopped parsley or dill stems, thyme, bay leaf, celery, carrot, root veg and some salt and pepper, pop the lid on and cook for 15 minutes until the carrot is almost tender.

3. Meanwhile, cook the noodles in a separate pan until almost tender (check the label for suggested timings), then drain and rinse under cold water to stop them cooking further. Toss with the olive oil to stop them clumping and set aside.

4. Back to your soup pan: add the chopped cabbage and chard stems, shredded chicken, lemon juice or vinegar and cook for a few more minutes.

5. Add the chard leaves, frozen peas or sweetcorn and cooked noodles for a final 2 minutes so that the chard wilts, the peas cook and the noodles heat through. Season to taste and serve up straight away, topped with the fresh herb leaves.

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40 MINS PREP 1 tbsp ground cumin or 1 tsp seeds 1 tbsp ground coriander or 1 tsp seeds 1 tsp ground turmeric 2 tbsp ghee or oil 1 large butternut squash (about 1.2kg) 400g split red lentils, rinsed 1 × 400ml tin of full-fat coconut milk 1.5 litres vegetable stock or bone broth 1½ tbsp tamari 1 tbsp fish sauce or extra tamari Sea salt CURRY PASTE 4 garlic cloves 2 onions, halved, or 3 shallots

1 lemongrass stalk or peel from ½ lemon (no white pith) 1–2 fresh chillies or chilli flakes, to taste 1 thumb of ginger, roughly chopped THAI GREMOLATA 1 handful of peanuts or cashews 2 garlic cloves Juice and zest of 2 limes 1–2 fresh chillies, to taste, seeds included if you like 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 big handful of fresh coriander, leaves and stems 1 big handful of fresh basil or Thai basil, leaves and stems, plus a little mint if you like (leaves only for the mint)

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serves 16

ti n e e L a

Swap the squash for other roots such as sweet potatoes, parsnips, swede or celeriac. And if you can’t find lemongrass easily, buy extra and keep it in the freezer.

Method

1. Toast the peanuts or cashews for the gremolata for a minute in a large, deepsided saucepan until golden and set aside.

Make the curry paste by blitzing the garlic, onion, lemongrass, chilli and ginger in a food processor — it doesn’t need to be totally smooth.

2. Add the spices to the pan you used for the nuts and let them toast for a minute, then add the curry paste and the ghee or oil and fry gently for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile chop the squash into 2cm chunks. I don’t bother peeling it, just remove the seeds, which you can toast or roast for another recipe.

3. Add the squash and lentils to the pan with the coconut milk and stock or broth.

Give it a stir, then pop a lid on and let it simmer over a medium heat for about 25 minutes or until the squash is tender. Stir every 5 minutes or so, watching out so the lentils don’t catch on the bottom of the pan, and adding more liquid if it looks dry or if you like it soupier. Season with tamari, fish sauce or a little salt.

4. While the curry is cooking, make the gremolata. Add the toasted nuts to the food processor (no need to wash it out from earlier) with all the other ingredients and pulse until just chopped — it should be drier and chunkier than a pesto and full of flavour and tang.

5. Serve the curry with a good dollop of gremolata on top.

This makes a huge batch, perfect for freezing portions for a rainy day. The flavour bomb comes from the topping, which is inspired by Italian gremolata, but here it’s made Thai-style with lime, basil and coriander. Don’t skip it!

Eat Green by Melissa Hemsley, published by Ebury Press, £22

food & drink The vegan version of these are just as delicious — none of us can decide which we love the most. Store these cakey cookies in an airtight container for five days. You could warm them briefly in the oven to give them a little crispening boost. The dough freezes well so double up and save half for a rainy day. Just defrost, then slice into portions before putting in the oven.

serves 16

25 MINS PREP 2 eggs 2 tsp baking powder 4 tbsp maple syrup 2 tsp vanilla extract 150g light tahini 110g smooth nut butter

100g good-quality dark chocolate, broken up into squares, or chips 30g black and/or white sesame seeds A pinch of sea salt

Method

1. Preheat the oven to fan 170°C/gas mark 5.

Line a large baking tray with reusable baking paper.

2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs then mix in the baking powder, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Add the tahini and nut butter and mix together until very well combined.

Roughly chop the chocolate (if not using chips) and fold through the batter along with the sesame seeds.

3. Measure out 16 balls of the cookie batter, roughly 1 tablespoon each, and bake for 10–15 minutes on the lined baking tray (making sure to leave a little room between each one) until the cookies are just set.

4. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with a little sea salt and allow to cool on a wire rack before serving.

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1

If you still enjoy meat, fish and dairy as part of your diet — like I do — make the

sustainably-farmed produce that you can.

2

Look out for labels such as “grass fed”, “free range” and “slow grown” and when it comes to fish, “wild”, “line-caught”, “sustainable” and “responsibly-sourced” are good places to start.

For vegans, replace the 2 eggs with 1 large mashed ripe banana. You can also swap the nut butter for the same amount of a seed butter or tahini for a nut-free alternative.

3 4

Visit your local food market to support your local farmers and pick up delicious, seasonal produce.

Be prepared to be flexible and be inspired by the seasons — remember that if something isn't available you can always make a swap.

5 6

Learn to embrace the odds and ends that usually get thrown away, from herb stems to cheese rinds.

Save money and reduce food waste by keeping your cupboards stocked with multi-purpose dry ingredients that you’ll come back to again and again.

7

Visit bulk-buy and refill shops that allow you to bring your own containers to reduce plastic and take a reusable container with you to your fishmonger or butchers to avoid using a plastic bag.

8

Vote with your spending power by choosing to buy from companies with a conscience that are having a positive impact on their communities and the planet at large.

9 10

Save up jars for storing dips, dressings and sauces in the fridge.

Instead of wrapping leftovers in cling film, foil or plastic baggies, pop them in a bowl and put a plate on top.

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GOLDEN W UNDER with an eye firmly on the environment, wunder workshop founders Zoe lind van’t hof and tom smale create organic and ethically sourced products based on the magical properties of turmeric — and the ethos “consumption with purpose”

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rom its establishment in 2014, Wunder Workshop has gone from strength to strength, bringing its range of plant-based products to an ever-increasing audience. Here, co-founder Zoe talks to Wildflower about inspiration, ingredients and initiatives...

Tell us about your interest in Ayurveda.

I visited Sri Lanka twice during my teenage years with my late mother, who practised holistic health for over 40 years. We fell in love with its magic, the warm people, the beautifully diverse landscape, the divine food and the wisdom within Ayurveda, which is its traditional medical system.

I grew up learning a lot about plants, botanicals, organic foods, foraging — this was my daily norm, thanks to my mother.

How does turmeric fit into this?

On my first visit to Sri Lanka with my mother, we stayed at an Ayurvedic retreat.

Each day I would sit with a qualified Ayurvedic doctor and we would discuss its traditions and approach to health. It was on this visit when one spice stood out above all others — the vibrant, golden turmeric root. It was used in most of the dishes that we ate and we had turmeric face masks and soaked our feet in turmeric water.

Why did you decide to set up Wunder Workshop?

It was really inspired by my upbringing, my mother and my passion for preventative health and food. Our house was always strewn with books about plant-based medicines, superfoods, Ayurveda and botanical concoctions, which peaked my curiosity from a young age. A couple of years after finishing my Masters degree, I went back to Sri Lanka and on my travels in the Kandy Mountains, I met the owner of a turmeric farm. This is where my golden journey began.

At the same time, my boyfriend Tom was studying pharmacology at Manchester University and it became clear to him that inflammation was an instrumental part of many disease processes, and that limiting inflammation would be an important part of disease regulation and prevention. With its

FOOD & DRINK anti-inflammatory qualities, turmeric really sparked Tom’s interest. It became clear to us that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, was beneficial for treating a variety was a natural way to limit damage in the body. While much of the research at that time focused on isolated compounds, the use of turmeric as a whole, consumed in the right way, could be helpful too.

MIRACLE WORKERS: ZOE AND TOM (BOTTOM) FOCUS ON ORGANIC INGREDIENTS AND FARMING THAT SUSTAINS THE SOIL

Where did the name of your company come from?

“Wunder” translates to miracle and our focus has always been on plants that have a quality that can be classed as such. The brand has been created out of passion for traditional medicine, from the nurturing love and knowledge from my mother that inspired me, to the dedication that Tom and I have in creating more awareness about miraculous root spices and plants that can nurture and support daily wellbeing.

How do you choose products?

We believe that food is a form of preventative medicine and it’s our long been our mission to educate people about how to use food as a functional tool to enrich their bodies. We look to plants with medicinal qualities and use Ayurvedic principles and Tom’s background in pharmacology to create products that are beneficial to maintain good health in today’s busy, stress-laden world. It’s also about creating delicious ways for people to incorporate turmeric and other wonder roots and spices into their lives. Tom’s understanding of pharmacokinetics and bioavailability has also been important to Wunder Workshop’s product development.

How do you source the turmeric and other ingredients for your products and how you find suppliers?

It was important to us to work within the natural cycles of the earth and to give back as much as we take. Sourcing organic ingredients and working with farmers who prioritise healthy soil was — and still is — vital to our ethos of “consumption with purpose”. The farming techniques we support sustain a full-circle approach.

WILDFLOWER SPRING 2020 97

FOOD & DRINK A healthy soil is key to biodiversity and food security, and plays a fundamental and an often overlooked role in fighting climate change. This is why we stress the importance of sourcing our ingredients directly from forest gardens and regenerative farming communities. As food producers and brands, we need to start looking beyond sustainability and focus on regenerating the soil that supports and nourishes us, and the farmers and workers that feed us.

Our single origin turmeric, tea blends, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom, ginger and coconuts are all sourced directly from Sri Lankan forest gardens, we know the farmers, we visit them every year and we pay them at the current market price.

Our raw cacao is sourced from the Asháninka tribespeople, who harvest the pods from the lush rainforest. Maca, meanwhile, is sourced from forest garden farms in the very cold fields of the Peruvian puna in Huancayo and Junin. Our wildharvested Superior Chaga is sourced from birch trees up in the Greater Khingan Mountain Range, which is a volcanic mountain range in the Inner Mongolia region of Northeast China. Finally, our organic liquorice used in Golden Glow is wild harvested from local farmers of the Zaragoza region in northern Spain.

How do you give back to these communities?

The forest gardeners are local indigenous people and communities — wisdom keepers of the land. We learn so much from them and this is why we visit them every year. We currently invest 1% of our annual revenue to community projects and initiatives that support them.

We plant trees in the Sierra Nevada, Colombia. In March 2019, we planted 101 trees to create the start of a “Wunder Forest” in Bunkwimake with the Ikú community in the Sierra Nevada, Colombia.

Our 101 trees are growing in an agroforestry together with cacao trees and are being looked after by the local community who use their ancestral knowledge to nurture the land, preserving nature and ancient wisdom. This is key

SPICE OF LIFE: WUNDER WORKSHOP PRODUCES A RANGE OF TURMERIC-BASED PRODUCTS

in the restoration and preservation of the natural ecosystem.

We also work with a social enterprise called AMMA Sri Lanka — AMMA trains and employs mothers living in the Sri Lankan highlands to turn food waste and plants into natural dyes creating sustainable, ethically handmade textiles. All of the profits from our Avocado dyed aprons and turmeric dyed pouches (which our Turmeric CBD oil comes in) go to AMMA. The mothers AMMA employs come from the tea estates that surround their workshop. They are from low-income backgrounds and are now principle contributors to the household finances. We could not be prouder of this, and see AMMA’s employees becoming role models within their communities.

Are there other ingredients with healthgiving properties that you are looking to use in your products?

We’ve always been very focused on turmeric as the foundation of all our products and that will always remain true to rests and we’re always researching the wonderful world of medicinal plants, herbs and mushrooms. We both have a secondary obsession with mushrooms — our Golden Shrooms blend is a best seller with Reishi, Cordyceps, Turmeric and Ginger.

Adaptogenic mushrooms such as chaga are great for energy and focus and can improve cognitive function, so we’ve been exploring this more. We spent many months sourcing the best chaga mushroom we could find. Finding the best the harvesting and extraction process is essential. We found a beautiful source: wild harvested from birch trees in the Greater Khingan Mountains, surrounded by hundreds of trees.

What are your own favourite products?

I’m loving our soothing new Adaptogenic CBD oil. Initial studies indicate CBD has system and decreases anxiety levels — it works wonders for me! We have combined five of nature’s most potent ingredients: Mucuna pruriens is an aphrodisiac and tension reliever used in Ayurveda; L-Dopa, a chemical precursor to dopamine — our neurotransmitter responsible for emotional wellbeing; organic Superior Ashwagandha, another highly regarded Ayurvedic plant that helps to balance our response to physical and emotional stress; Wunder Workshop’s CBD (Cannabinoid); and fullspectrum, organic Turmeric extract.

How do you practice healthy living in your daily lives? Any tips for our readers?

I grew up eating vegetarian, organic and local food and my approach has always been about nurturing my body with the most radiant and fresh ingredients possible.

I believe healthy living is being able to tune into your body and mind and learn to nurture yourself in the way that’s right for you. There is so much we can gain by eating seasonally and organically, in terms of our own health, that of the planet and supporting local farmers.

Tom and I also love cooking and last year published a book called Super Root Spices, with recipes using these wonder ingredients and plenty of inspiration to incorporate the wunder of plants into your daily life. wunderworkshop.com Find Wunder Workshop’s range of Golden Mylks, teas, adaptogen blends and CBD oil in Planet Organic, Selfridges, Ocado and independent health food stores WILDFLOWER SPRING 2020 99

CORNISH CRUSH | FAMILY ECO-ADVENTURES | HOTEL HAVENS

RUGGED CHARM: PORTHGWARRA, ONE OF THE STUNNING CORNISH LOCATIONS REVEALED TO THE WIDER WORLD IN EVER-POPULAR TV SERIES POLDARK. PHOTO BY MATT JESSOP VISITCORNWALL.COM

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CORNWALL CALLING

from the sweeping sands of its beautiful beaches to its vibrant villages steeped in history, cornwall is an enduring love affair for jessica jonzen and her family

MINACK THEATRE PHOTOGRAPGH BYGREG-BLUNDEL AT VISIT CORNWALL.COM

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first went to Cornwall in 1993 as an 11-year-old on a school residential. We stayed at a Butlin’s holiday park in Duporth, near St Austell, for seven days of visits to derelict tin mines, orienteering in the rain, awkward dancing to All That She Wants by Ace of Base, and lashings of Um Bongo. I loved it, but that was probably because it was an extended sleepover and a week off Maths rather than anything more profound.

I didn’t return to Cornwall until 2009. The Um Bongo had been upgraded to a nice rosé and the “kiss, snog, marry” debates promoted to an actual husband. This time, it was the place itself that captivated me. We stayed in a pretty converted potting shed a 10-minute drive from Watergate Bay on the north coast, with acres of fields around us that glowed pink at sunset.

The landscape in this part of Cornwall was flatter than I had expected, punctuated by gnarled trees blown into extraordinary shapes by the unforgiving coastal wind, but there was something elemental about it which appealed to me. When I first FAMILY stepped on to the vast sweep of golden sand at Watergate FAVOURITES: Bay, with the roar of the Atlantic surf in my ears and a (CLOCKWISE melting ice-cream in hand, I was captivated. We drove to FROM LEFT) MINACK Land’s End one evening to watch Othello at the open-air THEATRE; Minack Theatre, and I’m not ashamed to say that I was WATERGATE moved tears by the beauty of it all (which had nothing BAY; JESSICA, to do with the onset of frostbite. There’s a reason why so OTTILIE AND many people turn up with sleeping bags).

ZAC

escape I’d never before felt such a strong pull to a place that I didn’t already have a connection to, but we’ve returned to Cornwall nearly every year since. From group trips to beautiful St Just-in-Roseland with friends when we were all blearyeyed new parents, to holidays in Port Isaac as a family of four, Cornwall has always been a good idea. It provides us with simple, joyful pleasures and has come to represent the zenith of precious family time for us — as it does for so many others.

Cornwall is officially the nation’s favourite UK holiday destination (it has been voted number one in the British Travel Awards for some 10 years) and it’s not hard to see why. Aside from the beautiful beaches, pretty villages and delicious pasties, Cornwall has a magic all of its own, helped in no small part by the romance of its history. Tales of pirates and smugglers; the legendary birthplace of King Arthur at Tintagel; then of course there’s Poldark — who could fail to be enchanted?

Our two children, Ottilie, nine, and six-year-old Zac (“a good Cornish name”, as we’ve been told many times), have been every year of their lives. As a nine-month-old baby, Ottilie first dipped her toes in the sea at Porthcurnick Beach (home of the now-famous Hidden Hut where we’ve enjoyed magical evenings at its feast nights). As a toddler, she flew a kite for the first time at Watergate Bay and had fish and chips on the beach at St Ives.

She is never happier than when exploring in rock pools, filling a bucket with shells and stones, and warming up with a pasty under a beach towel. Nor am I, for that matter.

SEA LIFE: (CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT) PORTHCURNOW; ZAC; FALMOUTH; ST IVES; OTTILIE

FALMOUTH & ST IVES BOTH BY MATT JESSOP PORTHCURNOW BY ADAM GIBBARD AT VISIT CORNWALL.COM

“Cornwall provides us with simple, joyful pleasures and has come to represent the zenith of precious family time for us”

When Zac came along, he shared in the same delights as generations of children before him, including — to my terror — harbour jumping with all the other fearless, wetsuited children in Coverack, an idyllic fishing village on the Lizard Peninsula. And far from being bored by returning to the same county year after year, the children always ask when we can go again. When we’re driving down the A30 for a week at Easter or in the summer holidays, we all cheer ecstatically when we see the sign “Welcome to Cornwall, Kernow a’gas dynergh”. We just know that we’re going to have a wonderful time.

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“The white sands and turquoise sea at the tidal beach at Kynance Cove make you feel that you could be in Thailand rather than the West Country”

104 | SPRING 2020 | WILDFLOWER

OPPOSITE PAGE: KYNANCE COVE. THIS PAGE: PADSTOW HARBOUR AND ST IVES

BY MATT JESSOP AT VISIT CORNWALL.COM

Of all the places we’ve stayed in Cornwall, the one that really has a special place in our hearts is Coverack. We first visited in 2016 and stayed at a beautiful cottage, fittingly called Bolthole by the Sea, and despite the eight-hour drive to get there, we collectively fell in love. With its two beaches, buzzy-but-not-too-busy village with its independent shops and cafés, it’s a real hidden gem. On our first night there, we kept Ottilie up after Zac had gone to bed and sat outside with her watching the moon rise over the sea, talking about the smugglers and pirates of long ago. It’s a memory we’ll all treasure.

Nearby, the white sands and turquoise sea at the tidal beach at Kynance Cove make you feel that you could be in Thailand rather than the West Country (on a hot day, at least). We’ve been known to perch on a rock among the hoards on a hot summer’s day and have got wise to the fact that the best time to visit is in the springtime or autumn. The incredible fresh crab baguettes from the café are always a must, though.

Every time we leave Cornwall, we keep our sadness at bay by planning the next trip. In May, we’re heading to the north coast for half term so the kids can learn to surf at George’s Surf School in Polzeath.

We’ll be staying near Port Isaac, the pretty fishing village where Doc Martin is filmed.

Last year, we found the best ice cream at Buttermilk Artisan Confectionary, which also doubles up as the local chemist in the ITV show.

As well as surfing, we’ll take windswept walks from Daymer Bay to Rock and stop off there for lunch at The Mariners, Paul and Emma Ainsworth’s award-winning pub, before catching the ferry to Padstow.

We’ll wander around the bustling harbour, working up an appetite for straight-fromthe-sea fish and chips. Once again, we’ll make memories and have the simple pleasure of just being together. And while, of course, we do travel further afield and want our children to have new cultural experiences, I know that our hearts will always belong to Cornwall.

Jessica Jonzen is co-founder of online homes and lifestyle magazine The Home Page. thehomepage.co.uk

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BLUE HORIZONS: (CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE) ST IVES; PADSTOW; ZAC; FINE FOOD AT THE MARINERS

“Every time we leave Cornwall, we keep our sadness at bay by planning the next trip”

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Devon & Cornwall whether for a weekend

away or a fun-filled family holiday, devon and cornwall have so much to offer. embrace the art of the staycation with wildflower’s pick of the best hotels across the two counties…

GARA ROCK, near Salcombe, Devon

Perched high on a clifftop, a brisk 45-minute coastal walk from Salcombe, Gara Rock is a luxurious Scandi-chic retreat where families, couples and friends — including the fourlegged kind — are invited to sit back, relax and make themselves at home.

Peaceful and remote, there’s plenty to keep guests occupied at the hotel, which opened in August 2018. On a sunny day, head to the beach or take a dip in the outdoor pool, while on Sundays enjoy a sunrise yoga class on the terrace — the perfect place to reflect and relax as the sun comes up over the beautiful Devon coastline. And there’s no need to let the weather rain on your parade as the hotel is also home to an indoor pool, a luxurious spa and a private 10-seater cinema room with five screenings a day, seven days a week.

Rooms are warm and inviting, all pastel blues, sage greens and slate greys, with rustic wood touches and colourful throws, and most enjoy a sea view. For something a little different, book into the Signal House, one of the hotel’s so-called Out Of The Ordinary rooms. Perfect for families, the two-bedroom suite has a large sun terrace with direct access to the beach and a beautiful William Holland tin hot tub.

As night falls, head to the Lounge Bar for cocktails, before enjoying dinner in the Gara Rock Restaurant, where the sea views are perfectly complemented by a divine seasonal menu that celebrates local produce.

From £236, gararock.com

Bedruthan Hotel & Spa

Bedruthan, Trenance, Cornwall

With soaring sea views at every turn, the Bedruthan Hotel & Spa is contemporary, chic and cosy, with colourful furnishings and a funky Scandinavian-meets-Cornish design ethos. Overlooking the beautiful turquoise waters of Mawgan Porth, the hotel is nestled between the sandy beaches of Newquay and the foodie delights of Padstow.

But this ever-popular destination offers so much more than accommodation: the Bedruthan is home to an art gallery and guests are able to purchase many of the paintings, prints and sculptures they see at the hotel. There are also pottery, calligraphy, baking and jewellery-making workshops on offer if you want to try your hand at the creative arts. This summer, guests can also enjoy some award-winning theatre as familyfriendly Treasure Island (4 July) is performed on the sea-view lawn.

Venture out of the hotel and head along the cliff path to the Bedruthan Steps, one of the north coast’s most dramatic beauty spots.

Back at the hotel, experience one of the Fire and Feast nights, where guests gather on wooden trestle tables to devours local mussels, lamb and fresh seafood before gathering around the fire pit to toast marshmallows as the waves lap the shore and the sun dips below the horizon. Blissful.

From £165, bedruthan.com

ST MICHAELS, FALMOUTH, CORNWALL

Its multi-million pound makeover has reaped huge rewards, with the luxurious St Michaels resort winning award after award. And it’s not hard to see why: 84 light-filled bedrooms are spread across the classically styled Main House,which nestles in tranquil sub-tropical gardens, and the newer coastal-chic Beach House. Here, the large,light-filled rooms, many with balconies or terraces, make the most of the spectacular sea views of nearby Blue-Flag Gyllyngvase Beach.

But it’s the spa that really garners all the attraction,with the world’s first Cornish sea salt steam room and the largest hydrotherapy pool in the south-west, and treatments including the supremely relaxing Rhassoul mud experience in the Moroccan steam room. The huge 13,000sq ft Health Club takes care of the fitness fanatics, with classes such as sunrise yoga on the beach.

And there is plenty for families, with dedicated rooms and suites, a spectacular swimming pool and family-friendly dining in its two eateries, Brasserie On The Bay and the Garden Kitchen, where kids will love tucking into a stone-baked pizza while sat on the sea-facing deck. There are even dog-friendly rooms so your precious pooch can enjoy all the fun.

From £90; Beach House rooms from £150, stmichaelshotel.co.uk

St Michael’s resort

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The Nare, Truro, Cornwall

The Nare

This gorgeous country house hotel nestles in rolling countryside, with lush sub-tropical gardens leading down to the beach. The 37 rooms are cute and chintzy, with huge comfy beds and Crabtree & Evelyn products in the spacious bathrooms. Go for the sublime Lemoria Cottage if you want to get away from it all — set over two floors, it has its own secluded garden and sea-view terrace.

Indoor and outdoor pools, a luxurious spa and croquet lawns and tennis courts ensure there’s always plenty to see and do. Creatives can try their hand at painting classes from the artist-in-residence, while seafarers can charter one of the hotel’s two boats for a tour of the coastline Dining is a fabulous affair, with a five-course tasting menu in the Dining Room, and more informal treats from the Quarterdeck. Kids are catered for with special menus and early dinner, while the hotel’s afternoon cream tea is not to be missed.

From £299, narehotel.co.uk

CHALET SAUNTON, Braunton, Devon

Overlooking North Devon’s picturesque Saunton Sands beach, familyfriendly Chalet Saunton — a stylish apart-hotel situated just outside the pretty village of Croyde — is the epitome of boutique. Sleeping just 40 guests, it has six luxurious three-bedroom apartments and a truly opulent two-bedroom penthouse, complete with nickel roll-top bath, vast lounge, wood-burning stove and an original turntable stocked with vinyls.

With direct beach access, the two ground-floor apartments — all slate greys, crisp whites and sea blues — are perfect for dog-owning guests wishing to take their four-legged friends for a seaside stroll.

Those on the upper floors can soak up the spectacular sea views via enormous floor-to-ceiling windows and glass-fronted balconies, an ideal spot to sit, glass of wine in hand of an evening and take in the breathtaking sunsets over the Atlantic. spilling breakers, while nearby Croyde has steeper waves and low-tide barrels. With this in mind, there’s an outdoor shower and a place to store wetsuits and boards in the chalet’s grounds. Chalet Saunton is also available for exclusive hire — and Michelin-starred chef Thomas Carr can be enticed from his restaurant in nearby Ilfracombe to prepare a fabulous feast for you and your guests.

From £400 per night sleeping six, chaletsaunton.com

The Penthouse, Chalet Saunton

PADSTOW TOWNHOUSE, PADSTOW, CORNWALL

Michelin-starred chef Paul Ainsworth runs this intimate bolthole in Padstow’s Old Town. You’ll feel your cares drift away as you check into one of the six individually-designed suites, set in a cosy restored 18th-century townhouse. So many touches make this a super-luxurious home from home: a flask of hot chocolate with marshmallows arrives at bedtime, while you can grab a flask of tea and some scones from the Kitchen Pantry before heading out on a breezy coastal walk.

As would be expected, dinner is a spectacular affair – and busy, so be sure to reserve a table when you book your room.

Feast on the freshest scallops followed by fillet of beef and Ainsworth’s signature cheese course – a chunk of Barkham Blue served with apple pie and a glass of Cornish cider.

Mahé, the hotel’s cooking school by day and chef ’s table by night, opened last May, which hosts just six students and 10 diners. This spring, sign up to a dinner party secrets class, learn how to create classic bistro-style comfort food or take part in a pasta masterclass.

From £280, paul-ainsworth.co.uk/padstow-townhouse Padstow

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St Moritz, Trebetherick, Cornwall

Nestled between Rock and Polzeath on the west coast of Cornwall sits the plush St Moritz hotel. Offering a plethora of accommodation — from hotel rooms and suites to bigger self-catering apartments and villas suitable for families — it’s a great spot with enough to keep you entertained whatever the weather.

Surrounded by Cornwall’s captivating coastline, all rooms are just a short stroll to the shore. Making the most of their nautical surrounds, rooms are decked out in muted coastal hues and offer guests open-plan living with a terrace or balcony looking seawards or on to the hotel’s glorious landscaped gardens.

There’s much to keep everyone occupied, with an indoor and outdoor heated pool, Life Fitness gym and tennis court for the more active, and six treatment rooms at the relaxing Cowshed Spa for those seeking a spot of rest and relaxation. If you want to head out to explore the local area, call on the hotel’s Land Rover — it will ferry you to Rock or Polzeath beach free of charge between 10am and 6pm daily.

Dining options will please, too: The Shorecrest, St Moritz’s flagship eatery, offers cracking Cornish cuisine cooked right in front of you in the restaurant’s open kitchen; more informal fare is available poolside at the Sea Side Café. And be sure to grab a seat on the outdoor terrace at the Shorecrest bar for pre-dinner cocktails as the sun sets.

From £100, stmoritzhotel.co.uk

Trebetherick

WATERGATE BAY HOTEL, WATERGATE BAY, CORNWALL

Hotel Endsleigh

HOTEL ENDSLEIGH, Milton Abbot, Devon

So peaceful the only sound you’ll hear is that of birds singing and bats squeaking, Grade I-listed historic house Hotel Endsleigh is owned by British hotelier and interior designer Olga Polizzi. Hidden on the edge of Dartmoor, it’s easy to see why the area was once the stomping ground of the Duke of Bedford, who used the house as his hunting and fishing lodge.

Set in 100 acres of fairy-tale woodland, follies and grottos — which you can explore with the hotel’s head gardener — it’s a stunning, secluded Devonshire retreat. As you would expect from Polizzi, the 19 individually-designed rooms offer uncluttered elegance — think hand-painted wallpaper, roll-top baths and book-lined shelves.

Family suites are available,with separate sitting rooms and walk-in showers, and dogs are more than welcome. Views take in the River Tamar, the delightful gardens and beyond into Cornwall.

Food is utterly delicious — with a pleasing wine list — served in a wood-panelled dining room studded with the crests of the Duke of Bedford’s friends. Be sure to while away an afternoon taking tea in the library, from a table laden with freshly baked scones and the most delectable cakes.

From £200, thepolizzicollection.com

Without a doubt one of Cornwall’s most famous hotels, Watergate Bay more than lives up to the hype. Spend your days by the pool, watching the surfers frolic in the waves below, sign up for one of the hotel’s surfing lessons or enjoy some fabulous food at one of the hotel’s five eating and drinking spots. You won’t want to leave — except to explore the two miles of pristine sandy beach below on Watergate Bay. Rooms provide modern beach living at its best, all timberpanelled walls, nautical stripes and white wood furniture.

Expect roll-top baths, stunning sea views and family suites complete with bunk beds that your little ones will love.

There’s yoga, spin, a 25m infinity sea-view pool – take a dip at sunset and you can thank us later – and a timber Finnish sauna that makes for a relaxing way to end your day. Book a treatment in the spa if you want some hands-on pampering — great for easing those muscles if you have been out in the surf.

From £160, watergatebay.co.uk

Watergate Bay WILDFLOWER SPRING 2020 109

Kings of the WILD FRONTIER

as travellers look to immersive experiences that bring them closer to the natural world, alaska offers them an adventure like no other — and with more than 70 years of experience in this awe-inspiring land, holland america line is the perfect travelling companion

A

s the biggest state in the US, Alaska doesn’t do anything by halves.

Home to North America’s highest mountain, it also has more lakes than anywhere else in the country, with its largest national park mind-blowingly bigger than Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks and Switzerland combined. This is a truly awe-inspiring state, with a landscape like no other: snow-capped mountains slope sharply down to ice-cold, brilliant blue lakes, while lush green forests stretch as far as the eye can see, seemingly untouched and undiscovered. And its wildlife, of course, is world famous. Where else will you see giant grizzly bears deftly snatching salmon from the fast-running rivers? Or a majestic moose, grazing by the side of the road — and no doubt paying close attention to the

“Moose Crossing” signs that crop up in this part of the country.

This is a land that encapsulates the true pioneering spirit of adventure — and it takes a pioneering tour operator to fully open up this fascinating world to those eager to discover its treasures. Holland America Line can stake its claim as the first to operate in Alaska, with more than 70 years of experience running the largest network of staff, hotels and transportation in this incredible area. Travelling by sea and land, guests are taken on an epic and immersive adventure like no other.

This may be the original wild country, but Holland America Line guests will experience their epic journey in unrivalled comfort, with attentive staff on hand 24 hours a day to ensure every need is met.

See Alaska the Holland America Line way

By Sea Holland America Line’s elegant, perfectly-sized ships enable guests to get closer to calving glaciers, breeching whales and tranquil inlets, with regular 7-14-night sailings from Vancouver, Anchorage and Seattle.

By Land and Sea Venture into Alaska’s stunning Denali National Park or hike through taiga forests. Spot iconic Alaskan wildlife on a Tundra Wilderness Tour or travel through the wilderness on the glass-domed viewing carriages of the McKinley Explorer train.

By Land, Sea and Beyond Embark on the ultimate Great Land adventure all the way to the Yukon Territory, where Klondike Gold Rush history meets wild, natural beauty.

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10 reasons

DOG SLEDDING ON MENDENHALL GLACIER

BY HELICOPTER Visit south-east Alaska and combine the thrill of a glacier helicopter tour with an exhilarating ride with the oldest operating dog sled tour company in the country.

Gear up with glacier boots before flying over lush rainforest, deep blue crevasses and glacier-carved peaks on a flight-seeing tour to the dog sled camp on Mendenhall Glacier.

Professional mushers will guide guests as they drive the team — or simply relax in the sled and take in the stunning scenery

to choose Holland America line

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Holland America Line has been showing guests this region for more than 70 years.

It offers more holidays to Alaska than any other operator.

All itineraries include Alaska’s famed Inside Passage, known for its calm waters and spectacular scenery.

Alaska is renowned for its glaciers — and Holland America Line offers plenty of opportunities to get up close.

14-night trips take in lesser-known ports, connecting guests to little-seen parts of Alaska.

Land and Sea journeys offer the opportunity to explore the unspoiled reaches of the Yukon.

Guests on Land and Sea journeys can experience Holland America Line’s exclusive Denali SquareTM, its private sanctuary in the McKinley Chalet Resort in Denali National Park.

Holidays featuring a 2- or 3-night stay in Denali include an exclusive Tundra Wilderness Tour.

Guests have the chance on some journeys to ride on the narrow-gauge White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad.

Guests also have the opportunity on some journeys to try their hand at panning for gold.

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WILD AT HEART: ALASKA IS AN ASTONISHING AREA FULL OF UNSPOILED LANDSCAPES, INCREDIBLE WILDLIFE AND ANCIENT CULTURE

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9 To find out more about Holland America Line’s worldwide destinations or request a brochure call 0344 338 8605 or visit hollandamerica.com

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SEA CHANGE

from the incredible ice forms of the arctic to the lush rain forests of south america, discover the wonders of the world in ultra-luxurious style with seabourn

S

easoned travellers have long known the secret to travelling in style — and with its ultraluxurious accommodation, highest standards of service and some of the world’s most incredible destinations at its fingertips, Seabourn is the top choice for discerning voyagers.

Guests travel in absolute comfort — with five intimate boutique hotels at sea, space is generous and crowds are few. Suites are sumptuous, with ocean views, carefully curated art and bathrooms stocked with Molton Brown goodies. Rather like an exclusive members’ club, social spaces are warm and inviting and you’ll want for nothing with the intuitive and friendly staff. Dining is an incredible experience, with Seabourn’s team of skilled chefs preparing a delectable array of all-inclusive dishes to tempt every palate, including The Grill, a

menu created by Michelin-starred supremo Thomas Keller.

But it is the selection of dream destinations that sets Seabourn apart. From the Arctic to Australasia and from South America to South East Asia, all seven continents of the world are waiting to be explored, with the fascinating sights, scents and sounds of your visit staying with you long after your return home.

Extra immersive experiences, too, make your journey truly memorable: Seabourn’s alliance with UNESCO, for example, gives guests exclusive insight into some of the world’s rarest treasures; keen cooks, meanwhile, can enjoy Shopping with the Chef.

And in 2021, Seabourn enters an exciting new era with the launch of Seabourn Venture, designed and built to Polar Class standards and created specifically for the ultraluxury expedition traveller.

Exploring new worlds has never been so easy.

Seabourn offers worldwide destinations for 2020/21 from Mediterranean and Baltic cities through to the Caribbean, South America, Panama Canal, Australasia, Alaska and the polar regions of Antarctica. To find out more, call 0344 338 8615 for details or a brochure, or visit seabourn.com

TRAVELLING LIFE: SEABOURN GUESTS ENJOY AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY

escape Striped top, £24 polarnopyret.co.uk Sunglasses, £12 boden.co.uk

Cuddledry bamboo soft hooded towel, £29.99 cuddledry.com

Eli formal cargo shorts, £100 mariechantal.com

Stone lined shorts, £22; Camper Van jumper, £32; linen mix shirt and short set, £38 thewhitecompany.com

PACK AND PLAY

Blue and crimson pineapple swim shorts, dad £69.95, son £34.95 tomandteddy.co.uk

COME SUNSHINE OR SHOWERS, HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO ENSURE NON-STOP HOLIDAY FUN

Girls Mexicana tankini £48 sunuva.com

Duck children’s wellies, £19 jojomamanbebe.co.uk

Organic children’s sun lotion SPF 30, 150ml, £20 greenpeople.co.uk

Lacoste kids L30 slide 120, £20-£25 very.co.uk

Deep Blue Angel Fish swim shorts, £34.95 tomandteddy.co.uk

Water-repellent rain jacket in yellow, £40 newbiestore.com

Navy anchor t-shirt, £8 newbiestore.com

WILDFLOWER | SPRING 2020 | 113

BEYOND the BEACH Travel companies are going all out to ensure that family holidays offer an exciting, eco-friendly and educational adventure for everyone.

Here’s our pick of the best….

JUMP START: action-packed adventures in Costa Rica

BEST FOR ADVENTURE:

CostaRica

Recognising that people’s sense of adventure does not vanish just because they have young children, two point four is the first tour operator that organises adventure travel for parents with children aged two to five years old. It’s a daunting prospect for many, but peace of mind comes with the knowledgeable guides that take families off the typical tourist trails, while professional childcare staff allow adults to feel fully supported.

Costa Rica is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, protecting more than a quarter of its wild landscapes through law.

With endless beaches, volcanic peaks and lush jungle terrain, tourists are in for a treat.

Two Point Four takes you on an incredible journey through San Jose, Poas, Muelle and Rio Celeste for an epic 10-day adventure that will take in towering volcanoes, waterfalls and jungles teeming with wildlife. Highlights

include a visit to Braulio Carrillo National Park where adults will zip-line their way through the jungle while little explorers aerial tram their way down to the butterfly garden; nature walks around Poas Volcano National Park, home to one of the most bio-diverse, active volcano craters in the world; and a waterfall, cloud and rainforest tour while spotting monkeys. There are also local dance classes and cooking lessons available, ensuring you and your family are fully immersed in this incredible country.

From £3,995 per adult and £2,295 per child (aged 2-11 years). Includes 9 nights’ accommodation typically in 4* hotels, knowledgeable local guide and professional childcare staff, all activities per itinerary, local transportation, 9 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners, airport transfers, full financial protection, 3 evenings babysitting.

Flights not included.

twopointfourtravel.com

BEST FOR CONSERVATION:

Tanzania & Kenya

Budding conservationists will love Bushtops Camps wonders of the wild family safari, where they will discover the extraordinary flora and fauna resident in this resplendent corner of Africa. Staying in one of three luxurious camps that cater to your every need, families will head out on twice-daily game drives accompanied by a professional ranger and local Masai spotter. Expect to see everything from easy-to-spot elephants to cleverly camouflaged leopards, Taking any skills learned at scouts to another level, children over the age of seven are also encouraged to participate in The Bushcraft Challenge.

On this exciting adventure, they will learn basic bush survival skills such as making fires without matches and identifying animal tracks, as well as learn crafts such as bead-making and baking Swahili cookies. They will also find out about the local culture and the importance of conservation in this truly eye-opening experience.

From $800 per person, per night on an all-inclusive basis, including game drives and airstrip transfers.

bushtopscamps.com PITCH PERFECT: Bushtops Camps luxurious safari stays

escape JUNGLE JOYS: the Shangri La Rasa Ria resort in Sabah

BEST FOR WILDLIFE:

Borneo

With its rugged landscapes and dense, ancient rainforests, think of Borneo and adventure, discovery — and one very famous local — spring to mind. It is, of course, home to the endearing, majestic and highly endangered orang-utan. There are estimated to be just some 100,000 left on this wildliferich island, but this trip of a lifetime brings you up close to these gentle giants.

Turquoise Holiday’s Wonderfully Wild Family Adventure begins in Kota Kinabalu, the bustling capital of Sabah on the northern part of Borneo, where you will head to the fabulously kid-friendly Shangri La Rasa Ria resort. As well as the beautiful beach and swimming pools set in lush gardens, children will be enchanted by the 54-acre nature reserve and the chance to go on a nocturnal animal walk or learn all about the forest garden. The jungle of Sandakan then beckons, with a close-up encounter at the

Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre, followed by an incredible journey by boat along the Kinabatangan River to see pygmy elephants, macaque monkeys and so much more, with two nights in an eco-lodge built under the jungle canopy. Final stop is the idyllic Bunga Ray Resort on its own tropical island. Surrounded by rainforest and with beautiful beaches for children to discover their inner Robinson Crusoe, it’s the perfect place to relax after all the thrilling adventures in the jungle.

From £8,880 based on a family of 4 for 10 nights, including 3 nights in 2 interconnecting rooms at Shangri La Rasa Ria,with breakfast, 2 nights in 2 chalets at Borneo Nature Lodge including all meals and touring, and 5 nights in a deluxe villa at Bunga Raya including breakfast. Includes all transfers and international and domestic flights.

turquoiseholidays.co.uk

BEST FOR EDUCATION:

The Maldives

The Maldives may be renowned as the ultimate romantic destination, but Soneva is one company that has been offering luxurious holidays to the islands with families very much the focus. With 57 villas and suites hidden among lush vegetation, sugar-white sandy beach and a crystal-clear reefprotected lagoon, its Soneva Fushi resort is a tropical destination all ages will love.

The resort offers younger visitors a range of experiences beyond The Den, its kids’ club, ranging from star searches with the on-property astronomer to ocean-life explorations with marine biologists.

Now, in a new family friendly venture, Soneva has teamed up with Oppidan Education to offer visiting children and teenagers out-of-school learning during the Easter Holidays. The British-based mentoring firm will be at Soneva Fushi during the holidays, hosting workshops to ensure that children of all ages fully enjoy their holiday, irrespective of exam pressure. The complimentary drop-in workshops will also enable children to learn more about the atoll and Maldivian culture.

CLUB CLASSICS: the Den in Soneva Fushi From £4,200 per adult, for a seven-night stay, including flights, seaplane transfers and breakfast.

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SPRING BLOSSOM SPA RETREAT Come and escape in pure serenity and enjoy our Spring Blossom Spa Retreat.

OFFER INCLUDES: Full use of all Health and Spa facilities, 2 course healthy lunch, 85 minute Thalgo Back, Face and Scalp Treatment £160 per person (Monday - Friday, £20 supplement fee on weekends.) Valid 1st April - 30th June 2020.

To book or for more information please contact our Reservations team on 01753 717172 or email reservations@stokepark.com www.stokepark.com

WAKE UP WONDERFUL | HIGH-TECH HEALTH | FRESH-FACED BEAUTY

SCENTS AND SENSIBILITY: INSPIRED BY THE FLOWER MARKETS OF PARIS — AND THE ROSES THAT LOVERS OFFER TO THEIR AMOUR — DIPTYQUE’S PARIS EN FLEUR IS A DELICIOUSLY SCENTED RANGE OF ROSY DELIGHTS. CANDLE, £30, SCENTED OVAL, £42, SOLID PERFUME, £43, EAU DE PARFUM £120 DIPTYQUEPARIS.COM

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NEW ME

wellness

If you’ve ever spent a night in a tent, you’ll know what it’s like to wake to birdsong: that initially hesitant lilt, slowly growing into a crescendo of confident trills, so perfectly complementing the early morning mist. There is something magical about such things we can’t control. We know the birdsong will come, we just can’t quite predict exactly when — so we wait, we pause, perfectly still. And we listen.

The idea of starting each day with birdsong may sound romantic, but incorporating an element of peaceful ritual into our morning routine isn’t

PHOTO BY WOJCIECH ŚWIĘCH ON UNSPLASH

often on the commute, and chores leaving little space for “me time” in the evenings, more of us are choosing to set aside a portion of our day as a time for checking in with ourselves and our world without interruption.

With lighter, brighter mornings and the promise of deliciously warming days ahead, we all welcome the delights of spring. As the sun rises ever-earlier, there is nothing like waking up in the glorious morning sunshine ready to embrace the day ahead. Wellness expert and author Linnea Dunne believes that physical and mental health, enhances your productivity and positively influences your day. In her latest book, Good Mornings: Morning Rituals For Wellness, Peace & Purpose, the Swedish writer provides plenty of ideas on creating a calming morning ritual. Here, in excerpts from her book, Linnea explains how to get the most out of the “peace and promise” of the start of the day…

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The snooze function is a night owl’s best friend and an early bird’s worst enemy. Some advocate a cold-turkey approach,

alarm sounds pleasant rather than loud and strident — there’s a lot to be said for waking up to your favourite tune.

“The early bird catches the worm”, goes the old English proverb.

Indeed, you could think of it as a way to be one step ahead, to have cleared the deck before the working day even begins. But, as a Swede, I prefer the Swedish metaphor morgonstund har guld i mun, meaning “morning time has gold in its mouth”. You need to rise early to notice, but the beauty is not so much in the victory as in the discovery, in the dedication and commitment to seeing what’s there: the shadows cast by those early morning rays, the silence of a house still asleep, the promise of a city that’s only just waking up.

Small things like frantically looking for your keys might not seem significant enough to change the infrastructure of your entire morning, but keen morning ritualists have started trying to erase this so-called friction from their day. Not only do they make sure things like keys are in their designated places, but they also adopt habits like creating a capsule wardrobe and eating the same thing every morning. By removing the need to make these everyday decisions, they leave more space for the person underneath to emerge.

Most of us would never think of breathing as a tool. In fact, we would probably never think of it at all. And yet the breath is hugely powerful. There’s a reason why we remind each other to take a deep breath when we feel stressed or angry or need to gather our thoughts. Mindful breathing has been proved to help with lowering anxiety and stress levels and improving mental health in general, including cognitive ability.

With the tip of your tongue behind your upper front teeth, just on the ridge of your gums, slowly inhale through your nose for a count of four. Hold your breath for a count of seven and then open your mouth slightly without moving your tongue and exhale for a count of eight. Repeat four times. Do it whenever you like, for as long as you need to feel calm.

Many people describe their morning ritual as a way to take control of their day. A blank page is a powerful symbol of that: a space to fill, full of promise, free from constriction and restraint.

As you fill the page with gratitude, intentions and goals, you free up space in your mind. Putting pen to paper to decide on your focus before you start your day helps you get back to what matters. Moreover, and crucially, the knowledge that all the important tasks are on the list provides a kind of mental space and peace.

wellness

One of the most important things when you wake up is hydration. When we drink, we rehydrate the body’s cells and kickstart our metabolism, telling our body we’re ready for a new day. Likewise, the first thing we eat sets the tone for the rest of the day. If we get up and have something sugary, it’s going to raise the level of glucose in the body.

We’ll react by producing insulin to bring it down — but we might overcompensate and end up with plummeting blood sugar, and then we turn to sugar

TOMASZ WOZNIAK AND ROWAN CHESTNUT ON UNSPLASH,

PHOTO BY CARSTEN STALLJOHANN, DAVID MAO,

A few ideas to inspire you to incorporate nature into your morning routine:

Outdoor exercise boosts your mood and selfesteem in as little as five minutes and, of course, exercise of any kind brings a long list of very attractive benefits. Why not go running or cycling or do some yoga in the park?

Get comfortable with a blanket and a cup of tea on your balcony or porch, or pick a bench in the local park and watch the beauty of nature unfold. Just looking at nature, research shows, increases your ability to concentrate.

Stroll through your garden or your neighbourhood — observe the changes of the seasons, listen to birdsong, notice what the breeze feels like on your skin and how the light changes. Activating all your senses helps you to be present. linneadunne.com.

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Fresh start

welcome the new season with spring-bright make-up packed full of natural goodness and guaranteed to make your inner radiance glow

Suitable for even the most sensitive of eyes, this mineralrich organic shadow offers a burst of colour that lasts all day. It’s also buildable, should you wish to take your look from day to night.

Inika Organic Loose Mineral Eye Shadow in Blue Steel, £16, inikaorganic.com

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Providing a lightweight, long-wearing and comfortable matte finish and a universally flattering nude-rose colour, this lipstick nourishes lips with vitamin E, leaving them soft, soothed — and super kissable.

Velvet Matte Lipstick, Damask Rose, £17, greenpeople.co.uk

EDITED BY NANCY BROWN

Certified organic, this creamy fuchsia lipstick gets its colour from vibrant plant pigments instead of synthetic dyes and glides on with a smooth, lightweight feel.

Juice Beauty Phyto Pigments Luminous Lip Crayon in Healdsburg, £19, juicebeauty.com

ifu beaut

Inspired by the healing power of crystals, this gorgeous eyeshadow is infused with citrine, said to inspire creativity. It’s also glutenand soy-free, and vegan.

Victoria Beckham Beauty Lid Lustre Crystal Infused Eyeshadow in Blonde, £28, victoriabeckhambeauty.com

wellness

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’s n i r p s n skin i p u pep

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With all the benefits of a day cream with additional glowing colour, this tinted moisturiser corrects and illuminates without caking for eight hours.

Sisley Phyto Hydra Teint Beautifying Tinted Moisturiser, £76, sisley-paris.com

This metallic, soft and creamy eye colour creates a full coverage, foiled finish to the skin with only one swipe.

Available in five shades to suit every skin tone, you can be sure there is a colour to glam up your makeup look!

Chrome Flash Eye Pot, £19, iconiclondoninc.com

ILLUSTRATIONS BY FREEPIK.COM

Vegan, nourishing and breathable, Nailpure’s breakthrough formula creates a high-shine finish that’s both air and water permeable, making it better for your nails.

Nails Inc Nailpure Nail Polish in Regents Place, £15, nailsinc.com

This liquid powder highlighter has a subtle luminous finish. Simply pop on cheek and brow bones and let your inner radiance shine.

MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Beaming Blush, £26.50, maccosmetics.co.uk

Founded by actress Jessica Alba, Honest Beauty combines botanically-based ingredients with scientific formulas. This mascara adds colour, volume and length without clumping or smudging.

Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara + Primer, £19, boots.com

I

n an age where less screen time is something to be celebrated, it seems our smart phones and tablets can actually help in our quest for wellness. Thanks to a new wave of apps and websites, you can do your workouts whenever and wherever you like.

“Many of us spend at least three or four hours each day on our phones,” nutritionist, Pilates instructor and wellness expert Ruth Tongue tells Wildflower, “so it makes sense that we want to be not just socialising and learning, but also boosting our wellbeing through them.”

“While I’m always trying to promote more connection, human interaction and mindfulness, there is definitely a place for wellness tech” RUTH TONGUE

WATCH PHOTO BY LUKE CHESSER, TOP IMAGE BY MAX VAN DEN OETELAAR WORDS BY NANCY BROWN. BOTH ON UNSPLASH

From mindfulness practice to martial arts training — with a plethora of virtual wellness apps available, taking care of your mental and physical health has never been so easy

wellness The best wellness apps HEADSPACE This popular meditation and mindfulness app counts Gwyneth Paltrow as a fan. Led by a former Buddhist monk, users are encouraged to take just 10 minutes a day to listen in and clear their mind.

Benefits include increased alertness and instant calm.

PHOTO BY ZEN BEAR YOGA ON UNSPASH

8FIT Users can personalise their workouts to their own strengths with this all-encompassing app, which is like having your own online personal trainer, but without the hefty price tag.

There are even meal plans featuring easyto-follow, healthy and delicious recipes.

Virtual wellness — where you no longer need to worry about studio opening hours or expensive gym memberships — is becoming increasingly popular, with a 242% rise in Google searches for the term over the past year. The shift away from traditional studio classes points to a growing desire for the time poor to improve their wellbeing wherever they are.

“While I’m always trying to promote more connection, human interaction and mindfulness, there is definitely a place for wellness tech,” says Ruth. “In fact, if I look at my own smartphone, I have mindfulness and sleep apps, apps to track my monthly cycle, nutrition apps, fitness apps and financial apps — all of which I use on a regular basis to boost my wellbeing.”

Whether it’s a few minutes on the daily commute practising meditation or several hours a week taking part in a HIIT class at home, people are looking for a workout

that slots into their daily routines. With the rise in flexible working, too, people also want their workout to be available 24/7 and this is where virtual wellness apps come into their own.

From meditation apps and YouTube classes to at-home studio cycling and boxing, barre and cardio classes, there’s an option for everyone.

Likewise, when it comes to healthy quick and simple meal plans, and even compile your shopping list for you. Good mental health isn’t overlooked either, with a plethora of tech designed to help you sleep, meditate and relax.

“If you can find a Pilates class, have someone help you to sleep and track your daily steps for free, why would you not?” Ruth concludes.

For more on Ruth’s work, visit ruthtongue.com

BODY BY SIMONE A collaboration between celebrity trainer Simone De La Rue and nutritionist Kelly LeVeque, this app workouts and lets you stream live Body

By Simone classes from studios in the US and UK. It also helps you stay on track nutritionally with plenty of plant and meat-based recipes to try.

STREAKS This is a great motivational app for those who love a challenge.

Designed to help you take up some good habits — such as staying active, quitting smoking, reading more or learning a language, your streak is extended when you complete a task — but you’ll have to start from scratch if you don’t!

POCKET YOGA Customise your yoga session depending on level and duration in the comfort of your own home. Users feel like they’re in a yoga class thanks to a soothing voice that guides you through the moves.

THE BODY COACH Brit Body Coach Joe Wicks — famous for his lean in 15 workouts — has a strong selection of workouts on his YouTube channel that you can access for free. Or sign up for his 90-day plan if you want a real boost — real-time workouts with Joe and live chat support.

DELICIOUSLY ELLA The clean eating champion makes it easier to follow a more healthy lifestyle with her app, which includes more than 400 recipes, some with howto videos, a meal planning tool and a shopping list feature. There are also yoga workouts to follow, plus a wellness podcast to

PHASESIX Combining primeval techniques with conventional — and unconventional training methods — this aims to provide users with a strong holistic foundation to thrive physically and mentally.

Devotees can also take part in all sorts of extra events and workshops around the country.

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wellness

Once upon a foxx is a bubblicious range of organic bath goodies, from quick-to-use shampoo to foaming body wash to leave your kids super clean and smelling delicious.

From £9.99, onceuponafoxx.co.uk

SQUEAKY CLEAN KIDS MAKE BATHTIME A TREAT

FOR YOUR LITTLE TREASURES WITH OUR PICK OF THE BEST ECO-FRIENDLY BATHROOM GOODIES

GREEN GIANTS

With gentle, plantsourced ingredients such as aloe vera, Organic Children’s bath-time collection is an ecofriendly choice.

Berry Smoothie shampoo, conditioner and bath and shower wash, all £10.50, greenpeople.co.uk

HOMEGROWN HARMONY

from the self-styled republic of natural skincare comes this super-gentle range suitable for mums and babies alike. Created using homegrown calendula grown on its Somerset farm, Lyonsleaf products are made from 100% natural, active ingredients and are bursting with vitamins and antioxidants. zinc and calendula cream makes a soothing nappy cream, while calendula and marshmallow balm is an all-round saviour suitable for everything from stretch marks to sore nipples. from £10.95, lyonsleaf.co.uk 126 | SPRING 2020 | WILDFLOWER

SCRUB-A-DUB

When a lick and a tissue just won’t do, Scrubbies eco-sponges are the answer.

In hessian-backed 100% cotton, these colourful cleaners are soft on one side, scrubby on the other and washable, too £6, enchantedplanet.co.uk

NATURAL WONDERS

as if its gentle 100% natural vegan ingredients weren’t enough, petit jovial gets our vote by donating to orang-utan conservation charities.

From £22, petitjovial.com

The Future of Skincare is Here

Inspired by 30 years of research and innovation from a world-leading expert in regenerative medicine www.augustinusbader.com #AugustinusBader #TheCreamThatWorks

Good Enough to Eat!

www.makeskincare.co.uk

wellness One of the first CBD beauty brands to emerge on the market, this body lotion is a celebrity favourite — when applied to the soles of the feet, it is said to ease the pain associated with wearing high heels on the red carpet. It absorbs easily and also soothes muscle aches and joint pain.

Lord Jones High CBD Pain & Wellness Body Cream, £59.99, cbdandyou.org

GRASS ROOTS

CBD is perfect for use at night, not least because it can help soothe users into a dream-like deep sleep. Applied to the face in the form of these drops, it’ll provide an intensive nourishment boost for stressed complexions, while also clearing blemishes, improving texture and minimising fine lines.

Votary Super Boost Night Drops, £95, votary.co.uk

One of this year’s hottest wellness trends, cannabidiol (CBD) oil helps with everything from depression and anxiety to skin conditions such as acne and eczema. Harvested from the cannabis plant, CBD oil won’t get you high, but it might just improve mind and body. Here’s our pick of the bunch...

A triple whammy of natural hemp goodness, made with essential oils, free from parabens and suitable for vegans.

They smell beautiful too, while leaving skin and hair soft and silky smooth.

Faith In Nature Hemp & Meadowfoam Shampoo, Conditioner and Body Wash, £5.79 each, faithinnature.co.uk

WORDS BY NANCY BROWN.

Perfect for those who don’t usually like oils, applied topically, this absorbs like a dream and offers a serious hydrating boost. Skin will be calm, soft and soothed thanks to a hefty dose of concentrated hemp oil.

Herbivore Emerald Deep Moisture Glow Oil, £36.65, herbivorebotanicals.com

Inspired by the brand’s apothecary heritage, this calming facial oil — infused with cannabis sativa seed oil — helps calm stressed skin. Great for soothing acne-prone skin and visible blotches.

Kiehl’s Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Herbal Concentrate, £40, kiehls.co.uk

Start with just one drop of this potent formula placed under your tongue daily and see how you respond.

Ingested, it’ll help with anxiety, insomnia and stress.

Kiki Health 5% CBD Oil, £40, cultbeauty.co.uk

Milk has a whole range of beauty products infused with CBD oil, so where better to start than with this trio. It contains a mascara, brow gel and lip balm, although we’re also coveting Milk’s soothing Cannabis Hydrating Face Mask.

Milk Makeup Best Of Kush Kit, £29.50, cultbeauty.co.uk

Cold-pressed and packed with CBD oil, this health drink offers a breather in a bottle, making drinkers feel relaxed and rejuvenated.

Botanic Lab MellowDrama Shot, £26 for a box of 10, botanic-lab.co.uk

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Summer is just a sunny stroll away

Summer issue

ON SALE JULY 2020 Visit wildflowerpress.co.uk Instagram @wildflowermagazine #wildflowermagazine To get in touch email hello@wildflowerpress.co.uk To subscribe email subscriptions@wildflowerpress.co.uk

130 | SPRING 2020 | WILDFLOWER

PHOTO BY ROXXIE BLACKHAM ON UNSPLASH

CHILTERNS

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