Country Living - March 2016 UK.pdf

MARCH 2016 £4.20

DECORATING CRAFTS HOUSES GARDENS FOOD TRAVEL HEALTH

FRESH IDEAS for SPRING

Decorate with the new florals Craft ideas to inspire Stylish ways to clear the clutter! THE MODERN PANTRY COOK WITH ARTISAN CHEESES PETAL POWER BEAUTY PRODUCTS MADE FROM COTTAGE GARDEN BLOOMS TAP INTO YOUR TALENT! DON’T MISS OUR UNIQUE BUILD-A-BUSINESS DAY

20

OF OUR FAVOURITE OBJECTS OF DESIRE

03 9 770951 028262

OUT & ABOUT EXPLORE THE SURREY HILLS

countryliving.co.uk

March 2016 issue 363

17 136 11

Contents Houses & gardens 11 17

40

50

105 108

114

EMPORIUM New ideas to add a touch of country style to your home DECORATE WITH SPRING SHADES Let the beautiful lowers and foliage at this time of year inspire you to brighten your home with fresh blooms, pretty pastel tones and loral prints CRAFT IDEAS TO INSPIRE In her new series, Elizabeth Harbour shows how to create a collection of striking handmade decorative pieces, each one with its own original charm EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE Storage is an essential element in any room, helping establish a relaxing, clutter-free environment. Follow our guide to creating a stylish, well-ordered home GARDEN NOTES Everything you need to know to get the most from your plot THE WONDER OF WALLFLOWERS With their glorious colours and scent, walllowers were Victorian favourites but had fallen from favour until their revival by an expert breeder ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE A passion for vintage inds and mid-century modern pieces

countryliving.co.uk

122

128

has brought style and character to the home of a creative couple on the Isle of Wight WEATHERED BEAUTY Showcasing the traditional features of a neglected property on a Danish island has restored its character and transformed it into an intriguing family home MELLOW YELLOW A host of narcissi in a spectacular array of shapes and sizes creates an extraordinary display each spring in a beautiful hillside garden on the South Downs

Features 39 58

71

40 ON THE COVER Decorate with the new florals page 17 Craft ideas to inspire page 40 Stylish ways to clear the clutter! page 50 Cook with artisan cheeses page 136 Petal power products page 159 Don’t miss our unique build-abusiness day page 79 20 objects of desire page 11 Explore the Surrey Hills page 84

COUNTRY LOVING Rustic life isn’t always idyllic, especially when it comes to dating, as our columnist Imogen Green discovers SOAP STAR Inspired by the traditional recipes of a former housekeeper, Vanessa Willes makes natural cleaning remedies using simple, sustainable and safe ingredients LET YOUR TALENT SHINE Celebrating home-grown skills, we meet women making the most of their hobby. This month: the dressmaker

MARCH 2016

05

Contents 29

108

114 March 2016 issue 363 81 84

91 96

MEET THE URBAN ARTISANS Cambridge Imprint uses traditional printing methods to design its distinctive colourful stationery EXPLORE THE SURREY HILLS Discover beautiful scenery, wonderful walks, grand houses and plentiful vineyards – all within striking distance of the capital CANINE COMPANION How to choose the right dog for your lifestyle. Part six: athletic breeds REFLECTIONS OF NATURE The stainedglass art of Tamsin Abbott mirrors the landscape and wildlife near her Herefordshire home

Food & drink 136

144

06

THE MODERN PANTRY In her new series, Alison Walker shows how to transform everyday ingredients into delicious dishes with a diference. This month: cheese GILL MELLER’S TASTES OF THE SEASONS In the second part of our series, the West Country chef meets his favourite local food producers, then creates mouthwatering recipes with the ingredients they grow

MARCH 2016

144

Health & beauty

TO RENEW OR TAKE OUT A SUBSCRIPTION

157

See page 64 for details

159

HEALTH NOTES Improve your wellbeing the natural way with our health and beauty round-up PETAL POWER Harness the fragrant healing properties of British cottage-garden blooms to nourish and revive your complexion

News & views 29 164 165 186

A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY What to do, where to go and simple pleasures to enjoy in March WHERE TO BUY Stockist details NEXT MONTH in Country Living MY COUNTRYSIDE Caroline Quentin

Reader ofers 64 67 79

SUBSCRIBE TO COUNTRY LIVING Enjoy your favourite magazine delivered to your door COUNTRY LIVING SPRING FAIR Book your tickets in advance and receive a discount BUILD-A-BUSINESS DAY Learn all you need to know to start and develop your own business

COVER CREDITS

Photograph by Rachel Whiting. Styling by Ben Kendrick. Walls in White claypaint, Earthborn. Woodwork in Manor House Gray estate eggshell, Farrow & Ball. Slate floor tiles, Mandarin Stone. Basket, Design Vintage. White aluminium Reidar chairs, Ikea. Vintage furniture and accessories, similar from Pimpernel & Partners. Armchair cover in floral cotton, similar from Cath Kidston. Cushion in Amelia Rose 223977 linen-mix, Sanderson. Vintage cloths and linens, Parna. Whitewashed wooden tray, Houseology. Vintage light, Skinflint. For stockists, see Where to Buy countryliving.co.uk

Hearst Magazines UK, 72 Broadwick Street, London W1F 9EP. Editorial: 020 7439 5157; countryliving.co.uk. Advertising: 020 7439 5134 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Susy Smith Editorial & Online Assistant Charlotte Dear

2XUVRIDVDUHKDQGPDGH LQ/RQGRQE\XVDQG RXUWHDNLVUHFODLPHG ZZZUDIWIXUQLWXUHFRXN

DEPUTY EDITOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR Louise Elliott Darren Holdway ART Picture Editor Patricia Taylor SUB-EDITORS FEATURES FOOD & DRINK HOMES & GARDENS WEBSITE HEALTH & BEAUTY PRODUCTION & FINANCE

With thanks to Terry Wallace, Roger Browning and Lisa Collins Chief Sub-Editor Michele Jameson Deputy Chief Sub-Editor Sue Gilkes Features Editor Ruth Chandler Acting Features Editor Anna Jury Food & Drink Editor Alison Walker Home Design Editor Ben Kendrick Deputy Home Design Editor Alaina Binks Contributing Garden Editor Stephanie Donaldson Web Editor Caroline Stacey Contributing Health & Beauty Editor Kate Langrish Production Manager Jef Pettitt Senior Advertisement Production Controller Paul Taylor

MANAGING DIRECTOR, BRANDS GROUP PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Michael Rowley Sharon Douglas DISPLAY ADVERTISING Sales Director Ben Giles

HEARST CROSS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS

SHOWS & EVENTS GROUP BUSINESS

HEARST MAGAZINES UK

Partnership Director Nicola Inchmore Brand Director Sara Leeson Brand Manager Anastasia Papa Brand Manager Lucy Porter Regional Advertising Director Lisa Bhatti Director of Hearst Magazines Direct Cameron Dunn Regional Sales Director Keely McIntosh Head of Marketing Promotions Charlotte Cunlife Group Director Pamela Ferrari-Blanchard Director Analisa Moore Acting Director Sophie Adams Director Kathryn Flood Managers Rosalind Matchett, Kelly Gerbaldi Art Director Clare O’Sullivan Art Editor Laura Passmore Project Manager Karen Whitehead Manager Lauren Shields Sales Executive Samantha Toro Shows Assistant Aoife Keogh Head of Marketing Operations Jennifer Smith Group Commercial Director Ella Dolphin New Business Development Manager Jessica Rothenberg Digital Marketing Manager Andrew Potter Head of Customer Marketing Claire Riddle Group Customer Marketing Manager Karen Sharp Digital Communications Manager Alexandra Annunziato Head of Digital Marketing Seema Kumari Acquisitions Manager Magda Kiros Senior Marketing Executive Vicky Chandler VP Strategy and Product Management Lee Wilkinson Licensing Coordinator Josie Lahey-James HR Director Surinder Simmons Digital Sales Director Stephen Edwards Chief Digital Officer Darren Goldsby Director of Communications Lisa Quinn Publisher and International Licensing Director Adam Cooper Circulation & Marketing Director Reid Holland Head of Consumer Sales & Marketing James Hill Chief Financial Officer Claire Blunt

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Anna Jones HEARST MAGAZINES INTERNATIONAL

President/CEO Duncan Edwards Senior Vice President/CEO & General Manager Simon Horne Senior Vice President/Editorial Director Kim St Clair Bodden

NEXT ISSUE ON SALE 25 FEBRUARY SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES 0844 848 5203 Manuscripts and artwork can be accepted only on the understanding that Country Living is not liable for their safekeeping. UNFORTUNATELY WE CANNOT ACCEPT UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS. Although we make every effort to quote the correct price of all merchandise, it is possible some prices may have changed since we went to press. While we always do our best to ensure that firms and organisations mentioned in the issue are reputable, the Editor can give no guarantee that they will fulfil their obligations under all circumstances. Country Living ISSN 0951-028 is published monthly (12 times per year) by Hearst Magazines UK, c/o USACAN Media Corp, 123A Distribution Way, Building H-1, Suite 104, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. Periodicals postage paid at Plattsburgh, NY. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Country Living, c/o Express Mag, PO Box 2769, Plattsburgh, NY, USA 12901-0239. © A Publication of Hearst Magazines UK

Hearst Magazines UK is a trading name of The National Magazine Company Limited (Registered in England number 112955) and Hearst Magazines UK 2012-1 Ltd (Registered in England number 4474102) whose registered offices are at 72 Broadwick Street, London W1F 9EP. Distributed by Condé Nast and National Magazine Distributors Ltd (COMAG), Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE (West Drayton 444055) Telex 8813787 COMAG G. This publication is sold subject to the following conditions: that it shall not, without the consent of the publishers first given, be lent, resold, hired or otherwise disposed of by way of Trade except at the full retail price of £4.10; it shall not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of in a mutilated condition, or in any unauthorised cover by way of Trade of affixed to or as part of any publication or advertising, literary or pictorial matter whatsoever. Sources, uses and disclosures of personal data held by Hearst Magazines UK are described in the official Data Protection Register. All paper used to make this magazine is from sustainable sources in Scandinavia and we encourage our suppliers to join an accredited green scheme. Magazines are now fully recyclable. By recycling magazines you can help to reduce waste and add to the 5.5 million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paper industry each year. Before you recycle your magazine, please ensure that you remove all plastic wrapping, free gifts and samples. If you are unable to participate in a recycling scheme, pass your magazine on to a local hospital or charity. This magazine can be recycled either through your kerbside collection, or at a local recycling point. Log on to recyclenow.com and enter your postcode to find your nearest sites.

STYLING BY ALAINA BINKS. PHOTOGRAPHS BY NATO WELTON. BLUE CLAY EGGSHELL PAINT (BACKGROUND) AND PAINT CHART, SANDERSON. RIBBONS, JANE MEANS. TWINES, ZINC BIRD AND LUGGAGE TAGS, PIPII. PLANT POTS, RE. FABRICS, HOBBYCRAFT, MERCHANT & MILLS AND SANDERSON. PAINTBRUSH, BAILEYS. FLOWER SNIPS, SARAH RAVEN. BIRDSEED PACKETS, HEN & HAMMOCK. SOAPS, WILLOW & STONE. *NETWORK RATES VARY ACCORDING TO YOUR PHONE PROVIDER. BY TEXTING TO THIS SERVICE YOU ARE OPTING IN TO RECEIVE MESSAGES FROM US BY EMAIL AND SMS. YOU CAN OPT OUT FROM SMS BY TEXTING STOP TO 84499 AND FROM EMAIL BY CLICKING “UNSUBSCRIBE”

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER FOR NEWS ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE COUNTRY LIVING WORLD: TWITTER.COM/COUNTRYLIVINGUK

FOLLOW OUR BOARDS ON PINTEREST FOR MORE BEAUTIFUL CL PHOTOS AND INSPIRATION: PINTEREST.COM/UKCOUNTRYLIVING

Spring is the time… for new possibilities. We are getting very excited about our forthcoming Build-a-Business Day in May, where expert speakers will share their knowledge and experiences of taking a business idea from concept to reality. And if your enterprise is already up and running, they will help you reine your goals and decide on stratey and marketing. Tickets are selling fast, so if you’d like to join us, book now! See page 79 for details. In this issue, Marianne Cheung explains how she turned her passion for dressmaking – and dressing up – into a business based on old patterns inluenced by Hollywood stars of the past (page 71). If crating is your calling, don’t miss our new series in which Elizabeth Harbour shows how to create original, decorative pieces to delight (page 40). Perhaps, to you, spring means a fresh new look for your home – be inspired by our feature on storage (page 50) to banish clutter and re-organise your possessions into stylish displays that showcase favourite pieces.

FIND MORE NEWS, SEASONAL RECIPES, TRAVEL IDEAS AND DECORATING ADVICE ON OUR WEBSITE: COUNTRYLIVING.CO.UK

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK FOR REGULAR UPDATES ABOUT THE MAGAZINE, PLUS COMPETITIONS: FACEBOOK.COM/COUNTRYLIVINGUK

TO SIGN UP FOR OUR WONDERFUL FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER, SIMPLY TEXT CL TO 84499 FOLLOWED BY YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. TEXTS TO THIS NUMBER ARE CHARGED AT YOUR STANDARD NETWORK RATE*

COUNTRY LIVING AND YEO VALLEY – THE PERFECT MATCHMAKING PARTNERSHIP FOR COUNTRY LOVERS. VISIT COUNTRY-LOVING.CO.UK FOR DETAILS.

emporium Take inspiration from seasonal birds and f lowers along with nature’s fresh hues to celebrate the arrival of spring

W al lf

c nd ha s’ er w lo

ea ted raf

This collage-art cushion by Amanda White is from a range depicting authors’ houses, including Virginia Woolf’s writing shed (shown), £59, The Shop Floor Project

ware and porcelain rthen flow erh e ad s

i nc lu de

th

Limited-edition Snowdrops linoprint by Heather and Gary Ramskill, £45 unframed, Little Ram Studio

is

Da

e isi

es sd

ign

45 , £1 COMPILED BY ALAINA BINKS. PHOTOGRAPHS BY HEARST STUDIOS. PRICES AND AVAILABILITY CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS

This interesting table lamp with a wild hare illustration is made from PVC-backed heavy parchment paper, from £60, A Northern Light

Coastal-inspired hand-thrown porcelain jugs, from £36, Sarah Went Ceramics

Beautiful hand-carved pens featuring British birds, £4.50 each, V&A Shop

countryliving.co.uk

Jennifer Collier creates decorative pieces such as bird houses from old books, £65, Made By Hand Online

MARCH 2016

11

EMPORIUM

Colourful machineknitted lambswool bird toy, £35, by Norfolkbased crafter Sally Nencini

£ n,

,E 25

ma lou mi

tures an origin al w ate rco lou r il

l us tra tio

Hugh Dunford Wood prints cushions by hand using his engraved lino blocks of countryside animals, from £65

kes

Embellish clothing with these organic, oxidised-silver cow parsley brooches, from £90, Laura Baxter

is

de

co

p 5cm 20. e tiv ra

a late fe

dal Suz be ew n n a ’s c nen range ns a Li shio Volg d-linen ins, cu /m 6 e a 7 t t prin for cur ades, £ h d use lamps and

Produce Candles are made from natural soy wax with seasonal fragrances from Wildflower (shown) to Kale, £20, from Roullier White

Th

12

This painted storage bench is well-suited to a hallway (H45cm x W120cm x D37cm), £245, Garden Trading

MARCH 2016

e lis na

is th

ha

d embroidered uéd an chic pliq ken -ap d ar n

tw or kw it h u fo

am rn

Pe rs o

EMPORIUM

es om , fr

ree Red Apples .50, Th £3 6

Quirky pouch with illustrated scales outside and fish bones within – perfect for pocket money, £15, Tom Pigeon

Katie Almond’s unique ceramics incorporate her own drawings and nostalgic imagery, £160 for this cake stand

Merino lambswool baby blanket in pretty pastel tones, £39.99, The Wool Room

Storage boxes covered in Blithfield & Company’s Peggy Angus wallpaper designs, available from Downing & Bedford, £30 each/A4 size shown*

14

MARCH 2016

For stockist details, see Where to Buy

*AVAILABLE FROM MARCH ONWARDS

Elegant embroidered cotton jumper with a vintage flavour, £70, Cath Kidston

DECORATE

with

spring shades Let the beautiful lowers and foliage appearing at this time of year inspire you to brighten your home with fresh garden blooms and eye-catching accessories featuring pretty pastel tones, loral prints and botanical patterns COMPILED BY ALAINA BINKS

THIS PICTURE Group glasses filled with early spring blooms, such as delicate blue muscari, fragrant ‘Paper White’ narcissi and pale hellebores, in an eggbox to create a table centrepiece or gift for Mother’s Day or Easter MARCH 2016

17

D E C O R AT I N G D I S P L AY A N D A R R A N G E M E N T

RUSTIC SEASONAL WREATH Decorative twiggy wreath with feathers, faux eggs and moss, £17, The Contemporary Home

18

MARCH 2016

TWIN POTS WITH HANDLE Two linked galvanised-metal pots, perfect for bulbs or herbs, £7.90, Grand Illusions*

MARCHÉ METAL BASKET Handcrafted wire basket – ideal as a trug or for Easter egg hunts (H33.5cm x L45cm), £45, Loaf

LAVENDER FARMHOUSE JUG This handpainted jug can also be personalised with a name, from £36, Hannah Berridge

countryliving.co.uk

*PLANTS NOT INCLUDED

Seasonal blooms bring an upliting feel to interiors. A bunch of early tulips cut from the garden, loosely arranged in a large jug, or emerging narcissus and hyacinth bulbs potted into a trug, old wine crate or terracotta pots, will instantly signal the advent of spring and be an efective way to add vibrant colour, as well as illing your home with a sweet scent. For Easter, add real, blown or decorative speckled egs to a lower arrangement for a themed display.

THIS PICTURE Suspend an array of eye-catching homemade paper pinwheels in fresh spring tones above a dining table to add a celebratory touch to a special meal, such as Easter lunch. Inexpensive and fun to make, they can be created easily using leftover wrapping- and wallpaper. Use a strip of plain brown paper as a simple, rustic-style central table runner, and a mix of diferently shaped vintage chairs to add to the charming informal efect

THIS PICTURE Give a traditional dresser a new lease of life and transform it into a bold focal point with a fresh coat of paint, both inside and out, in striking

spring hues. Here, a cool mint-green exterior provides a calm contrast with the bright dafodil yellow used for the interior, which draws the eye to the carefully curated contents

D E C O R AT I N G COLOUR AND TONE

*COST OF PAINT NOT INCLUDED

Single-block colours in shades that echo those of springtime lowers and plants work particularly well when used to highlight pieces of furniture to make a statement – for example, a set of chairs, a dresser or the woodwork in a room. Tonal hues such as blues, greens and yellows have a gentler efect when used together – alternatively, mix and match tonal and contrasting shades for a bolder scheme.

CLASSIC SLATBACK CHAIR This solid-beech chair can be painted in a choice of colours, £125, An Angel at my Table*

countryliving.co.uk

TUVA TABLE LAMP Small, lightweight spearmint lamp with adjustable arm and head (H36cm), £40, Cox & Cox

ELOISE TEAL CUSHION Soft handbrushed lambswool cushion in teal, sage and grey (with feather pad), £55, Twig

HOUSEKEEPER’S DRESSER Bespoke ash dresser in a variety of sizes/colours, from £3,394, The Kitchen Dresser Company

MARCH 2016

21

D E C O R AT I N G THIS PICTURE Soft blossom pink works particularly well in a garden room or bedroom. The soothing, sugared-almond shade of the walls is picked up by soft furnishings with subtle leafy prints and ofset

by crisp white woodwork and accessories. An industrial light, wirework wall-storage baskets and a wicker chair add texture while introducing touches of modern-rustic chic to the prettier elements

D E C O R AT I N G PAT T E R N A N D D E C O R AT I O N The simplest way to add pattern to your home is with accessories. Look for cushions, bedding or vintage crockery with delicate or exuberant loral designs to ofset a pale backdrop. Wider expanses on wallpapers and fabrics will create more impact. Small-scale blooms, trailing botanicals, classic gingham checks and ticking stripes, whether in subtle neutrals or brighter shades, will introduce decorative detail to any room, as will animal and bird motifs, especially those with a spring theme such as hares and chicks.

FLORAL LUPIN CUSHION Cotton cushion cover featuring cottage-garden favourites, £30 (with feather pad), Cath Kidston

24

MARCH 2016

LATTICE VINYL FLOOR TILE Colourful petal-inspired tiles by Dee Hardwicke, £42.95/sq m, Harvey Maria

BOTANICAL BUNTING Handmade one-of paper garland, from £14 (3m with eight flags), Peony & Thistle

BOTANICAL PLATE Stoneware ceramic plate in three designs, from £12 (20cm diameter), Bloomingville

countryliving.co.uk

For stockists, see Where to Buy

STYLING BY ALAINA BINKS, BEN KENDRICK, HESTER PAGE, LAURA VINE. PHOTOGRAPHS BY SIMON BEVAN; TARA FISHER; CATHERINE GRATWICKE; KRISTA KELTANEN/FEATURES & CO; LOUPE IMAGES; LIVING4MEDIA; NARRATIVES/BRENT DARBY; CLAIRE RICHARDSON; HENNY VAN BELKOM/VAN BELKOM AGENCY; POLLY WREFORD; TOMMY DURATH; JELTJE JANMAAT; MINNA MERCKE SCHMIDT/HOUSE OF PICTURES. CUT-OUT PHOTOGRAPHS BY HEARST STUDIOS

THIS PICTURE Small-scale trailing floral wallpaper in pinks and greens provides a patterned background with a charming nostalgic feel in this child’s bedroom. The colours of the wallpaper are echoed by pale textured accessories: a simple woven rug, a fringed bedcover, pretty cushions and a playful suspended gauzy bed awning soften the lines of a traditional brass bed and Scandinavian wooden daybed to create a romantic yet cosy look

W H AT T O S E E M a r c h DOWN ON THE FARM Helen Browning reveals what is taking place on her mixed organic holding in Wiltshire THERE IS NO BETTER SIGHT than cows

AMOROUS AMPHIBIANS Passion among the pond weed

returning to pasture for the irst time in the spring. The cattle are calving now and should be back out to grass any day, depending on the weather. Gambolling like lambs with their tails up, they relish the warm air and lush grass. It’s great for

the staf, too, as once the calves are playing outside in the daytime, and feeding themselves, it’s much easier to keep the sheds clean! In the arable ields, we’re now drilling the springsown crops such as milling wheat for bread, oats, barley and beans – all a welcome sign

that the long winter is nearly over. For more about Helen’s farm, see helenbrownings organic.co.uk.

COMPILED BY ANNA JURY AND CHARLOTTE DEAR

IN NATURE isten for the come-hither calls of frogs and toads this month, as the breeding season for amphibians enters its height. Both frogs and toads undertake lengthy and perilous journeys to ind a mate, using the same routes every year to return to their breeding ponds (common frogs travel furthest – for up to a mile or more). The jelly-like spawn they create is one of the evocative sights of early spring. It is laid by female frogs in clumps – ‘like clotted water’, as Seamus Heaney memorably described it in his poem Death of a Naturalist – with each cluster potentially containing more than a thousand egs. Toads, by contrast, make two strands of spawn, rather like a necklace, which they wrap around vegetation in deeper water. If you are keeping frogspawn at home, the charity Froglife recommends returning the tadpoles, once they hatch, to the pond in which you found them. The Field Studies Council also produces a useful guide on caring for tadpoles. See ield-studies-council.org and froglife.org.

Naturalist Simon King offers tips about the flora and fauna you will see in your garden LOOK OUT FOR one of the prettiest wild lowers, the primrose ((Primula vulgariss), this month, as it unfurls its creamy yellow petals in the spring sunshine. A close inspection of its blooms reveals two distinct types: pin-eyed – where the stamen is lush with the surface of the lower tube – and thrum-eyed, where the stamen is deep in the tube with pollen-coated

anthers forming a delicate cluster at its entrance. While you’re there, keep an eye out for the curious-looking bee ly – harmless, brown and lufy, with a long proboscis snout, this insect is perfectly adapted to reach the primrose’s deep hidden nectar. Flitting from bloom to bloom, it rubs pollen from the anthers of one lower to the stamen of the

next – a great example of natural selection. To learn about Simon’s work, visit simonking wildlife.com. MARCH 2016

29

I D E A S T O T RY M a r c h

ENJOY A SLOW SUNDAY Why not set aside one day each week to savour the simple pleasures in life?

DISCOVER THE ART OF PRUNING

A SIMPLE PROJECT: FABRIC NOTEBOOK Upcycle a plain notebook with beautiful material 1 Rest your book on the

GATHER FRIENDS FOR AFTERNOON TEA

s

o much more elegant than Sunday lunch, and easier, too – serving aternoon tea is an old-school treat. Everything can be prepared (or bought) in advance, so all you need to do is polish your grandmother’s silver teapot. Source delicate vintage china and pretty tiered cake stands from car-boot sales and charity shops. Place inger sandwiches on the bottom level – traditional illings include smoked salmon, cucumber or eg mayonnaise – with the crusts cut of naturally. The middle plate is for scones and the top tier is reserved for elegant sweet treats: glossy fruit tarts, dainty macarons and miniature sponge cakes all work well. Pouring loose-leaf tea through a strainer inishes the efect – and the rather newer tradition of accompanying it with Champagne can go down well, too. Read: The Ritz London Book of Afternoon Tea (Ebury, £6.99).

3 COURSES… IN PIG KEEPING

30

MARCH 2016

MAKE YOUR OWN EASTER EGGS Much more fun than buying shop ones, home-made eggs are easier than you’d expect. Temper chocolate over a bain-marie before pouring into egg, rabbit or chick moulds. Children will love decorating them with icing and sweets.

fabric* and cut around it, leaving a one-inch seam. 2 Spray the front with adhesive and place it onto the fabric, pressing down. 3 Cut two slits into the seam at the top and bottom of the book so you have two strips of fabric the same width as the spine. Tuck them in so it’s neat. 4 Attach double-sided tape along the edge of the remaining fabric and fold around the cover. Finish by attaching a ribbon with tape to close the book. By Clementene Coates (clementenecoates.co.uk).

1 Introduction to pigkeeping Smallicombe, Northleigh, Devon Spend a morning on the farm, learning about housing, rearing, breeding and feeding. For individuals or small groups, lexible dates. £65, plus £30 for each accompanying person (01404 831310; smallicombe.com). 2 One-day pigkeeping course Crook Barn, Torver, Cumbria Gain conidence in handling pigs and learn about the most successful ways to keep a variety of ages and diferent breeds. 19 March, £95 (015394 41088; pigkeepingcourses.co.uk). 3 Pig-keeping and handling Edfold Cottage Farm, Rowner Road, West Sussex Half-and-half mix of indoor discussion and hands-on experience for beginners, novices and enthusiasts. 20 March, £99 (07917 890101; pigkeepingcourses.com). countryliving.co.uk

SLOW SUNDAY WORDS BY KATE LANGRISH. *FABRIC FAT QUARTERS, RIBBON AND ADHESIVE SPRAY FROM HOBBYCRAFT (HOBBYCRAFT.CO.UK)

This is a good time of year for cutting back many types of rose, so take the opportunity to enjoy the therapeutic nature of snipping away carefully with a pair of good-quality, sharp secateurs to create a beautiful shape.

T H I N G S T O K N OW M a r c h

MEET A COUNTRY CHARACTER

ECO T IP

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Kyle Scottish, from the Gaelic caol, meaning ‘narrow’, implying a sound or strait, as in the Kyles of Bute. 32

MARCH 2016

FROM YOUR ARMCHAIR

NEWS YOU CAN USE ENGLISH TOURISM WEEK Before booking that overseas holiday this month, take a moment to stop and consider how much of your own country you have truly explored. Worth £106 billion a year, the English tourism industry is one of the few sectors present in every corner of the country, involving everyone from visitors to residents and employees, and supporting 2.6 million jobs every day. VisitEngland’s ith annual English Tourism Week is being held from 5-13 March and ofers new ways to rediscover the culture, history and charm of our 780,000-year-old country. A host of events will be taking place nationwide, including tea parties, guided walks, steam railway days and open-garden aternoons. If you are part of the industry yourself, this is a great way to raise your proile by organising an exciting occasion in your community. For fun ideas and inspiration, see visitengland.com.

5 FARMS TO SEE LAMBING 3 For variety The Big Sheep, Devon Meet adorable lambs, goat kids and piglets before helping out with bottle-feeding, which takes place twice every day (thebigsheep.co.uk).

1 For the night Seven Sisters Sheep Centre, East Sussex Become a shepherd for a night while 50 breeds of lamb enter the world in a beautiful Sussex lint barn (sheepcentre.co.uk).

4

In this celebration of the British landscape, from the rolling hills of Dorset to the peaks of the Scottish Highlands, Anna Pavord explores the diferent ways that we have responded to the countryside through the centuries (Bloomsbury, £15).**

2 For rare breeds Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire See the latest woolly arrivals at this rare-breed centre, while learning more about them (national trust.org.uk/wimpole-estate).

5

For little helpers Mrs Dowsons, Lancashire Feed orphaned

For craters Watergate Farm, Bedfordshire Try your hand

lambs, help check on expecting ewes who are due to give birth and assist a shepherd with a lambing (mrsdowsons.co.uk).

at spinning wool ater going undercover to watch newly born lambs inding their feet (watergatefarmturkeys.com). countryliving.co.uk

*AN OLD-FASHIONED CARPET BEATER IS AVAILABLE FROM FALLEN FRUITS (FALLENFRUITS.CO.UK). **CL READERS CAN PURCHASE LANDSKIPPING AT THE SPECIAL PRICE OF £15 (USUALLY £20) BY ENTERING THE CODE LANDSKIPPING AT THE CHECKOUT WHEN VISITING BLOOMSBURY.COM

Neil Tuckett irst fell in love with the Ford Model T when he helped restore his great-uncle’s van for the London to Brighton commercial run in 1978. He now lives with his wife Mary in Buckinghamshire on her 250-acre mixed-arable and sheep farm, which is her domain for most of the year, leaving Neil to focus on his real calling. When lambing and harvest aren’t taking precedence, you’ll ind him in his workshop, set up in 1989 when the previous recession hit, using his agricultural-engineer training to restore and trade Model T vehicles and parts. His clients use the cars and vans he helps maintain for a variety of purposes – transporting farm produce, wedding hire and TV and ilm appearances – one even reached the peak of Ben Nevis in 2011. Neil’s uncle’s original pie van is still used regularly, and oten stars in BBC period dramas. When asked what is so special about the Ford Model T, built between 1908 and 1927, Neil, who plans never to retire from his own form of farm diversiication, says: “It was afordable, usable, repairable and put the world on wheels.”

Shampooing a rug can destroy the natural stainretardant. Hang it on a line instead and hit it with a carpet beater.*

P L AC ES T O G O M a r c h CLOCKWISE, FROM FAR LEFT Enjoy a stay with Snowdonian views at The Pink Hut; find stylish homeware, gifts and clothing at Cole & Co; try your hand at crabbing on the Victorian pier; Penmon Point lighthouse with drifts of pink sea thrift in the foreground

FURTHER AFIELD

Once you’ve explored the 13th-century castle (a World Heritage site, above) and walked part of the Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path, a 125-mile route that runs almost entirely through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, head to Penmon Point to admire the lighthouse and its views to Pufin Island (boat trips available from Beaumaris pier). Inland, the hidden gardens of Plas Cadnant are a horticulturalist’s delight, while, in Newborough Forest, pause and you may catch sight of the elusive red squirrel (visitanglesey.co.uk).

A NIGHT AND A DAY IN… BEAUMARIS Eat…

Browse…

at The Outbuildings, just a short drive from this seaside town on the Welsh island of Anglesey, where you’re guaranteed to wake feeling refreshed and pampered. Here, Judith Matthews has created a rural ‘dining room with rooms’, with guests treated to Michelin-standard cooking, Bramley toiletries, The White Company linen and even on-site massages. Book The Pink Hut, a cosy shepherd’s hut with views towards Snowdonia and the mountains of the Llŷn Peninsula. £75 per night to stay in The Pink Hut; £ 90 per night for rooms in the main house; theoutbuildings.co.uk.

superb-value seasonal produce, including Anglesey lamb, crab and Perl Las cheese – also at The Outbuildings. If you can tear yourself away, try feasting on local ish at The Marram Grass in nearby Newborough, or while watching the sun set over the Strait at Dylan’s in Menai Bridge. For daytime refreshments in Beaumaris, enjoy high-rise Victoria sponges, slabs of bara brith and tasty sandwiches in the traditional Beau’s Tea Room; buy local meats and cheeses in aptly named butcher, Moo Baa Oinc; or enjoy an ice cream from the kiosk on the Victorian pier.

colourful and varied artworks, inspired by the area and created by local talent, in one of the two Janet Bell Galleries situated in the town. If Welsh antiques are what you’re looking for, there’s M Jones a’i Fab Antiques on Castle Street, or Vanilla Hill on Church Street for more shabby chic-style furnishings. Cole & Co is a boutique ofering stylish, luxurious womenswear, own-brand soaps and candles, and Welsh chocolates. But if the weather’s ine, why not head to the pier for a spot of crabbing? The kiosk there can supply all the kit you will need to lure the crustaceans from the waves.

GET IN TOUCH FACEBOOK.COM/ COUNTRYLIVING TWITTER.COM/ COUNTRYLIVINGUK COUNTRY.LIVING @HEARST.CO.UK

34

MARCH 2016

rs, sculptors,

t painte Don’t misesrsMaened crafters – and buy

Open photograph ring Anglesey rchu d – rk o w rt a their 9 Ma alleries Week (1 Studios and G rtsforum.org). ya 3 April; anglese

LOCAL LANDMARK

The 570-foot pier was built in 1846 to enable pleasure steamers to access the town countryliving.co.uk

WORDS BY EMMA PRITCHARD

Stay…

DREAM HOME… MALEY COTTAGE, THURGARTON, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE £500,000 Each month, we choose our favourite country property currently on the market

FOR DETAILS OF THIS AND OTHER RURAL HOUSES FOR SALE SEE COUNTRYLIVING.CO.UK

36

MARCH 2016

i

n the small Nottinghamshire parish of Thurgarton, surrounded by beautiful Trent Valley countryside, sits Grade II-listed Maley Cottage. Dating back to the early 19th century, this detached property has remained in the family of the current owner for more than 100 years and is now ripe for restoration. A sitting room and dining room, both with ireplaces and exposed ceiling beams, lie at either side of the entrance hall and overlook the front garden through original panelled windows. Towards the rear of the house is a larder, kitchen and lobby. The bathroom and additional washroom are located downstairs while the three good-sized bedrooms are on the irst loor. The house is approached by a stone path, with generously stocked beds of specimen shrubs and fruit trees on either side. A two-storey detached barn and further brick-built traditional outbuildings stand adjacent to the property and could be used to provide additional living accommodation, subject to planning permission. Beyond a rustic ive-bar gate, an orchard planted with apple, plum, pear and damson trees extends to an acre. Enjoy the latest home and property features, plus much more, in the CL free weekly newsletter. To sign up, text CL to 84499 followed by your email address.*

countryliving.co.uk

*PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY; CLEMENTENE COATES; LAURA EDWARDS; EDMOND FELOWES; MICHAEL FORGAN; GETTY IMAGES; ANDREW MONTGOMERY; RACHEL WHITING. ILLUSTRATIONS BY JAMES CAREY; JOANNA KERR. TYPOGRAPHY BY RUTH ROWLAND. TEXTS TO THIS NUMBER ARE CHARGED AT YOUR STANDARD NETWORK RATE. BY TEXTING INTO THIS SERVICE YOU ARE OPTING IN TO RECEIVE MESSAGES FROM US BY EMAIL AND SMS. YOU CAN OPT OUT FROM SMS BY TEXTING STOP TO 84499 AND FROM EMAIL BY CLICKING ‘UNSUBSCRIBE’

ES C A P E T O T H E C O U N T RY M a r c h

RU R A L R O M A N C E

COUNTRY LOVING

ILLUSTRATION BY JOANNA KERR. *NAMES WON’T BE PRINTED UNLESS REQUESTED

Rural life isn’t always idyllic, especially when it comes to dating, as our columnist Imogen Green discovers WE ALWAYS LAMB LATER THAN OUR NEIGHBOURS; it’s something my late husband, Ted, insisted on. “Why should lambs have to put up with the cold, just so we can make more money?” he used to say. You can probably guess why the farm’s in inancial trouble now. Even so, I still run the sheep exactly the way he did, and check the ewes every four hours night and day. While I was working at the lower nursery yesterday, my son, Henry, looked at them for me, and as I got home he called out cheerfully, “All quiet on the woollen front!” I didn’t believe him, and I was right, because at the far edge of the ield our favourite sheep, Pepperami, was of by herself, half-hidden in the hedge. She’s always been an unusual character. She eats bread from our hands, likes to ight small bushes, and I’ve oten found her hanging around the kitchen, as if unable to believe that she isn’t allowed to live with us indoors. When I got up close, I saw she’d begun lambing: a swollen little face was visible round the back. I spoke sotly to her and she kept still while I eased out a big ram lamb. Once he was free, he shook his damp ears and bleated, and she bent down towards him and rumbled an afectionate greeting. But eight hours later, when I went out to look at her in the shed, I could see that though her lamb was thriving, she wasn’t. She hadn’t eaten anything, and she looked depressed. “Aren’t sheep always gloomy?” Rachel at the nursery said, when I told her about it. We plant together, while the polytunnel plastic above us snaps in the wind with a crisp, canvassy sound, and the temperature veers from tropical (when the sun is out) to icy (when it isn’t). This means that we’re constantly dressing and undressing. As Rachel puts it, “Only strippers take their clothes of as much as we do.” When I got back to the farm, Pepperami was breathing with diiculty, and ixed me with a dark, mournful look, as if she doubted I could aford to call the vet. Of course I did, and he arrived as I was hosing down the milking parlour and discussing my dating proile with my sister-in-law, Susie, who was the irst to encourage me to re-enter the world of dating and is always full of sugestions on how I can speed up my progress. “Don’t put your real age,” she insisted. “Why not say you’re in your prime?” the vet said teasingly, as I showed him to the sheep shed. He was new to the practice, slender, with blond hair, narrow eyes and

a northern accent: Sean Cary. He examined Pepperami, listening to her laboured breath. “I’m sorry,” he said, “but she’ll have to be put down. I’m 90 per cent sure she’s got a pneumonic tumour on her lungs, which is contagious, so if you don’t get rid of her, she’ll give it to the others.” He was gentle with her, and Pepperami didn’t seem to sufer, but it’s always sad to lose an animal however many times it happens. Aterwards, the vet washed his hands at the yard tap and told me to ring if I got any other cases. I just stood there in shock, cuddling the lamb, until he’d gone. “Bloody gorgeous!” Susie said. “And no wedding ring! I’d call him, whatever happens.”

‘Woman in her prime seeks man who loves sheep and looks good in overalls’

countryliving.co.uk

Do you have a story to tell? To share your rural dating experiences with us, email [email protected]*. And don’t forget to sign up to country-loving.co.uk.

CRAFT IDEAS to inspire In her new series, Elizabeth Harbour shows how to create a collection of beautiful handmade decorative pieces, each one with its own original charm

THIS MONTH: SPRING MAKES DESIGNS AND PROJECTS BY ELIZABETH HARBOUR

STYLING BY BEN KENDRICK

PHOTOGRAPHS BY RACHEL WHITING

40

MARCH 2016

CRAFT

MARBLED EASTER DECORATIONS These simple designs can be used as seasonal ornaments or mount them onto card to make your own stationery. YOU WILL NEED newspaper 2 new cat-litter trays 1 Pebeo marble bath thickener solution and Pebeo marbling ink, from pullingers.com (we used Cyan, Yellow, White, Vermilion and Emerald Green) whisk and small jam jars 5 pipettes 10 sheets A4 100gsm paper paper glue pencil and tracing paper craft knife/scissors hole punch/screw punch twine/string/fine ribbon

1 Cover a table with newspaper or an oilcloth. 2 Half-ill both litter trays with water. 3 Add the marble bath thickening solution to one of the trays, following the instructions on the bottle. Whisk the solution every so oten until it has dispersed.

4 The marbling inks can be used as they are or mixed with white to create soter pastel shades – this can be done in the jam jars. 5 Using a pipette, add small droplets of ink to the tray with the thickening solution. Gently swirl with the pipette. 6 Take both ends of one sheet of paper, so it curves in the middle. Place it, curve irst, into the marbling tray and then lower in the remainder. 7 Leave for a second, then lit up one end of paper. Allow excess solution to drain of. 8 Place the sheet of paper into the second tray containing clean water to rinse of excess colour. Drain of the excess water and hang up to dry. 9 Repeat for as many sheets of paper as you need. 10 When dry, fold each sheet in half and glue the plain sides together. Leave to dry under a heavy weight. 11 Using the shapes found at countryliving.co.uk as templates, trace onto the marbled paper and cut out. 12 Punch holes at the top of each shape and thread with twine to hang.

CRAFT

BLOCK-PRINTED HEART PINCUSHION With an appealing folk-art feel, this project is a simple introduction to lino cutting. YOU WILL NEED pencil A4 piece of tracing paper polymer extra-soft lino block (150mm x 200mm), available from art shops or majorbrushes.co.uk small set of lino-cutting tools and cutting mat, from art shops or hobbycraft.co.uk craft knife 50cm-1m piece of mediumweight cotton or calico (depending on how many hearts you wish to make) newspaper pot of red Speedball screenprinting ink for fabric, available from handprinted.net old teaspoon and dinner plate sponge/foam roller, from art shops or hobbycraft.co.uk pins needle and white thread hollow-fibre filling, available from hobbycraft.co.uk sewing machine fabric scissors

1 Print out the heart template at countryliving.co.uk.

countryliving.co.uk

2 In pencil, trace the whole of the design onto tracing paper. Turn the paper onto the polymer lino block and draw irmly over the back of the design again – this will transfer it onto the lino. 3 If you’ve not tried lino cutting before, practise your technique on a test piece irst. Place the lino on a cutting mat. With the tools, slowly and gently carve away over the pencilled lines. Always cut away from yourself and ensure you hold the lino steadily in place behind your cutting hand. 4 Start by using a V blade for the heart outline and all the ine lines. Then change to a 3U blade to create the dots. Hold down the blade directly over the pencilled dot and slowly turn the lino one full turn while applying a little pressure on the blade, then lick out the disc of lino. Repeat for every dot. Change to a 4U cutter to carve out the marks around the edge of the heart and brush of any loose bits when complete. 5 Still with the lino on the mat, cut out the whole heart with a crat knife. 6 Iron the cotton or calico and cut into squares. You

7

8

9

10

11

12 13

will need two 18cm squares for each pincushion. Cover a worksurface with several sheets of newspaper and place the lino heart on top, face up. Spoon 2 tsp of ink onto the plate and cover the roller in an even layer. Then roller the ink over the lino heart stamp. Take one square of fabric, holding it at opposite corners, and lay it centrally over the heart. Being careful not to shit the fabric, press it gently with the palm of your hand. Peel away the fabric from the lino at one corner and put it to one side to dry. Repeat for as many hearts as you would like, inking up the stamp each time. Ater 24 hours, iron the back of the fabric to ix the ink. To make the pincushion, cut out the printed heart, with a 2cm seam allowance all around. Using this as a template, cut a second heart from another precut square of fabric to the same size. With right sides facing, sew around all the edges by hand or using a sewing machine, leaving a 2.5cm opening at the bottom. Turn right side out and gently stuf with hollow-ibre illing, then hand-sew the gap closed.

MARCH 2016

43

STENCILLED PEONY CUSHION COVER Decorate homemade cushions, table linen and tote bags with bespoke designs created with cardboard stencils. YOU WILL NEED 1 large cereal box 2 sheets of A3 tracing paper pencil cutting mat and craft knife fabric scissors 50cm sq cushion pad 1.5m plain mid-weight natural linen newspaper masking tape Setacolor fabric paint, from pullingers.com. Used here is a mix of Cherry Red, Bengal Pink, Chamois, White for the flower; Light Green and Buttercup for the border; Buttercup with a fleck of Cherry Red for the stamen paintbrush for mixing paint 1 medium-to-large stencil brush 1 small stencil brush fine-tip black fabric pen

44

MARCH 2016

thread to match fabric sewing machine tape measure

1 Print out the three templates – two peony designs (petal and lower outline) and the border design – at countryliving.co.uk. 2 Open out the cereal box lat and trim of the laps. 3 Trace over the three templates – petal, lower outline and the border – onto tracing paper in pencil and transfer the designs onto the inside of the cardboard box (three separate areas) by turning over the tracing paper and drawing over the back. Make sure none of the designs are over any folds. 4 Cut up the cardboard box so the three designs are separated. On the cutting mat with the crat knife, cut out the dark sections (shown on the templates)

5

6

7

8

from each, to make three stencils. With the lower outline stencil, cut around the edge of the lower. Cut a 55cm square piece of linen, iron and place on lattened newspaper on a worksurface. Place the petal template centrally onto the linen and stick in place with doubled-over tabs of masking tape under the corners of the stencil. Gently stipple the petals with the mixed fabric paint and large stencil brush vertically over the stencil, taking care not to move it. When the petals are covered in colour, carefully peel away the stencil and leave to dry. Secure the border stencil in place and repeat the process as above (using the small brush) with green ink irst for the wavy line and then pink over the dots. Thoroughly wash and dry the brush when you

change colour. Leave to dry and repeat along each edge. 9 Once dry, line up the edges of the lower outline stencil with the printed petals on the linen. Secure the stencil in place with masking tape and stipple over the stamens with yellow. Remove the stencil and allow to dry. 10 To inish, draw loose ‘c’ shapes over the printed petals with a fabric pen. Practise this on paper irst. Leave to dry and iron on the back to ix the paint. 11 To create an envelope-style back, cut two panels, 55cm wide and 30cm high, in the same linen. Hem one long edge on both pieces. Place with the lower design face up, then put the two panels on top with right sides facing, overlapping the hemmed edges along the middle (to make an opening for the pad). Pin and sew along all four edges. Turn right side out and insert the pad.

CRAFT

A f loral stencilled cushion cover brings a distinctive handmade touch to a room

CRAFT

4

F E LT E D F L OW E R C O R S AG E Make this pretty brooch to brighten up an outit or as a thoughtful git. YOU WILL NEED hand towel plastic serving tray bamboo sushi mat 1-2 colourfast packs of felting wool in a mix of colours, from hobbycraft.co.uk net mesh fabric, cut to the same size as the mat warm soapy water made with a little washing-up liquid in a spray bottle or recycled plastic bottle dishcloth bar of soap kitchen paper sewing thread and needle small scissors rubber gloves (optional) brooch pin

1 Place the towel on the plastic tray, then the bamboo mat on top. 2 Select colours of wool for your lower. Gently tease away thin layers of wool and lay out in the same direction on the mat in a rough circle – 2.5cm larger than your intended lower. 3 Put another layer of diferent coloured wool on top so the strands are in the opposite direction to

5

6

7

8

the irst layer. Then add another layer of coloured strands in a diferent direction to the second one. Repeat this process, so you end up with two layered circles. These will eventually make your petals (repeat again, depending on how many corsages you wish to make and can it onto the mat). Leaving enough space between the wool circles, lay the net fabric over the top. Spray a little warm soapy water over the net, spreading evenly over each circle – be careful to keep the net in place. Mop up any excess with a cloth as you go. It shouldn’t be too wet, as it will cause too much movement – but if the net does move, lit and readjust into position. Rub the soap evenly over the netting to encourage the wool to swell. Keep the net as lat as possible over the wool and rub gently with both hands or with a dishcloth, applying a little pressure for about ten minutes. You will know when you have completed this process as the ibres won’t move around and should be well matted. Carefully roll up the net and wool in the bamboo mat. Holding by the top and bottom, rinse under warm tap water and then unroll. Remove the towel from the tray. Gently remove the net from the wool and arrange

9

10

11

12

the wool on the bamboo mat. Roll up the mat again with the wool inside and roll it back and forth a few times on the tray. Unroll, then turn the wool circles by a quarter and roll again. Repeat until you have turned the circles 360° to ensure even shrinkage. Roll up the wool again in the bamboo mat and place in the sink. Pour over hot water from the kettle, followed immediately with cold water. Unroll the mat and pat the wool circles dry between pieces of kitchen roll. Leave to dry on a lat surface. Repeat this process with green wool to create two more wool circles, which will become the leaves. For the stamen, roll loose ibres in the palm of your hand to make a ball. Dampen with warm soapy water and roll lightly between your palms until irm. Roll on top of the bamboo mat, increasing the pressure, and rinse with warm and cold water as before. Roll once more in the palm of your hand and allow to dry. To assemble, cut the pink circles into lowers and the green into leaves with scissors. Place the two lowers on top of one another and sew together with a needle and thread – then sew the stamen in the centre. Sew the leaves in place on the back, along with a brooch pin.

ELIZABETH HARBOUR

Printmaker, illustrator, designer and crater Elizabeth lives with her husband Llewellyn, 16-year-old daughter

countryliving.co.uk

Esme and 13-year-old son Samuel in a Georgian house in Wateringbury, Kent. She also runs courses from her village hall and local galleries, including Mascalls Gallery and National Trust’s Monk’s House. For more details, visit eh.elizabethharbour. co.uk, where you will also ind a selection of her handmade pieces to buy.

MARCH 2016

47

FOR MORE STYLISH STORAGE SOLUTIONS, DON’T MISS NEXT MONTH’S SPECIAL FREE SUPPLEMENT

Everything IN ITS PLACE Storage is an essential element in any room, enabling it to function eiciently while creating a relaxing, clutter-free environment. Follow our guide to making your space work for you– and enjoy a stylish, well-ordered home WORDS BY REBECCA WINWARD

50

MARCH 2016

KITCHEN/DINING AREAS Oten the busiest room, the kitchen requires multi-functional storage. From foodstufs to detergents, saucepans to glasses, table linen to cookbooks, there’s a vast amount of equipment that ideally needs to be readily accessible or hidden from sight. For eicient food preparation, storage for regularly used equipment and ingredients should be allocated close to the ‘work triangle’ – the zone demarcated by the sink, cooker and refrigerator. Consider the type of cooking you do most oten. If you bake a lot, for example, store cake tins and mixing bowls where they will be readily to hand. Store like with like, so it is easier to ind a particular item when you need it. Tins, jars and stackable containers are perfect for grouping together sundries and smaller utensils. Look for clever ways to ensure your drawers and cupboards are well organised. If you don’t have a hanging rack for pans, use a stand or put them in a deep drawer, and keep the lids behind a tension rod stretched across the front of the drawer. Increase the usable space inside cupboards with freestanding racks and drawer inserts. A magazine ile or over-the-door shoe holder can be used creatively for plastic bags, while wire caddies ixed to the back of doors ofer extra hanging space. In a small kitchen, make good use of the area between the worktop and the base of wall cabinets with wall-mounted storage that incorporates a hanging-rail system, a magnetic knife strip or even peg boards to keep tools stylishly accessible. If you are remodelling your kitchen, try to include cabinet carousels and pull-out shelves for easier access to corner base units. Drawers can also be itted below base cabinets, in place of a standard plinth, while tall pull-out larder cupboards will utilise a small strip of vertical space.

OPPOSITE A plate rack can work as both a decorative and practical feature THIS PAGE, TOP An island unit ofers storage in the form of deep drawers and delineates the cooking and dining areas BELOW In glazed cabinets, glasses and tableware create a colourful display while being kept neatly out of the way LEFT A wooden box on its side ofers storage space for pans and bowls, as well as providing a shelf for utensils and ingredients

HALLWAYS Since space is oten very limited in an entrance hall, it can be one of the most diicult places in the home when it comes to planning storage. The key to keeping it clear is to leave out only the items in regular use, putting away seasonal accessories, such as rainwear or sports equipment, that are not in constant use. Use a combination of stands, shelving and free-standing furniture to make the most of the available room. Choose a coat stand with a dual function that incorporates shelves or a mirror. A row of hooks or a peg-rail along the wall works well for coats, hats and bags. Give children a place to put their shoes and school bag – perhaps a personalised box. Suicient footwear storage is essential for a busy household. For a narrow hallway, a slimline cabinet is an ideal solution. Alternatively, a chest, settle or wardrobe will bring order to a slightly larger space. Muddy boots can be kept in a box or crate, or invest in a purpose-made rack, while a vintage-style wooden unit with pigeon-holes is perfect for shoes. The understairs area in a house has great potential, especially if you commission custom-built storage. The most useful kind involves a series of pull-out drawers that run the width of the staircase to make the most of every available bit of space. LEFT There can never be too many hooks in a hallway. A collection of designs of similar scale yet diferent shapes can create an attractive efect BELOW LEFT Although their styles are quite diferent, this rustic wooden cabinet and industrial metal unit share features that allow them to sit side by side harmoniously. As well as being the same height, they both have an aged patina and the designs feature straight lines as their only decoration BELOW A bench that incorporates storage is an ideal addition

52

MARCH 2016

D E C O R AT I N G

HOME OFFICE Whatever your family set-up, a home oice is an essential part of a modern living space. Such a functional area can become cluttered, though, and, if tucked away from public view, could soon turn into a dumping ground. Well-thought-out storage is vital for an eicient and pleasant working environment. This is the most logical place to keep paperwork relating to home, family and work. A clearly labelled archive of documents from household bills to inancial records is best kept in hanging iles. Filing cabinets are quick to access and sometimes set on castors for easy moveability. Storage boxes that it hanging iles can also be handy if space is tight. Alternatively, use box or magazine iles, which can be stacked neatly on shelves if you don’t need to view their contents regularly. Items in daily use should be kept on or near to the work area. Create a system that helps you keep on top of admin, using a combination of baskets and trays, each dedicated to a certain purpose, from a basket for unsorted items to a recycling bin. Papers in immediate use should be kept to hand but not on show – a desk with a ile drawer can work well. The desk is a key piece of furniture – look for a design with integrated storage. If you like retro or vintage styles, track down a roll-top desk or a drop-front bureau, or a more contemporary piece inspired by the same principles. If space is at a premium, choose a wall-mounted table or, if on a limited budget, create your own desk by placing a length of old worktop on a pair of iling cabinets or slim chests of drawers. Once you’ve chosen a desk, ind ways to maximise its potential. Place small units on top or stack up boxes to perform a similar function. A sliding shelf attached beneath the desktop will allow a printer and scanner to be kept out of the way. The wall behind a desk is perfect for wall-mounted storage and great for small items that need to be accessible. A noticeboard, pegboard, wall-mounted caddies and racks can make your space work harder. countryliving.co.uk

TOP LEFT Wooden crates – whether covered with paper or fabric, painted or left natural – can be stacked up to form a shelf-like arrangement, with jars and tins holding small odds and ends TOP RIGHT From old steel desks and filing cabinets to factory trolleys and lockers, there is a wealth of quirky furniture to choose from ABOVE If your ofice is in a room with a dual purpose, design it so it can be hidden from view, allowing you to enjoy the space without being reminded of work MARCH 2016

53

BATHROOMS

TOP LEFT Baskets are very useful for keeping bits and pieces out of sight – either on open shelves or in cupboards – but a caddy, or trug with a handle, is ideal for toiletries, as it can be moved across easily to the shower or bath as needed TOP RIGHT Try to find furniture proportionate to the room. This large cabinet provides plenty of display/storage space and is the perfect size for this alcove ABOVE Fine antiques should not be kept in a humid environment, but if the space is well ventilated, it is possible to use vintage pieces in a bathroom

54

MARCH 2016

Usually one of the smallest rooms in the home, the bathroom can oten pose a storage challenge. However, although oten regarded as a spa-like sanctuary today, as well as places for daily ablutions, the only things you really need to keep in it are towels, toiletries and cleaning products. For towels in use every day, make sure there are enough rails for them to be hung out properly – heated designs will help to dry them more quickly, while hooks are to be avoided, ideally, since a bunched-up towel dries more slowly. Keep clean towels fresh by storing them outside the room. Always include a ring or rail close to the sink for a hand towel, too – if short of space, consider attaching one to the back of the door. If you don’t have a heated towel rail, buy a simple one that hooks over a standard radiator. Wall-mounted solutions are a great way to increase storage capacity – a shelf or cabinet above the sink will provide easy access to everyday items. A wide variety of bathroom-speciic cabinets are available but you could also re-purpose a piece intended for another part of the home, avoiding ine antiques or items with a inish that could be damaged by the damp environment. A shelf above the door will hold extra toiletries, while hooks and drawstring bags can be used for anything from cotton wool to sponges, and a suction-cup net or basket above the bath is ideal for draining and storing children’s bath toys. Fitted bathroom furniture can maximise the room’s storage potential, and make cleaning more straightforward. Vanity units with drawers ofer accessible homes for small items, while a lazy Susan inside a cupboard will make items at the back easier to access. If you have a pedestal sink, there are freestanding cabinets and caddies available that are designed to it around the pedestal to provide additional storage. It’s also a good idea to it a powerful extractor fan and make sure that it is set to the longest run-on in order to keep the atmosphere as moisture-free as possible.

D E C O R AT I N G

BEDROOMS

ABOVE Cupboards built into the eaves of a room maximise storage capacity in a simple, understated way. These have doors in the same panelling as the walls and ceiling for a coherent aesthetic efect RIGHT Vintage style gives plenty of scope when it comes to finding storage solutions. Tired and unappealing pieces of furniture can be given a new lease of life with a coat of paint BELOW Following the principle of keeping things where they are most likely to be used, this built-in nook has lots of shelves for bedtime reading matter. The design of the platform also allows under-bed boxes to be used for clothes or bed linen

CL BOOK OFFER Adapted from Everything in its Place (Ryland Peters & Small, £19.99) by Rebecca Winward. Country Living readers can buy a copy for£13.99 incl p&p by calling Macmillan Direct on 01256 302699 and quoting the reference DZ9.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY SIMON BROWN; EARL CARTER; CATHERINE GRATWICKE; TOM LEIGHTON; EMMA MITCHELL AND JAMES GARDINER; DEBI TRELOAR; RACHEL WHITING; ANNA WILLIAMS; POLLY WREFORD

Space constraints may oblige you to use your bedroom for more than just sleeping – perhaps for storing an overspill of various possessions such as books, magazines or sewing accessories – or doubling up as a home oice. But if it is to ofer a peaceful, uncluttered haven for a good night’s rest, a bedroom must be neat and tidy – which means that suicient well-organised storage is of the utmost importance. When it comes to storing clothes, many people prefer built-in wardrobes, which look understated and don’t encroach on the loor space, but installing these can be expensive. However, freestanding furniture is oten favoured for its more traditional aesthetic and lexibility, especially if you can position larger pieces in recesses either side of a chimney breast or in an alcove. If space is tight but you prefer the freestanding look, make sure you choose pieces carefully. Opt for slim bedside cabinets or small, low chests of drawers either side of the bedhead. Make the most of wall space: use it for hooks, cabinets and shelves to store everything from jewellery and books to hats and make-up. If possible, invest in either a divan that incorporates storage space under the mattress or, if you have a frame-type bed, large under-bed boxes. These are great for bulky items that are not in constant use – winter coats and blankets.

Inspired by the traditional recipes of a former housekeeper, Vanessa Willes makes natural cleaning remedies using simple, sustainable and safe ingredients WORDS BY KATE LANGRISH PHOTOGRAPHS BY RACHEL WARNE

58

MARCH 2016

RU R A L B US I N ES S

IN THE TWO YEARS OF EXPERIMENTING with recipes before the launch of Mangle & Wringer natural cleaning products, Vanessa Willes experienced some disasters. “I hadn’t realised that the kitchen spray needed to ferment and, one day, four 50-litre tubs of it exploded,” she recalls. She had been given lists of ingredients but, crucially, not the method by Bette Smith, who inspired the range, based on her experience in service from the age of 14. Over the years, Bette had collected cleaning tips and solutions, which she wrote down in journals and passed on to Vanessa before she died in 2009 at the age of 89. “Bette always thought that we clean too much,” Vanessa says. “Nowadays, we are over-run with products we don’t need – air fresheners, washing powders for whites, colours and delicates, and cleaning sprays for every room of the house.” As part of her market research, Vanessa conducted a poll to ind out the average number of bottles kept under the kitchen sink. The answer was 62. There are just nine Mangle & Wringer products – a traditional bar soap, all-purpose spray, kitchen cleanser, bathroom balm, glass cleaner, furniture polish, washing-up liquid, laundry powder and natural bleach – and between them they cover every cleaning job imaginable. Each is based on Bette’s own concoctions. Vanessa, 53, moved to the Cotswolds from Battersea in 1996, when she met her husband, Tim. An architectural and interior designer, she commuted to London every day – leaving early, returning late, and jugling work with two young children. Then, one morning in 2001, she couldn’t get out of bed. “I was completely loored, and ached in every muscle and joint,” explains Vanessa, who was later diagnosed with ME, or chronic fatigue syndrome. “There’s no treatment, so I set about changing my life. I started eating only organic meat and vegetables, and gave up work.” Bette, then 83, came to help Vanessa around the house for a couple of hours each week while she recovered, and they hit it of at once. “Bette didn’t believe in microwaves or ready meals – she grew her own vegetables and made everything from scratch, including her cleaning products,” Vanessa says. “She believed that, in order to get well again, I needed to occupy my mind and so she taught me how to make soap.” Bette let her home

countryliving.co.uk

MARCH 2016

59

RU R A L B US I N ES S

ABOVE Bette passed on her vast knowledge toVanessa, who packages her natural, non-toxic remedies simply and stylishly

in Gloucestershire for London in 1934 with a bag and her mother’s recipe for soap. Working her way up from kitchen maid to housekeeper and then lady’s maid, she moved back to the Cotswolds on retirement and set up a laundry business, where she continued to amass what she called ‘cleaning remedies’. In contrast to the long list of chemicals in many modernday cleansers, the Mangle & Wringer ingredients menu is very short – but that’s not to say the products weren’t tricky to recreate. Vanessa tinkered and tested again and again until they were just right. “For a while, I just gave them to friends as presents, but people kept saying that I should start a business. When Tim, who’s a builder, even commented on how good the laundry powder was at getting stains out of his work clothes, I decided to look into it a bit more.” It took two years and a loan of £5,000 before Vanessa started selling her products in 2012. Her brother designed the website, and production began in the garden shed. “When she ran her laundry, Bette was known locally as Mrs Mangle, and her

60

MARCH 2016

daughter, who worked there, was called Little Miss Wringer – hence the name,” Vanessa explains. Starting to sell locally in farm shops and delis, as well as online, orders quickly picked up. She began by making 20kg of soap a week, but is now producing 250kg. The rapid growth has meant a steep learning curve for Vanessa: “I’d never run a business before, so I went on a Cotswold Women in Business course, which helped to give me conidence. I quickly realised that you mustn’t be scared of accepting advice wherever you can get it. For example, when my chef friend pointed out that I didn’t need to grate kilos of soap by hand each week – there are machines to do this!” In November 2013, Vanessa outgrew her shed and moved her workshop to a converted old barn just outside Moretonin-Marsh. Although all the essential equipment, including graters and blenders, is now in place, the products themselves are still made by hand and natural soap is the basis of nearly all of them. It’s created using the cold processed method, where Fairtrade coconut oil is mixed with lye, in this case sodium hydroxide, to create a glycerine-based soap, which is then let to cure for a month in old apple crates. “In commercial soap production, they take the glycerine out and sell it, but countryliving.co.uk

RU R A L B US I N ES S

THIS PAGE In the workshop, Vanessa and her team use pure coconut oil, before adding citric acid, bicarbonate of soda, Bette’s own-recipe lemon oil and distilled white vinegar to create the cleaning remedies that Bette used efectively for more than 70 years

we leave it in – it means that you don’t need to use fabric sotener with the laundry powder.” Standing at the reclaimed bench in her workshop, Vanessa grates blocks of soap and combines these in a blender with natural bleach and sodium carbonate (a natural sotener) to create the skin-friendly laundry powder. She then moves over to the large vats on the loor, mixing the juice and oil of freshly cut lemons (“Bette’s secret recipe”) with distilled white vinegar and leaving it to ferment. In a month’s time, it will be mixed with her soap to create Spray and Go. “There are up to 52 ingredients in many laundry powders – ours has six,” Vanessa says. “There are no artiicial perfumes; I only include essential oils that serve a cleaning purpose, and so our products don’t have a strong fragrance. I now ind that when I’m cycling through the village, I can smell a line of washing at 100 paces because it’s so synthetic.” Since summer 2014, Vanessa has

62

MARCH 2016

had a team to help her: “There are now ive of us working lexible hours, including Margaret, who’s 85 and chief lemon cutter – she joins us once a week.” With hundreds of recipes in Bette’s notebooks, Vanessa is working on new products to add to the range. One remedy in particular has proven tricky: “Bette had a recipe for a solution that used whey from fermented raw milk. Very few places sell milk that hasn’t been pasteurised these days, but luckily I’ve found a local farm that does.” Vanessa will soon be adding the probiotic cleaner to her range: “The good bacteria in the whey keep working on surfaces to ensure they stay clean. “It also shows how much Bette was ahead of her time,” she continues. “Probiotics are all the rage now and science is backing up her theory that using cleaners to kill of everything could actually be making us ill. Like Bette always said, a little bit of dirt never harmed anyone.” Mangle & Wringer, The Old Laundry, Sydenham Farm, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire (01451 833600; mangleandwringer.co.uk). CL readers can claim 15 per cent of all orders placed by 31 March 2016 by quoting the ofer code CLOFFER15. countryliving.co.uk

For when your heart is in the country Subscribe to the digital edition of Country Living magazine and escape into an appealing world of rural beauty and tranquillity. You’ll ind a wealth of ideas for your home and garden, learn about traditional crats, discover inspiring rural businesses and enjoy irresistible recipes using seasonal produce.

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON THE APPLE NEWSSTAND

GREAT REASONS TO GET DIGITAL! Now you can enjoy your favourite magazine wherever and whenever you want. With our digital editions, you can stay up to date even when you are on the move! Go digital today and beneit from: O Searchable content across all your downloaded issues O Choice of viewing mode to make reading as easy as possible O Instant access to the latest issue even when you’re away from home O Interactive content with live links to websites, emails and phone numbers

Now on EVEN more devices!

16-20

MARCH BDC. ISLINGTON LONDON N1 (NEAREST TUBE: ANGEL)

Learn from the experts Pick up tips at our inspiring workshops and demonstrations E A S Y E N T E RTA I N I N G Do you like the idea of making your own edible gits, arranging a loral centrepiece or enjoying a wine tasting? Our Spring Theatre has an array of demonstrations, themed to make the most of the season. Hear from speakers such as Sara Ward from Hen Corner or Jody Page of Country Wild Floral Design, who will give you creative insights and tips on everything from decorating the house to urban gardening and spring entertaining.

ADMIRE THE SPRING S H OW GA R D E N Be inspired by our stunning seasonal display, then discover how to recreate it in your own plot with tips from horticultural designer Lucy Summers.

ALFRESCO DINING We’ve brought together some of the UK’s inest food producers for you to meet. Sample their wares and then watch experts use the ingredients to make presents and puddings.

G E T C R E AT I V E Head to our Crat & Create Rooms to make beautiful pieces for your home and as gits in our complimentary workshops. Impress family and friends with your new skill and take your creation away with you.

REMEMBER TO CHECK OUR WEBSITE COUNTRYLIVINGFAIR.COM FOR AN UP-TO-DATE SPRING FAIR TIMETABLE

Discover unique gits, innovative artisans and a wealth of inspiration at this year’s Spring Fair PICK UP UNIQUE HANDMADE DESIGNS With more than 400 carefully curated stalls, there’s something for everyone at the CL Spring Fair. And, to ensure you leave with that unique not-on-the-high-street item, many of our exhibitors provide exclusive collections to the show, special ofers and bespoke designs.

BUY DELICIOUS A RT I S A N P R O D U C E Who can resist the aroma of freshly baked biscuits and sizzling prime Yorkshire sausages? Or a

sample of Lincolnshire cheese and Cotswolds charcuterie? Treat your taste buds to the inest British ingredients in the Producers Village, plus get great tips on how to cook them.

Market. Soap, ceramics and wirework art are just some of the items our makers will be debuting this season – a must for anyone wanting to support up-and-coming talent.

FIND HANDCRAFTED P I E C E S , J E W E L L E RY A N D AC C E S S O R I E S

B R OW S E V I N TAG E FINDS AND FURNITURE

The team at Country Living has 30 years of experience when it comes to sourcing unique, handmade fabric, ceramics, stationery and more. Let us share our favourite inds, including Charlotte Macey textiles and Hogben Pottery mugs.

D I S C OV E R T H E B E S T NEW DESIGNERS Meet the next generation of British producers in our Newcomers’

Looking for second-hand treasures for your home but haven’t the time to scour all the markets? Our team has done the hard work for you, bringing together a selection of the inest vintage and antique pieces – from silverware and crockery to sot linens and glassware.

TA K E T I M E O U T Catch up with friends over a glass of bubbles in the bar or tea in the café.

16-20

MARCH BDC. ISLINGTON LONDON N1 (NEAREST TUBE: ANGEL)

E N J OY S T R E S S -F R E E SHOPPING Fast-track entry to the Fair, access to a private lounge, a complimentary glass of bubbles, plus free tea and cofee and an exclusive goody bag – our VIP tickets are a fantastic opportunity to treat yourself, a friend or a member of your family to a memorable day out.

SHOP IN STYLE Take advantage of our Late-night Thursday shopping evening and browse the stalls at your leisure while enjoying a glass of wine, exclusive discounts and live entertainment.

DROP INTO THE P O P- U P M A R K E T Now in its fourth year, this fantastic one-day event, on 16 March 2016, will be showcasing the handcrated wares of 30 ledgling businesses, so come along and support them while inding some new and exciting gits.

G L E A N A DV I C E I N THE BUSINESS ZONE We will be ofering a full day of expert talks, available to Fair visitors in our

TO BUY TICKETS FOR OUR SPRING FAIR, VISIT COUNTRYLIVINGFAIR.COM OR CALL 0844 848 0152. FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION, SEE @CLFAIRS ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK.COM/CLFAIRS Business Zone. Learn from established food, beauty, sot-furnishings and fashion entrepreneurs as well as some household names who know how daunting starting a business can be and are happy to share their hardlearned lessons and secrets of success.

G R E E N & B L AC K ’ S TA S T I N G E X P E R I E N C E Join the Green & Black’s Taste Team for a unique experience and discover the story behind the UK’s original entrepreneurial chocolate brand. With 20 unique bars to choose from, Green & Black’s has a diverse range of lavours to suit any palate.

LET YOUR

TALENT SHINE

In our series celebrating home-grown skills, we meet women making the most of their hobby, whether they’re earning from their kitchen table or launching a fully fledged business. Plus, discover diferent ways to follow in their footsteps WORDS BY ALI HEATH

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALUN CALLENDER

THIS MONTH: THE DRESSMAKER countryliving.co.uk

MARCH 2016

71

THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE Marianne’s passion for vintage extends to the sewing kit and patterns that she uses to create

72

MARCH 2016

elegant and glamorous reproduction dresses, which are inspired by tailoring from the mid-20th century

nter Marianne Cheung’s home on the west side of the Isle of Wight and you are likely to hear the calming whirr of her sewing machine from the upstairs studio. With views out across Tennyson Down and the Solent beyond, her workroom – itted with large windows adjacent to her worktable – is light and peaceful. “I oten feel as if I am outside when I’m working,” she says. “I can see the clouds, feel the wind in the trees and watch the changing seascape. The light here is mesmerising – it is a great space to be in.” The walls are dressed with a mix of original vintage clothing designs set among Marianne’s own fashion creations. Tables and shelves are piled high with bolts of fabric, treasured heirlooms and layers of curios, buttons, hooks, ribbons, trims, patterns, sewing boxes and pincushions – either inherited from her family or lovingly collected and curated over many years. This passion for dressmaking has been part of her life for as long as she can remember. When her mother was little, Marianne’s grandparents bought an old manor house in Shropshire and converted the buildings into a home and business. Her parents eventually took over and she grew up on the estate surrounded by a large, extended family. “My grandparents began a cottage industry making sot toys in their workshop and I spent hours with them, learning how to cut and sew,” she says. “They loved to entertain and hosted many balls and parties. My grandmother’s evening dresses were all beautiful and reminiscent of Hollywood glamour, so I was forever dressing up in gowns and creating my own outits.” Marianne’s irst sewing machine, when she was six, was a countryliving.co.uk

“I fell in love with retro styling long before it was embraced by the fashion industry” countryliving.co.uk

MARCH 2016

73

“I wanted the brand to feel elegant and sophisticated, not tongue-incheek vintage”

THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE Each piece is made first in calico by Marianne before being reproduced in fabrics ranging from silk and chifon to lace and satin, reflecting the era of the designs

SMALL-BUSINESS START-UP

THE DRESSMAKER

Words by Fiona Davies from WiRE Old is the new, well, new – witness the rise of vintage shops and fairs, and the popularity of upcycling and reinventing. British consumers have fallen in love with linking the past and the present in what they wear and how they live, meaning that there’s endless potential for providing something a little bit diferent.

Singer, with a wheel turned by hand. She progressed onto a machine with a foot pedal and then an electric one, aged ten. Throughout her teens, she made her own clothes and would design collections for school projects. For many years, fashion and sewing were hobbies, further developed by a fervour for thrit items: “I fell in love with vintage clothes and retro styling long before they were embraced by the fashion industry.” Never dreaming that she could make a living from her passion, Marianne went to work in the City, which seems a far cry from her life today. “My family were very traditional,” she says. “My mother was English and my father Chinese. It was the late Eighties when I studied economics at university and there was always an expectation that I would go into a high-powered job. Creative industries didn’t exist then in the way they do now and people certainly didn’t work at home or sell via the internet. When I began my inance career, it was all about brands and power dressing.” Marianne continued to sew, but worked on pieces for her home: “I would regularly go to the Laura Ashley factory shop in Wales and buy fabric to make bedspreads, curtains and frilly pillowcases.” Having met her husband in London, they decided 20 years ago to move back to the Isle of Wight, where he had grown up, in order to start a family. “We both adored watersports and wanted our children to experience the same fun,” Marianne says. Tragically, he died six years ago and Marianne had to jugle life on her own with Eddie, 13, and Jamie, ten. Having enjoyed time of when the boys were little, she decided to revisit her love of dressmaking and started her own business, Hubba Hubba Vintage. Born out of a desire to return to work, while doing something she loved from home, it was initially fairly low key. Then, in 2014, Marianne re-launched her website, embraced social media and began advertising in national magazines. With the children a little older, the time felt right countryliving.co.uk

CREATING CUSTOMER LOVE Vintage style is a way of life and customers are looking for the story, the history and the heritage. Make sure they are well informed about the fabric, the pattern and the process – if they feel unique, they will help to sell your products for you. Social media is perfect for visual products with a story. Pinterest.com has the highest rate of clicks to purchase in social marketing, so is one of the best ways to display your product, connect with customers and guide them towards a sale. TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE It is an advantage not to be mass market, as it gives an urgency to purchase – ‘nearly sold out’ really does mean that – and justiies a higher price tag. But be careful not to frustrate customers with too many ‘unavailable’ items on your website. Explain limited ranges using gentle language, signpost people to something similar and say, where possible, when products will be back in stock. This is also a good opportunity to encourage buyers to contact you with enquiries, which starts a dialogue. SEWING A PROFIT There are a lot of stages before clothing hits the shelves: sourcing fabric, designing, grading, cutting and manufacturing. Make sure you have costed each element accurately and added some proit before you set your inal sale price. SOURCEBOOK Fashion Angel – mentoring, networking and fashion industry expertise (fashion-angel.co.uk) Fashion and Textile Museum – inspiration and events (tmlondon.org) The Vintage Fashion Guild – international site with a member forum (vintagefashionguild.org)

MARCH 2016

75

VISIT OUR BUSINESS ZONE AT THE CL SPRING FAIR 2016 For the fourth year running, we are ofering you the opportunity to receive FREE expert advice on how to start and run a successful business. It doesn’t matter if you’re daydreaming about becoming your own boss, have already taken the irst steps or are looking for ways to grow your venture – our talks will be targeted at all levels and needs. Join us on 16 March 2016 at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London N1

THIS PAGE to devote more energy to her venture. She now runs the entire Every design operation, from designing and sewing to marketing and is bespoke administration: “Vintage fashion was suddenly in vogue again and unique, and I felt that I could successfully target customers online.” depending on She designed a collection of dresses that she loved and wanted the customer’s to wear, using old patterns and reference material from books requirements and ilms, all inspired by Hollywood ilm stars from the 1940s, 50s and 60s. “Most pieces are an amalgamation of designs woven together to create something unique. I make my own patterns out of calico, model the design in my size on one of my tailor dummies, then take it all apart and send it of to be graded into standard dress sizes,” Marianne says. Choosing to invest in professional photography, she used a local web company to design her website: “I wanted the brand to feel classically elegant and sophisticated, not tongue-in-cheek vintage. Now I can constantly update my site and control how it all looks.” Customers are typically in their late twenties upwards and are buying a special piece for a party or event. Lots of designs are made for people who can’t ind of-the-shelf sizing. Fabrics are new but similar in feel to those of the original designs – apart from the silks, they are all sourced in the UK. Fittings are done remotely, customers simply send their measurements and garments are tailored with personal tweaks. “They really appreciate the one-to-one contact and exclusivity,” Marianne says. With 23 designs and more to come, business is booming and designs are commissioned globally, many the result of word-ofmouth recommendations. “I have a real sense of satisfaction that I am doing something I adore, while being able to enjoy time with the boys,” Marianne continues. “Life has changed hugely for me but I love that so much creativity and knowledge has been passed down through the generations to enable this to happen.”

For more information, see hubbahubbavintage.co.uk. Prices for Marianne’s designs start at £75.

76

MARCH 2016

The day’s talks will include: Find the Conidence To Start your Dream Business with life coach Carole Anne Rice. Discover the secret behind making the leap from selling at farmers’ markets to being stocked by high-street stores with Catherine Piddington’s talk, Get Your Jam into John Lewis. Hear how successful homeware designer Jan Constantine turned her passion into a bestselling brand. Find out why a small budget shouldn’t hold you back with business consultant Paula Hutchin’s Start Your Own Business for £50. Be inspired by beauty guru and jewellery designer Liz Earle, as she shares how she built her brand and answers your questions. Get insider information from People Tree founder Saia Minney on how to make your mark in the fashion industry and run a green business. To see the full timetable of talks, visit countryliving.co.uk. Fancy getting more hands on? Benefit from one-on-one time with the experts during our exclusive new day of business workshops at the Good Housekeeping Institute in central London on 11 May 2016. Find out more about the event on page 79.

countryliving.co.uk

NEW! Come to our

Build-a-Business Day Join us in central London for this exclusive event and learn all you need to know to start and develop your dream business MEET THE EXPERTS EMMA BRIDGEWATER’s cheerfully distinctive, British-made kitchenware has found its way onto the shelves and tables of homes all over Britain and beyond. As well as running the company with her husband Matthew, Emma published her first book, Toast and Marmalade, in 2014; her second, Pattern, is available from 25 February.

*PLUS BOOKING FEE FOR CREDIT-CARD PAYMENTS

FOLLOWING THE HUGE SUCCESS of our Build-a-Business Days at the Country Living Spring Fairs, we are launching a new event on 11 May 2016 at the prestigious Good Housekeeping Institute. Whether you’re at the daydreaming stage, just starting out or hoping to develop an idea, you can ind out all you need to know to run a successful business from industry experts and entrepreneurs. We look forward to seeing you there! 9.30am onwards Arrival and registration 10am Welcome from Country Living editor-in-chief Susy Smith 10.10am Talk: Why There’s Never Been a Better Time To Start Your Dream Business Fiona Davies, business manager from Women in Rural Enterprise (WiRE), ofers advice for taking the irst steps. 10.40am Workshop: Deining Your Brand Identify your USP and plan a strategy to launch or grow your business. 11.10am Workshop: Demystifying the Business Plan Discover how to simplify this integral step to starting out. 11.40am Cofee break 12pm Talk: What I Wish I’d Known Sophie Conran, the successful designer, cook and author, ofers valuable tips and advice based on her own experiences. Followed by Q&A. 12.45pm Lunch 1.30pm Workshop: How To Get Your Product into Country Living Learn how to reine your pitch to increase opportunities for that valuable editorial mention. Followed by the chance to present your product direct to one of our magazine editors. 2.30pm Workshop: An Idiot’s Guide To Social Media Discover how to master social media to promote your business to a global audience. 3.15pm Aternoon tea 3.45pm Talk: Have the Conidence to Make the Leap with Emma Bridgewater The iconic British designer and author shares how looking for a birthday present for her mother led to her becoming a household name.

Daughter of Sir Terence Conran, designer, cook and author SOPHIE CONRAN is known as much for her stylish and functional kitchenware and tableware as she is for her collection of recipe books. At the age of 50, artisan designer and CL talent ambassador JULIE DODSWORTH decided to turn her painting hobby into a range of licensed homeware, which is sold in more than 500 shops in 20 countries. FIONA DAVIES trained in sales and marketing before joining Harper Adams University on a farm diversification project, which led to the formation of WiRE (Women in Rural Enterprise). She is now its business manager. After starting a family, PAULA HUTCHINS left the corporate world to set up her own business, Marketing Consultancy Vision. She now shares the marketing experience she gained working for international companies with small-business owners.

TO BOOK A PLACE and for more information, visit countryliving.co.uk. Ticket price, £125*. Limited spaces available. For enquiries, email [email protected].

CL PROMOTION

Timeless colour Give your home a fresh look this spring with an eye-catching array of beautiful new paint shades from Farrow & Ball

s

ince paint pioneers John Farrow and Richard Ball irst founded the company 70 years ago, their passion for using only the inest ingredients has remained at its heart. Over the years, the sumptuous paints, achieved using high levels of rich pigments at the factory in Dorset, have acquired an unrivalled reputation for their exceptional quality and distinctive hues, capturing the imaginations of those who are passionate about contemporary design. This year, to mark its 70th anniversary, Farrow & Ball is launching nine enticing new shades: from sot neutrals Shadow White, Worsted and Drop Cloth, and muted pastels – ethereal pinkish-grey Peignoir and mist-inspired Cromarty, to strong brights Yeabridge Green and teal Vardo, as well as rich, dark Inchyra Blue and Salon Drab. Each new hue has been carefully created by Farrow & Ball’s expert team to refresh its existing colour card, enhance its colour families and introduce exciting new accents to the iconic palette while retaining a classic, timeless feel. Like all Farrow & Ball paints, the nine new shades are available in a full range of interior and exterior inishes. The nine new shades

Walls in Yeabridge Green and Vardo Estate Emulsion; woodwork in Yeabridge Green and Shadow White Estate Eggshell; floor in Manor House Gray Floor Paint

Make a statement with sot neutrals, muted pastels, bold brights and rich, dark tones

To find out more about the new colours, visit farrow-ball.com/ newcolours2016. Share your favourite ones using the hashtag #MyFavouriteNewColour

C O U N T RY I N T H E C I T Y

MEET THE URBAN ARTISANS

Cambridge Imprint Following simple, traditional printing methods, this innovative team combines vibrant colour and striking patterns to create stylish stationery WORDS BY MICHELE JAMESON

HIDDEN BEHIND SHOP FAÇADES IN the heart of the historic university city of Cambridge is a rabbit warren of studios and workshops that belong to Christ’s College. This glorious collection of old buildings seems to attract and inspire the remarkable number of creative artists that work here, including Cambridge Imprint, three artisans who produce exquisitely patterned paper, books and boxes in bold and bright, vintage-style hues. Decorated with lora and fauna – from schools of mackerel, leaping hares and curvy cats to ferns, seaweed and oak leaves – the enchanting selection of stationery is a homage to nature. Sisters Jane, 57, and Ali, 49, and their lifelong friend Claerwen, 45 (who is married to their youngest brother), all grew up in Cambridge and have been creating for as long as they can remember – Jane a textile artist and art teacher, Ali a ceramicist, Claerwen a painter. Over the years, they discovered a countryliving.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHS BY CORDELIA BERESFORD

natural synchronicity in their interests, and their shared enthusiasm for typography and the sequence of a pattern led to the decision to collaborate. What started as a sideline three years ago has developed into a full-time business, and their products are now sold in more than 100 independent shops all over the country and abroad. As the sound of someone practising the piano ilters through the walls, the trio work at their old mahogany laboratory benches, which they salvaged from a nearby school; skips are also a rich source of furniture inds. Taking inspiration from far and wide – American quilts, 20th-century English block-prints and Japanese paper are all huge inluences – they set to work creating items such as covered notebooks and portfolio iles with grosgrain ribbon ties in their studio, a curiously crumbling and spacious Victorian building. The old walls are papered with prototypes of patterns and colour variations – sap-green frolicking ducks and rabbits; acid-yellow

ABOVE, FROM LEFT Claerwen, Jane and Ali at work in their studio

MARCH 2016

81

C O U N T RY I N T H E C I T Y

Paper designs include acid-yellow ish and Prussian blue seaweed swimming ish and Prussian blue fronds of seaweed – while tins of custom-mixed ink and sheets of decorative paper sit stacked in great piles. Growing up with art collector and curator Jim Ede’s house, Kettle’s Yard, on their doorstep enabled them to go for regular art lessons and soak up the inspiring atmosphere, and they continue to visit this inluential place. Cambridge Imprint’s design process is decidedly traditional – the women start with just a pencil and paper, erasing and re-working a project when necessary. “The virtue of paper cut-outs is that you can draw with blocks of colour, and easily rearrange elements when needed. Occasionally we use an ancient black-and-white photocopier to change the scale or make lots of repeats – but that really is the full extent of our technological support,” Claerwen says. All three women work on their own pieces, asking for feedback from each other as an individual pattern develops. When the distinctive design reaches

82

MARCH 2016

ABOVE Finding the right colour shade and stencil combination is key to producing an efective design

completion, it is then drawn onto a silk screen, and the negative spaces are blocked out by hand. They all mix their own colours and start printing – endeavouring to ind the palette that will bring the design to life. Any natural laws merely add to the charm of the hand-blocked design and are referred to as ‘happy accidents’ at Cambridge Imprint. The prototypes are then transferred to their products using small-scale digital and litho processes. “Our intention is to design things with all the care and attention possible, but so that they can then be manufactured,” Claerwen says. “This is all done in England by small irms, which are painstakingly committed to the quality of the inal product.” The paper is printed in vegetable-based spot colours by a company that welcomes their involvement: “We all get on the loor to help proof the colour on the press as it’s rolling.” Such passion for their crat and fervour for keeping their business hands-on has led the women to look to future plans and premises. Fabric and ceramics are in the pipeline, both of which are sure to be every bit as beautiful as their paper creations. To find out more and to see a list of stockists, visit cambridgeimprint.co.uk.

T R AV E L

the SURREY HILLS

A spring sojourn in this relatively unsung landscape ofers great walks, grand houses and plentiful vineyards – all within striking distance of the capital WORDS BY AMANDA HOWARD

Polesden Lacey

84

MARCH 2016

tanding on Leith Hill, set in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – which is a vast 163 square miles in its entirety – you’d be hard pushed to believe that you are within commuting distance of the capital. On a clear spring day, the views from this 288-metre outcrop encompass 14 counties and stretch as far as the English Channel 25 miles away. More than a quarter of Surrey is designated an AONB and it is, in fact, one of England’s most wooded counties. Walk through the lush landscape and you’ll discover a rare and ancient mix of beech and conifer woodland coming to life with bluebells and birdsong. Then there are the pretty river valleys of the Wey, Tillingbourne and Mole in the west, giving way to ields and meadows in the east. Heading north to south, the acid gravels, sands and clays of Surrey’s heathland turn to chalk downland, rich in orchids and butterlies, including the Adonis blue, marbled whites and chalkhill blues – just some of the 40 species in the area. Ageold pathways criss-cross the countryside: including a lost route

T R AV E L

Chantry Woods, Guildford

Stepping stones at Box Hill

nationaltrust.org.uk). The former home of the Hon Ronald and Mrs Greville, it played host to the higher echelons of Edwardian society, including King Edward VII himself. The 1,400-acre grounds include a 150m herbaceous border. Winkworth Arboretum (01483 208477; nationaltrust.org.uk), near Hascombe, has more than 1,000 species of trees and shrubs – among them maples, cherries, azaleas and magnolias with colourful displays in spring. From here, it’s a short trip to the ive-acre Vann Garden (01428 683413; vanngarden.co.uk) with its water garden, which was planted by Gertrude Jekyll in 1911.

B O O T S , B I K E S A N D B OAT S

HOUSE S AND GARDENS

Six walking routes, including two National Trails, wend their way through the Surrey Hills: the area is linked west to east by the 153-mile North Downs Way, which starts in the Georgian market town of Farnham, where you can visit the impressive 12th-century castle – former residence of the Bishops of Winchester – and palace (farnhamcastle.com). The views from Newlands Corner, near Guildford, are not to be missed, and it is also a great place to start a walk, taking in the village of Shere, backdrop of many British ilms such as Four Weddings and a Funeral. A little further south, the Greensand Way runs east from Haslemere, passing through the village of Brockham and on to Leith Hill, the highest point in Surrey. Climb the 75 spiral steps to the top of Leith Hill Tower (313 metres), a folly built by Richard Hull in 1765 (nationaltrust.co.uk). The area around Leith Hill ofers some of the best mountain biking in south-east England: Single Track School ofers tuition and guiding (0333 121 2125; singletrackschool.co.uk). For something gentler, take the 20-mile towpath walk along the River Wey – one of the oldest river navigations in the country, dating back to the 17th century (nationaltrust.org.uk).

One of the inest historic properties in the area is Loseley Park, near Guildford (01483 304440; loseleypark.co.uk), an Elizabethan manor house built in 1562 by Sir William More. Much of the stone came from the ruins of nearby Waverley Abbey, England’s irst Cistercian monastery, dating back to 1128 (english-heritage.org.uk), and the panelling came from Henry VIII’s palace at Nonsuch. For Regency grandeur and royal intrigue, visit nearby Polesden Lacey (01372 452048;

The Surrey Hills is said to have a terroir similar to that of the Champagne region in France and the wine industry here is lourishing. Take a tasting at Denbies Wine Estate – England’s largest vineyard, near Dorking (01306 876616; denbies.co.uk). In the town itself, explore the labyrinthine Dorking Caves on a candlelit tour. Built during the

A stag

from London to the Portsmouth coast and the old Pilgrim’s Way, which ran from Winchester to Canterbury and onwards to Rome. On higher ground, the North Downs has long formed a defensive line against invasion from Europe. There are many castles and forts to visit along the walking route here, including Box Hill Fort, built in 1899: the 172m-high landmark featured in Jane Austen’s Emma. The vistas here have long inspired poets, writers and artists including JMW Turner.

countryliving.co.uk

THE GRAPE AND THE GRAIN

MARCH 2016

85

T R AV E L Denbies vineyard

LIVING LANDSCAPE

River Wey

Mountain biking near Leith Hill

17th century, they were used by smuglers and outlawed religious sects (dorkingmuseum.org.uk). A short trip from here will bring you to Albury Organic Vineyard (07768 863650; alburyvineyard.com) for a tour and a sip of its still rosé and sparkling wines, the irst of which was released last year, as well as its grape-based spirit Attila’s Bite, made by the nearby Silent Pool Distillery (01483 229136; silentpooldistillers.co.uk). Also on the wine trail are Godstone Vineyards (godstonevineyards. com) and Greyfriars Vineyard in Puttenham (greyfriarsvineyard. co.uk). For those who prefer real ale, the Hog’s Back Brewery (hogsback.co.uk) ofers a range of traditional cask-conditioned and bottled beers, lagers and ciders.

Westhumble Chapel, Dorking

86

MARCH 2016

Adonis blue butterfly

Winkworth Arboretum

At 574 hectares, Chobham Common is the largest National Nature Reserve in south-east England and one of the inest remaining examples of lowland heath in the world. First created by prehistoric farmers, it has taken 200 generations and 6,000 years of management to create this patchwork of wildlife-rich habitats. More than 100 diferent species of birds have been recorded on the common. In spring, listen for the distinctive call of the rare Dartford warbler as it hunts for insects, and the song of the woodlark; also look out for the swit light of the hobby and pointed wings of the nightjar at dusk or dawn. In summer, enjoy swathes of purple-lowering heather – one of more than 300 species of wild lower that grow here – interspersed with bogs, pine trees and silver birch, grassland and sweet-scented gorse on the heathland, while the wetlands are home to insect-eating sundews and rare marsh gentians. See if you can spot native orchids, such as the conical southern marsh, around the heathland verges. Some 29 species of rare butterly thrive here, among them the silverstudded blue. In the undergrowth, you’ll ind frogs, toads, newts, adders, grass snakes, common and sand lizards, and slow worms. Fringed by mixed broad-leaved and pine woodlands, the numerous tranquil pools are home to 22 types of darting dragonlies and 25 species of mammal, including fox, deer and the rare water vole. The common is one of the best British sites for insects, too, especially ladybirds, bees, wasps and spiders – 50 per cent of all UK species have been recorded here.

T R AV E L PLACES TO STAY 1 High Edser, Ewhurst

2 Rookery Nook, Shere

High Edser is a delightful timber-framed Grade II-listed farmhouse dating from the 16th century on the edge of the pretty village of Ewhurst. The hearty breakfasts include eggs from their own hens. Double B&B from £75 (01483 278214; highedser.co.uk).

Shere is a quintessential Surrey village, with ducks on the river and a 12thcentury church, and the Rookery Nook ofers cosy, period accommodation right at its heart. Built in the 15th century, it has just two beamed rooms

3

with plenty of character and comfy beds. Double B&B, £95 (01483 209382; rookerynook.info). South Lodge B&B, Brockham Enjoy views across the village green and to the Surrey Hills from one of the three beautiful rooms (two en suite, one

with a separate bathroom). Paul and Joanna Rowlands will welcome you with tea and cake on arrival and serve a locally sourced full English and other homemade treats for breakfast. Double B&B, £95 (01737 843883; brockhambandb.com).

Chobham Common

Leatherhead

Loseley Park

Guildford Dorking

Farnham

Shere Waverley Abbey

Reigate

Tatsfield

Godstone

St James Church

Godalming

Leith Hill

Ewhurst

Haslemere

AONB Area of Great Landscape Value

PLACES TO EAT 1 Bertram Bees, Westcott Enjoy breakfast, lunch, a mid-morning or afternoon indulgence, evening platters or specials in a welcoming space decorated with local art. Choose to take away from the carefully selected choice of locally produced breads, mouthwatering cheeses and charcuterie. Then browse Berties Shop, with its stylish handmade pieces for the home and garden (01306 888839; bertrambees.co.uk).

88

MARCH 2016

2 Secretts, Milford Set in a converted stable block, Secretts sells fruit, vegetables and salad crops from the family farm as well as homemade quiches, sausage rolls, soups and pies made using meat from onsite Black Barn Butchers. Next door, in timbered barns, are Eliza’s Vintage Tea Room and Gift Shop and The Floral Emporium (01483 520500; secretts.co.uk).

3 Tillings, Gomshall This welcoming spot on the River Tillingbourne serves breakfasts, light lunches and afternoon teas with freshly baked scones and delicious homemade cakes. Upstairs, emporium Cuckoo Junction stocks cards, gifts and accessories (01483 202214; tillings cafe.co.uk).

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY; GETTY IMAGES; ANDY WILLIAMS AND BEATA MOORE/NTPL. ILLUSTRATION BY JOANNA KERR. TYPOGRAPHY BY RUTH ROWLAND

North Downs Way

P ET S

Canine

companion If you’re considering owning a dog, thinking about how you will suit each other is the vital first step. In this series, we help you find the right breed for your lifestyle WORDS BY RACHAEL OAKDEN

# 6 AT H L E T I C D O G S OWNING A DOG IS LIKE ANY RELATIONSHIP: you get out what you put in. Every dog’s needs are diferent, and some may be content to play a fairly passive role in your life as long as their core needs for food, exercise and afection are met. But others – particularly highly intelligent working types, such as herding dogs – like to be busy and challenged. You’ll know if you have one of these breeds. It never tires of chasing sticks or retrieving Frisbees. It will drop a ball at your feet 50 times in a row and still look up at you with bright, expectant eyes, hoping you’ll throw it again. To have a rewarding relationship countryliving.co.uk

with a dog like this, you need to give it a job to do. There are many roles for working dogs in farming, ield sports or mountain rescue, but if none of these apply to your lifestyle, sports such as agility can provide the answer. They’re fun, sociable and can keep you it – if you’ve watched agility trials, you’ll know that the human half of the partnership runs around as much as the canine one – and the high level of training involved can create a strong bond between you and your pet. There’s never a more contented dog than a well-trained one that’s satisied by its ‘work’. And that makes a happy owner, too. MARCH 2016

91

P ET S

THREE ATHLETIC BREEDS

1

BORDER COLLIE

Dogs can’t smile (strictly speaking), but the face of a panting Border collie, staring proudly up at its owner upon completion of a wellperformed task in the ield or show ring, could perhaps convince you that they can. This highly intelligent and energetic breed relishes a wide range of challenges, from gathering sheep of hillsides to performing dance routines to music. The Border collie needs to be busy. Bred in the Scottish Borders to herd sheep, it is in its element as a rural working dog – the word ‘collie’ comes from the Gaelic for ‘useful’. You don’t have to live on a sheep farm to consider owning one, but you do need to keep it stimulated with games and challenges – long country walks might exercise its body but won’t necessarily satisfy its brain. A bored sheepdog will be unhappy and possibly destructive. Its strong herding and chasing instincts (which may become a problem around sheep, chickens and young children, for example) must be countered at a young age, but once you’ve socialised and trained your puppy, don’t sit back and expect it just to slot into family life. If you’re not working it, be sure that you have the time and willingness to commit to its need to feel occupied.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN GREAT BRITAIN ORIGINAL PURPOSE RATTING AND RABBIT HUNTING LIFE EXPECTANCY 13-14 YEARS HEIGHT RANGE 38CM-41CM BREED CLUB BRITISHMANCHESTERTERRIER-CLUB.CO.UK

THIS PAGE Independent in character, the Border collie (top) and Manchester terrier (right) both relish active challenges

92

MARCH 2016

2

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN GREAT BRITAIN ORIGINAL PURPOSE HERDING SHEEP LIFE EXPECTANCY 12-14 YEARS HEIGHT RANGE 46CM-54CM BREED CLUB BORDERCOLLIECLUB. COM

MANCHESTER TERRIER

Sometimes described as a big dog in a small dog’s body, the Manchester terrier is intelligent, energetic and loyal: qualities that equip it well for agility and other competitive activities. Elegant on the dance loor and agile on the obstacle course, it looks more like a haughty hound (albeit a miniature one) than a ruty-tuty terrier, with a slim snout, intense dark eyes and distinctive V-shaped folded ears. The breed has a long history. Black and tan terriers had been used for ratting since the 1500s; in the 1800s, a Manchester breeder crossed them with whippet-like dogs to create the sleek, sinewy animals we know today. At the height of its popularity at the turn of the 20th century, it was known as the ‘gentleman’s terrier’. It is now on the Kennel Club’s vulnerable native breeds list. The Manchester terrier thrives on the stimulation and bonding that agility-style challenges provide. It is very loyal to its owners and loves family life if it is well socialised and entertained. It does have a strong chase instinct, so can never quite be trusted around small pets, particularly cats. It tends to bark a lot, too: great if you want a guard dog, but not so popular with sensitive neighbours. countryliving.co.uk

P ET S

SPORTS FOR ATHLETIC DOGS 1. AGILITY Guided by the commands of its handler, the dog races against the clock to complete a course of obstacles, such as ramps, see-saws, tunnels, hurdles and weaving poles. There are classes for all sizes of animal and all competitors must be more than 18 months old to take part. Training clubs all over the country encourage beginners to get involved. See kennelclub.org.uk.

3

PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI

Their modern image as the pampered pets of royalty is at odds with this feisty little dog’s true character: it is one of the oldest breeds of herding dog, used by Welsh farmers to drove cattle as long ago as the 900s. There are two distinct breeds, the Cardigan and the Pembroke: whether they evolved from diferent origins or diverged over the centuries from the same Scandinavian ancestor is uncertain. They have similar physical and behavioural characteristics, being agile, intelligent, easy to train and eager to please. But the Pembroke’s naturally docked tail (an inherited trait), straighter legs and shorter body may make it sprightlier on the obstacle course. The ancient origin of their name has led to various theories, too. Some sources claim it as ‘dwarf dog’. Another theory is that ‘cor’ derives from the Welsh cwr: ‘to watch over’ (gi meaning ‘dog’). They are certainly good watchdogs, and their potential to be vocal and snappy with strangers has given them a grumpy reputation. It may also account for their relative unpopularity – both types are on the Kennel Club’s vulnerable native breeds register. But a corgi that has been socialised properly makes a loyal and joyful pet: an enthusiastic partner in all manner of dog sports that will curl up by your feet when you get home.

94

2. FLYBALL This competitive relay race involves two teams of four dogs, which take it in turns to clear a course of hurdles, pick up a tennis ball and race back to the finish line. Regional training clubs welcome newcomers and diferent breeds including crossbreeds – contact the British Flyball Association (flyball.org.uk) to find one near you.

MARCH 2016

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN GREAT BRITAIN ORIGINAL PURPOSE HERDING LIVESTOCK LIFE EXPECTANCY 12-14 YEARS HEIGHT RANGE 25CM-31CM BREED CLUB UKCORGICLUB.COM

THIS PAGE The Pembroke Welsh corgi is hard working and full of fun

3. HEELWORK TO MUSIC It might look like a way to win a television talent show, but this discipline takes dog training to the highest level. The handler must devise and perform a choreographed routine in which the dog demonstrates its knowledge of obedience commands. There are two categories: Heelwork to Music, where the dog remains close to the handler, and the more creative Freestyle, in which a wider range of movement is permitted in the pursuit of musical interpretation (heelworktomusic.co.uk). 4. WORKING TRIALS A boot camp-style fitness workout for you and your pet (the sport is based on police and armydog training), working trials require dogs and their handlers to follow a long and strenuous course, often in a rural landscape, over which the dog must track objects, scale obstacles and execute commands. See The Kennel Club’s website (above) for more information.

Enjoy more animal features in the CL free weekly newsletter. To sign up, text CL to 84499 followed by your email address.* countryliving.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY; ANIMAL-PHOTOGRAPHY.COM; JASON SLOAN/FOTOLIBRA; PHOTOSHOT. *TEXTS TO THIS NUMBER ARE CHARGED AT YOUR STANDARD NETWORK RATE. BY TEXTING INTO THIS SERVICE YOU ARE OPTING IN TO RECEIVE MESSAGES FROM US BY EMAIL AND SMS. YOU CAN OPT OUT FROM SMS BY TEXTING STOP TO 84499 AND FROM EMAIL BY CLICKING ‘UNSUBSCRIBE’.

The corgi is one of the oldest breeds of herding dog

CRAFT

Reflections of

nature Tamsin Abbott’s stained-glass art mirrors the landscape and wildlife around her Herefordshire home, where she is particularly drawn to the elusive hare WORDS BY KITTY CORRIGAN

n embroidery needle and a barbecue stick are associated with which crat? If it were not for the pictures here, it is unlikely your answer would be ‘stained glass’. But these tools are indispensable to Tamsin Abbott’s images of rural scenes using this mercurial material, whose irregularities and colours are oten the starting point of her art. These are not the only unusual objects in her spacious garden studio near Ledbury, east Herefordshire, which she designed and built with timber-framer Joel Hendry, using green oak from a local forest, wattle and daub for the walls and sheep’s wool insulation. The shelves display the skulls of a fox and a badger, an owl’s foot, a hare’s foreleg, feathers of various lengths and hues,

96

MARCH 2016

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAN BALDWIN

handwoven baskets and postcards of paintings by the Ruralists Graham and Ann Arnold. They all have personal signiicance, either found on walks or collected over the 12 years she has worked here. Outside on a large veranda are chairs handmade by her husband Mike Abbott, whom she met on one of his green woodworking courses. Here she can sit and relax, gazing over the Welsh hills. Inside, she immerses herself in a world of wildlife and landscape for six to ten hours a day. The north-facing side of the pitched roof is itted with transparent sheeting to let in the gentle, even light she prefers for her work. “It’s a very special place,” Tamsin says. As night closes in, the woodburning stove is lit and work continues until another piece is completed and inspected: “I can

CRAFT

CRAFT

“Hares are beautiful to draw – they are a connection with the wild”

THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE In her timber-framed studio, which is set in her peaceful garden in the Herefordshire countryside, Tamsin creates

98

MARCH 2016

beautiful, striking works of art using mouth-blown sheet glass – its variations in colour can often inspire a particular theme

tell if it has worked well by the way I feel at the end of the day. It should transport me back to that place where I saw a hare or a deer, a particular tree or bird.” Tamsin grew up in Liverpool and Derby but dreamed of living in the countryside, which may be why a lone house with smoke spiralling from the chimney oten features in her night scenes, surrounded by animals hunting, feeding and sprinting: “My focus is on the wildlife around us, busy going about its business while we are behind closed doors, unaware of all the activity.” Hares are a particular favourite of Tamsin’s because of their wild, solitary and secretive nature, associated with myths and magic. There is also a connection, some believe, with Easter time. Because the leverets are born in the open, fully formed with fur and their eyes open, it was once thought they were hatched from an eg, just like a lufy chick. “When you see one, you know it will be a special day,” Tamsin says. “They are beautiful to draw – a connection with the wild. A glimpse of one can lit you out of everyday life full of noise and traic. “We have an equally valid relationship with the countryside whether we live in a rural area, town or city,” she adds. “In fact, I think my landscapes are even more relevant to urban people because they give a window into that world.” Tamsin escaped city life when she studied medieval literature at Stirling University and lived in a farm cottage, with a stream running alongside and mountains beyond: “I would lie under the trees and look up at the dappled light through the leaves. I think of that efect as nature’s own stained glass.” She was fascinated by illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages and especially the collection of aristocratic French collector the Duc de Berry (1340-1416), whose arch-shaped paintings in The Book of Hours may have subconsciously inluenced her semi-circular pieces. She spent much of her childhood surrounded by stained-glass windows in churches and cathedrals, since both her father and grandfather were vicars, but, despite this, she is not drawn to ecclesiastical themes. “The countryside is my inspiration,” she countryliving.co.uk

countryliving.co.uk

CRAFT

airms. She inally found the permanent rural home she craved when she married Mike in 1996, moved to the village of Bishops Frome and had their two children, Nettie, now 18, and Dougal, 17. Tamsin’s artistic work had previously been in painting and drawing, but when Dougal was nine months old, she began evening classes in stained glass at Hereford College of Art. She became fascinated by the alchemy of base minerals being transformed into a solid sheet in a rainbow of colours, through melting at extreme temperatures. It’s not the kind of hobby you can easily continue at home with small children, but she enjoyed it so much that she continued the classes for four years until she inally decided, encouraged by her husband, to turn professional. She buys her glass direct from English Antique Glass in Alvechurch near Birmingham, the last remaining mouth-blown sheet-glass maker in the UK. Sometimes its variations and streaks of colour inspire an image or theme – a dusky pink for sunset, inky blue for a night sky, sot green for spring. In the traditional manner, she draws an outline irst on paper with a thick pen, then cuts the glass into varied shapes using a diamond glass cutter and

100

MARCH 2016

small pliers. These are laid on a lightbox and covered with a dark paint, usually black; when this is dry, she draws irmly onto it with an embroidery needle for very ine detail and a barbecue stick for thicker lines, through which the coloured glass is revealed. The work is ired at 660°C in an electric kiln she bought with a £1,000 legacy from her grandfather. The paint contains powdered glass, which fuses onto the surface during iring. Ater the pieces are assembled and itted into leads, the whole surface is scrubbed clean on both sides and hooks are added for easy hanging. Finally, Tamsin rubs it with black grate polish so the glass and leads shine beautifully. “I didn’t actively pursue a life in stained glass,” Tamsin says, adding that she used to believe she was merely painting on THIS PAGE Each piece involves a series of complicated stages. After cutting the glass to shape and painting it, Tamsin scrapes back into it to achieve a

woodcut efect. The glass is then fired in the kiln before being fitted into the precut leads, which are soldered together, ready for hanging countryliving.co.uk

CRAFT glass, and one day she’d switch to a diferent medium. “However, I have come to realise that I now think and see in stained glass in relation to design, light and dark, lead lines and that incredible liquid colour. Stained glass has the magical quality of changing with the light. It’s always alive – one minute it may seem dark, the next, with the sun behind it, it glows like a jewel.” Tamsin Abbott’s work is available from galleries or direct from her – visit tamsinabbott.co.uk for more information. Her ‘running animals’ are approximately 16cm wide by 13cm high and cost £120. For more on Mike Abbott’s greenwood courses and chairs, see living-wood.co.uk.

102

MARCH 2016

countryliving.co.uk

OUT & ABOUT

Fans of rare specimens will enjoy Steve Law’s Brighton Plants Nursery at Small Dole, West Sussex, which specialises in hardy herbaceous and woody varieties, such as Buddleja colvilei (let). Open at weekends (call 07955 744802 or email brighton.plants@gmail. co.uk before visiting) or order online at brighton plants.blogspot.co.uk.

BUY WISELY Dibbers

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY; MICHELLE GARRETT; HEARST STUDIOS UK. ILLUSTRATIONS BY MARIANNE.IO

garden notes Everything you need to know to get the most from your plot in March WORDS BY STEPHANIE DONALDSON

THIS MONTH...

After lat year’s invasion of monter slugs, I’ve decided prevention is better than cure. I’m clearing any slug-friendly crannies on the vegetable plot – pots, seed trays, heaps of wood (to be moved elsewhere to become beetle banks), tacked cloches etc. I’m also ordering nematodes and tocking up on sharp grit and wool pellets to protet the mot vulnerable plants. I tend to avoid slug pellets, even if they are organic, as they contain an attratant and the lat thing I want is to encourage more slugs to visit my plants. To top newly emerged seedlings being grazed to countryliving.co.uk

the ground, I tart mot things of in pots. This ills up the greenhouse rapidly, so the coldframes mut be pressed into use – cleaned, any slugs or snails evited and the overwintered sweetpeas moved outdoors. During the busy spring months, I keep a table close to the greenhouse where plants can harden of and, if really cold weather threatens, I can easily cover them with protetive fleece. Although these preparations are not the mot creative part of gardening, they make success more likely, so it’s well worth the efort. See how my garden grows at theenduringgardener.com and, for serious plant inspiration, read Noel Kingsbury’s blog at noels-garden.blogspot.co.uk.

SMALL The Dibblet is a mini version perfect for pricking out seedlings, as it makes a hole deep and wide enough for developing roots. In oak (£3.25) or yew (£7.49; thegardensuperstore.co.uk). MEDIUM Burgon & Ball’s RHSendorsed dibber with T-shaped handle and stainless-steel body (above) is ergonomically designed and ideal for general garden use (£14.95; burgonandball.co.uk). LARGE The FSC-certiied oak T Dibber has planting-depth markings; its length (39cm) and T-shaped handle make it good for those with back problems (£8.49; thegardensuperstore.co.uk).

WHAT TO DO In the greenhouse Pot up sprouted dahlias. Move established hardy seedlings to a coldframe to create space for sowing. Sow half-hardy annuals. Ventilate the greenhouse on warm days to avoid young plants overheating.

In the garden Give roses their final prune to about 30cm above the soil. Lift and divide snowdrops for a larger display next year. Cut back deciduous ornamental grasses close to the ground.

On the allotment Cut or buy pea sticks from your local managed woodland. Weed, feed and mulch fruit trees and bushes. Begin successional sowings of root and leaf vegetables. Plant chitted potatoes.

MARCH 2016

105

Caterpillar control

FRESH FROM THE VINE Most years, late (potato) blight damages or even kills outdoor tomatoes and spoils the fruits before you can harvest them. This collection from Organic Plants is blight resistant and produces a delicious crop. ‘Mountain Magic’ has red fruit around 5cm in diameter with lavour similar to heirloom tomatoes; ‘Dorada’ is a yellow cocktail variety, juicy and thin-skinned; ‘Primavera’ has very early orange-red, sweet, cocktail-sized fruit. One collection costs £10, incl p&p, or buy two for £16. Call 01354 740553, quoting ‘Country Living’, or visit organicplants.co.uk and use code CL415. Ofer closes 30 April 2016*.

Box tree caterpillars first appeared in London and the Home Counties last year where they completely defoliated and killed some host plants. It seems fairly likely that they will spread to other regions after overwintering in box bushes, where they are concealed between leaves webbed together with silk they have spun. The moths will then emerge in spring and lay the next generation of eggs. They can be controlled by spraying plants with Nemasys® Fruit and Vegetable Protection, which is supplied in three packs to be applied at seven-day intervals to treat 60 square metres (£14.50; greengardener.co.uk).

Tip: if mulching newly planted perennials, up-end their pots as temporary covers to avoid smothering them Practical & presentable

EVENT The Edible Garden Show runs from 11-13 March at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire (theediblegardenshow.co.uk). 106

MARCH 2016

PICK OF THE SHRUBS Corylopsis glabrescens WHY? Clusters of pendulous, fragrant, pale-yellow lowers hang thickly from the lealess branches of this many-stemmed shrub in early spring. Deeply pleated leaves will gradually unfurl as the bell-shaped blooms fade. It is generally pest- and disease-free. WHERE? It does best grown in a sheltered position in dappled or light shade in fertile, well-drained acid soil. BEWARE The lowers can be damaged by a late frost, so avoid planting in an east-facing position. countryliving.co.uk

*TOMATO COLLECTIONS WILL BE DISPATCHED IN MAY

Keeping clean and looking fairly tidy can be a challenge for the enthusiastic gardener, especially when you have popped into the garden for five minutes and still find yourself there an hour later, with your clothes looking the worse for wear. Slip on this stylish apron, however, and you can work away with your outfit protected. Made of sky blue pre-washed pure linen, it has two large pockets and will age beautifully over time (£58, henandhammock.co.uk).

GARDENING

THE

WONDER OF

wallflowers

With their bright colours and sweet heady scent, walllowers were favourites in Victorian bedding schemes, but fell from favour for almost a century until recently, when their fortunes were revived single-handedly by a dedicated Surrey plant breeder WORDS BY JACKY HOBBS

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MICHELLE GARRETT

EACH APRIL, THE WALLFLOWER TRIAL ields at Pyports House, near Cobham in Surrey, become a blaze of gloriously rich, velvety colour as their unique strains burst into bloom and ill the air with a delightful fragrance. They light up the area around the head oice of Tozer Seeds, in a dazzling but deined rainbow, bringing this charming, old-fashioned lower up to date for the 21st-century garden. It’s thought that walllowers hitched a ride to Britain with the Normans, possibly as seed clinging to the Caen limestone they imported to build the Tower of London, Canterbury Cathedral and many of our inest landmarks. As members of the brassica family, they thrive in limey, slightly alkaline conditions and soon gained a foothold in sunny spots in the lime mortar of the structures – hence their name walllower. The blooms are wonderfully fragrant and were used in nosegays by the Elizabethans to fend of the unpleasant odours of daily

Wallf lowers are wonderfully fragrant and were used in nosegays by the Elizabethans

GARDENING

3

2

1 life. The botanical name for certain species (mostly biennial varieties and the cultivars bred from them) – Cheiranthus – hints at similar use of the wild walllower that grew on the clifs of southern Europe: cheir (hand) and anthus (lower). In cottage gardens, they were grown for their colour and perfume. Come rain or shine, they were a robust and reliable army of spring-lowering plants that remained on duty longer than any other seasonal lower. Gertrude Jekyll, the hugely inluential garden designer and writer of the 19th and early 20th centuries, said she loved the walllowers that selfseeded in the nooks and crannies of her crumbling stone walls far more than those she had planted deliberately. It’s easy to understand why – the former arrives unbidden and thrives despite an absence of care from the gardener, while the latter needs to be sown in summer and transplanted in autumn, to lower the following spring. A few of these relatively clear-coloured heritage English walllowers survive to this day, including ‘Blood Red’, ‘Carmine King’, ‘Eastern Queen’, ‘Ivory White’, ‘Fire King’ and ‘Cloth of Gold’. Bought-in bare-root plants have a tendency to lag unattractively before either establishing successfully or dropping all their leaves and dying. So it’s not particularly surprising that they fell out of favour ater their Victorian countryliving.co.uk

4

5

heyday – when they were a staple in mass plantings in grand public parks and gardens, grown as a multi-coloured mix in rusty shades ranging from mahogany and burgundy through to gold and ruby, punctuated with (frequently clashing) tulips. It was certainly eye-catching, but tastes have moved on and although gardeners have continued to plant them for their fragrance, demand has increased for clean-cut plantings with controlled use of colour in our more deliberate, contemporary gardens. The good news is that walllowers are now experiencing a revival. There are two reasons for this – irstly, breeding has resulted in clear and stable true hues. Secondly, we no longer need to rely exclusively on sowing our own seed (though this is always an option) or buying temperamental bare-root plants, because our chosen varieties are available as plugs (young plants with wellestablished, independent root systems, ready to be potted on or grown on outside). Wholesale vegetable-seed producer Tozer has led the way in developing this new generation. The concept of single-hued varieties is far from innovative, but delivering them consistently and with longevity is a painstakingly slow process. Earlier attempts at single colours were frequently described as ‘changeable’ or dualcoloured and, sadly, any progress made in

1 At the trial fields, only the

2

3

4

5

clearest, truest-coloured wallflowers are taken forward for breeding in pollinator-prohibited polytunnels: individual selected plants are bagged to ensure all crosses and resultant seed are deliberate. Using fine tweezers, pollen from the stigma is placed directly onto the style of the recipient parent plant. The delicate process of hand-pollination takes place in the controlled environment of a glasshouse or polytunnel in order to avoid any random, accidental crosses. Pollen is transferred to the recipient mother plant using a small artist’s brush. Once cross-pollinated, the flower is isolated under a protective bag, ensuring that the seed will be true to the intended cross.

MARCH 2016

111

GARDENING

1

2

3

4

5

6

isolating shades was all but obliterated during the Second World War when growers’ energies and land were channelled into food production. Ornamentals, including walllowers, fell by the wayside. Let largely to fend for themselves, they lapsed once again into a dishevelled mixed bag of shades that lacked uniformity and vigour. Although Tozer is not the irst company to attempt and succeed in this area, its 20 years of dedication has reaped results unlike any gained previously. The company specialises in commercial vegetable breeding and seed production and held stocks of the historic walllowers that were traditionally cultivated and sold through their main customer base – market gardeners. By the 1990s, this stillpopular but waning seed strain was beginning to deteriorate and Frances Gawthrop, Tozer’s research director, says that stock was “lanky and untidy, with a poor mix of colours” and she determined to tackle their plight. For more than a quarter of a century, Frances has striven to sort out the cacophony of colour to produce a range of robust, loriferous, uniform and fragrant English walllowers that can once again take pride of place in our spring gardens. A happy accident during other plant-breeding trials had inadvertently produced a sterile white walllower crucial to the development of F1 hybrid

112

MARCH 2016

plants – as well as unlocking the single-colour gene pool. Frances lined up her best fertile, single-hued partners, which were crossed with the white-seed parent, resulting in hybrids that took on the classic colour spectrum of yellows, oranges, reds and purples. It took seven years to produce the irst commercially viable seeds of white, primrose, yellow, apricot and orange. Four years later, bronze and pale purple followed, with red and dark purple not long ater and, inally, a ground-breaking pink – all reliably true-coloured F1 hybrid seed. This seed strain, known as the Sunset Series, is continually trialled by Tozer for vigour, health, colour consistency and seed purity. Much to the delight of gardeners, Frances has inally succeeded in cleaning up the walllower spectrum, producing a palette that allows them to select the perfect shade to act as a foil to their favourite tulip or, should they prefer the mixed cottage-garden efect, they’ll ind that the clear hues give a bolder and more vibrant display. Thanks to her eforts, the future of this fascinating lower looks decidedly bright. The Sunset Series is available as seed, plugs or plants from a variety of retailers including Chiltern Seeds, Dobies and Thompson & Morgan. Please note: the Tozer trial grounds are not open to the public.

1 Beautiful Erysimum cheiri ‘Sunset Dark Purple’

2 Fiery Erysimum cheiri ‘Sunset Orange’

3 Sulphur-bright Erysimum cheiri ‘Sunset Yellow’

4 Erysimum cheiri ‘Sunset Bronze’ is the colour typically associated with old-fashioned wallflowers, according to expert Frances Gawthrop 5 Research director at wholesale seed-producer Tozer, Frances makes notes in the wallflower-filled trials field where each plant block is defined by a single colour 6 Erysimum cheiri ‘Sunset Primrose’ (RHS AGM)

It took seven years to produce the first commercially viable seeds of reliably clear, stable and true singlecoloured wallflowers GROWING WALLFLOWERS Wallflowers are biennial: seed is best sown outdoors in the May of the preceding year (although you can sow as late as July) in 1cm-deep drills in a prepared seed bed in light, relatively poor, free-draining soil. Alternatively, they can be planted indoors in modules. Water well. Once seedlings have germinated and are big enough to move, they should be thinned and transplanted, 15cm apart, before finally being moved and watered into their flowering position from August to October.

In season, plugs or pots of wallflowers are available for immediate planting out. Pinch out the growing tip to encourage bushing out. Plant them in groups for maximum impact. Once in flower, from April to June according to type, nip off dead heads to prolong blooms and avoid setting seed. Don’t be tempted to leave wallflowers to bloom for another year, as they will become woody and leggy and will not flower as well.

INTERIORS

THIS PAGE A mix of simple classic chair designs works well with a Scandi-style dining table from Made.com. Distinctive decorative touches, such as vintage signs and stencilled song lyrics, add interest to the pale walls

114

MARCH 2016

countryliving.co.uk

ARTISTS in residence A passion for vintage finds and mid-century pieces has brought style and character to the home of a creative couple on the Isle of Wight WORDS BY FAITH ECKERSALL

PHOTOGRAPHS BY HOLLY JOLLIFFE

INTERIORS

THERE WAS NEVER ANY QUESTION about what Joy and Steve Jollife would put at the top of their wishlist when they began searching for a new home nine years ago – it had to be more space. Their 1950s architect-designed bungalow in Ryde on the Isle of Wight felt as though it was bursting at the seams, particularly as they were running three businesses from the property: Joy creates original screen-printed textiles, Steve is a graphic designer and they also sell vintage and retro pieces through their online shop The OK Corral. “We had already converted the garage and repurposed a bedroom but we still really needed a designated print room, a design studio and somewhere to store and pack items,” Joy explains. It was on the outskirts of Ryde that they came across a house with the potential to provide everything they needed – a spacious 1960s design with a large L-shaped extension where they could create their own separate work areas. The couple were also drawn to the views of the sea from the front garden and the generous, turned wooden staircase with its wrought-iron banisters. However, the property clearly needed a lot of work to make it feel like home. “Each house in this development was built in a particular ‘style’ and ours seemed to be Tudor,” Joy says, citing the metal-studded front door and dilapidated leaded windows as evidence. They replaced these, and swapped the solid-wood internal doors that made the interior extremely dark for glazed designs. “Now the light loods in, which has made an incredible diference to the atmosphere of the whole house,” Joy enthuses. From the outset, introducing their own sense of style – a quirky, distinctive mix of vintage and mid-century modern – was a

116

MARCH 2016

countryliving.co.uk

OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Coloured glass vintage ‘frogs’ for flower arranging create a striking display; patterned ceramic pots in earthy hues bring a 1970s feel to a grouping of houseplants; a tiny red bookshelf showcases the couple’s collection of Observer’s Books THIS PAGE A cushion by Joy in her Stalks & Leaves design enlivens a Heal’s armchair and picks up on the tones of an artwork by Steve

THIS PAGE A stylish array of vintage sewing notions and accessories in toning shades of green and red is displayed to great efect against plain white walls OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT A shelf in the utility room houses

118

MARCH 2016

the couple’s extensive and eclectic collection of jugs; favourite family objects fill an old printer’s tray, bringing decorative detail to the main bedroom; classic blue Robin Day bar chairs, snapped up at a car-boot sale, add a bold, colourful touch to the kitchen

INTERIORS

priority. “We arrived that irst weekend with a van and couldn’t wait to rip out the old kitchen, with its ceiling-high cupboards, straightaway and take up the pink carpet that was laid everywhere,” Joy remembers. As they worked down the list of jobs, she was thrilled to discover that the old pencil marks let on the original wooden loorboards by the joiners and plumbers were still visible: “I haven’t cleaned of any of the scribbles because they add character and it gives me pleasure to look at them.” The bare boards inspired many of their other choices. “I love the simplicity and light of artists’ studios and wanted the house to have that feel throughout,” Joy explains. Instead of the dated peachy colour scheme they inherited, the couple gave the interior a fresh, bright feel with a few coats of white paint. To bring proportion to the sitting room, the ‘ugly’ brick ireplace was switched in favour of a white-painted Victorian surround inset with stylish grey tiles. Nor were Joy or Steve afraid to change and adapt favourite pieces to suit their new home. Steve transformed an old cofee table into a headboard in their bedroom, which adds a strong modern-rustic element. “The kitchen dresser has had several incarnations,” Joy explains. “It started of pine, then had patterns picked out in paint. We’ve also changed the colour a few times, added glass doors and taken of a few twirly pieces.” Now it’s a stylish white and holds ordered arrangements of pale glassware that catch the light. Despite its pale, Scandi look and mid-century furniture, including a streamlined Hans Wegner sofa, Robin Day bar chairs and grey Heal’s armchair, the house has bright touches that have been introduced by Steve’s graphic art and the cushions designed by Joy for her Random Retail label. Her collections of vintage countryliving.co.uk

MARCH 2016

119

INTERIORS

enamelware and utility Wood’s Ware china in classic shades – Beryl, Iris and Jasmine – continue the sense of colour in the kitchen, where they are displayed beautifully in an old French bottle drier next to the range. Upstairs, the loor of the second bedroom, which was turned into a dressing room for Joy’s large collection of vintage clothes, has been painted a pale blue, while a cupboard in their bedroom was enlivened with a vivid shade of yellow. “The sun hits it every morning and it’s the most cheerful thing to wake up to,” Joy says. The couple’s many vintage treasures bring additional interest to every room, including arrangements of old glass candlesticks, favourite Ladybird and Observer’s Books, decorative tins, sewing notions and a large collection of jugs. They simply cannot resist rummaging around at auctions, charity shops and jumble sales and it was this passion that led to the opening of The OK Corral. “We didn’t have room to keep all our inds,” Joy explains. Today, the house is a wonderful relection of their combined interests and inspirations – full of cherished inds from the past, it provides the perfect setting for future designs and ideas. For more information, visit theokcorral.co.uk and randomretail.co.uk.

120

MARCH 2016

shop.countryliving.co.uk

OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Bare floorboards, a simple wooden headboard and old step-ladder as a bedside table create a rustic Scandinavian feel in Joy and Steve’s bedroom; chests of drawers contain Joy’s collection of vintage clothing; a ladder provides an original hanging rack in the bathroom THIS PAGE One of the bedrooms was converted into a stylish, spacious dressing room for Joy

THIS PAGE Marie-Louise and Snorre enjoy the view of the beach from the doorstep of their distinctive 18th-century home OPPOSITE The unspoilt tidal flats stretch for miles

INTERIORS

Weathered

BEAUTY Showcasing the distinctive materials and traditional features of a neglected property on a Danish island has restored its character and transformed it into an intriguing family home WORDS AND STYLING BY RANVITA LA COUR PHOTOGRAPHS BY RISHI-HAPPYLIVING/HOUSE OF PICTURES

rtist Marie-Louise Exner originally came to spend a summer on the Danish island of Fanø but has stayed for more than 20 years. She and her husband Snorre, a set designer, have raised their children here, and 11 years ago they bought an 18th-century property overlooking the tidal lats that stretch for miles along the coast. “The house had been abandoned and the previous owner’s furniture was covered in cobwebs – it was like something out of a fairytale,” Marie-Louise says. “There was no insulation, we had wild cats living in the attic, and rainwater dripped into half a dozen buckets.” Nevertheless, they fell in love with its glorious location and ancient lines – the ‘eyebrow’ windows under the thatched roof, the old

countryliving.co.uk

brick front with contrasting paintwork above the ground-loor windows, in traditional Fanø style, and the little diamond-shaped windows cut into the interior doors to let more light through. They were also intrigued by its history as a boarding house. “I had some strange dreams when we irst moved in – as though all the guests of summers past were revisiting,” Marie-Louise recalls, “but I felt it was a happy, safe place.” And as it had stood through wind and rain for 250 years, she thought it would probably be able to withstand family life with three growing children. Beginning renovation work the irst winter they moved here was a daunting prospect, especially as the house was incredibly draughty. Even with the stove ired up to maximum heat, it was so cold

MARCH 2016

123

INTERIORS

that they had to wear their ski clothes indoors. They re-thatched the roof, insulated the walls and repaired all the windows. Tearing down the plasterboard overhead to reach the original wood above it, they transformed the tiny, dark hallway with a vaulted ceiling and built new bedrooms for the children. Marie-Louise stripped back 20 layers of wallpaper – uncovering the varying colours and patterns of past decorating trends, including old painted wood panelling. For Marie-Louise, it’s important to see the marks that time has let: “It makes the house feel more honest. We had a decorator here, who was keen to repaint everything, but I love the worn, weathered beauty. It’s not something you can copy.” To add touches of brightness, however, she has introduced other colours, painting one bedroom a glowing yellow, with a trompel’oeil rug created on the loorboards beside the bed. The greygreen painted kitchen, though, is still as it was when built by a carpenter 50 years ago, with saucepans, lids and cooking utensils forming their own simple patterns against the rough-plastered walls. Furniture has all been acquired second-hand from friends and family, skips and salvage. The circular table in the living room came from a friend who was getting rid of it, and the multi-coloured chairs around it – their seats and frames painted in contrasting tones – were rescued from an old school. A junk-shop chest of drawers has been converted into a hall cabinet to store bicycle lights and gardening gloves, and the little mirrored wall unit above it was made by Marie-Louise’s father-in-law. The writing desk in one corner of their bedroom was treasure retrieved from a skip, while pieces of dritwood found on the beach have been used to create a bedside table and a shelf in the workshop. “The wind and saltwater give the wood a unique patina,” Marie-Louise says. In the beautiful north light that now ills the house, the simple paintwork, homemade cushions and rustic textured surfaces

124

MARCH 2016

countryliving.co.uk

OPPOSITE Marie-Louise in her studio, which is located on the first floor of the building with views out over the dyke: “The mud flats, with their constantly shifting tides, are a constant source of inspiration in my work” THIS PAGE Four generous north-facing windows fill the living room with wonderful light. Vintage school chairs, painted in cheery colours, surround a table that was a gift from a friend, and echo the hues of artworks on the walls

provide an efective contrast with classic mid-century furniture and modern art. A black leather-slung armchair by Danish architects Ebbe and Karen Clemmensen sits next to a plain white-painted side table, clay sculptures and plaster igures create intriguing arrangements on tables and windowsills, and almost every wall of the house is hung with contemporary paintings. Marie-Louise’s great-grandfather, also an artist, lived on Fanø more than a century ago, but it’s sheer coincidence that she’s ended up here too, “It’s odd to think that I am walking the same streets and seeing the same views that he did,” she says. The island is known for its rich bird and animal life, and her living room – her favourite in the house – has four windows looking out over the tidal lats where she loves to walk. Many people come to look for the amber that’s washed up on the beach, and the living-room windowsill holds the family’s intriguing “nature collection” of animal skulls, dead insects, snakeskin and other curious inds from their walks. It might seem that there is nothing let to do to the house but Marie-Louise admits to hankering ater a red sofa: “I have an image of it in my head but don’t know whether it exists in reality!” Oh, and she’d like to install geothermal heating one day – so however cold the winter, there’ll be no need to wear their ski clothes indoors. Enjoy more interiors in the CL free weekly newsletter. To sign up, text CL to 84499 followed by your email address.*

126

MARCH 2016

countryliving.co.uk

*TEXTS TO THIS NUMBER ARE CHARGED AT YOUR STANDARD NETWORK RATE. BY TEXTING INTO THIS SERVICE YOU ARE OPTING IN TO RECEIVE MESSAGES FROM US BY EMAIL AND SMS. YOU CAN OPT OUT FROM SMS BY TEXTING STOP TO 84499 AND FROM EMAIL BY CLICKING ‘UNSUBSCRIBE’

INTERIORS

OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT A Danish mid-century chair, cushions and textured rug create an inviting ‘winter nook’; upcycled and hand-crafted furniture brings a distinctive rustic look to the hallway; paint was stripped of the door and stairs to interesting efect THIS PAGE Pistachio panelling provides a bright touch in the bedroom

MELLOW

yellow Dancing and luttering in the breeze, a host of narcissi in a glorious array of shapes and sizes creates a spectacular display each spring in a beautiful hillside garden on the South Downs WORDS BY PAULA MCWATERS PHOTOGRAPHS BY BENNET SMITH/MMGI

GARDENING

STYLE

Country garden SEASONS OF INTEREST

Spring and summer SIZE

2.5 acres SOIL TYPE

Loam over greensand

here are pretty good records of most of the plants at the Old Rectory. In the well-thumbed garden planner compiled over the years by owners Brianne and Robin Reeve, you’ll ind pasted-in plant labels, a reminder of price paid and where purchased and even some scribbled care notes, which is invaluable whenever they want to check on a plant name or work out how long something has been in. However, there’s one category of plant for which their book ofers little help – and that is bulbs. Despite having a collection of some 40,000 narcissi throughout their garden in the small village of Coombes in West Sussex, with at least 26 diferent varieties at the last count, the couple can actually name very few of them. “We have planted several hundred over the years, but these are nothing compared to the thousands that were already here when we moved in 40 years ago,” Brianne explains. “We inherited a well-designed garden that had been laid out in the late 1940s by the previous owners, turning a lower slope of the South Downs into a terraced arrangement,” Robin says. “They were very knowledgeable and engaged with the plot, which was apparently always well kept – we’ve made very few changes to its layout.” Sheltered by the Downs, the garden has its own micro-climate and well-drained soil (alkaline loam over greensand), in which spring bulbs lourish. “The fashion in the 1940s and 50s was for biger bulbs, so most of the larger-lowered varieties, including ‘Ice Follies’, date from that time. Many of those we have added are smaller, such as ‘Tête-à-Tête’, ‘February Gold’ and ‘Minnow’, because they last so well. Rain or wind doesn’t hurt them at all. ‘Jenny’ is another favourite – so elegant and pretty. Its lemon-yellow trumpet and windswept petals fade to a creamy white as it matures.” Narcissi numbers have increased steadily year on year, with the extraordinary display starting in late February and going on into late April – and sometimes even early May. One spring, Brianne

130

MARCH 2016

THIS PAGE, TOP Swathes of narcissi cover the grassy slope behind the house ABOVE The bold yet delicate blooms of Primula auricula ‘Gold Lace’ OPPOSITE, TOP Brilliant blue

Muscari armeniacum stand out wonderfully among all the fresh greens of the spring garden BOTTOM Drifts of dafodils and hellebores create a beautiful display in front of the house countryliving.co.uk

GARDENING

There are 40,000 narcissi throughout the garden and at least 26 diferent varieties

countryliving.co.uk

MARCH 2015

131

GARDENING

decided to tidy them up by deadheading. “I pocketed every hundredth lower I pulled of and then counted them up when I’d inished. I stopped at 9,000!” she recalls. The vast majority are naturalised in grass, so Robin does a last mow in October, then leaves the bulbs to their own devices. He has moved a lot of them over the years when he is re-planning an area or just wants to give some a bit more space: “There is hardly anywhere that doesn’t have bulbs, so almost wherever you dig you will come across them.” Whereas the former residents had a full-time gardener, Brianne and Robin have had to it outdoor tasks around their working and family life, raising three children here. Robin was a history master at nearby Lancing College, then went on to be headmaster at a school in south London, only allowing him time for mowing at weekends, while Brianne ran a nursery school at the Old Rectory, using the garden as a teaching resource for the children. As a consequence, they have adopted a relatively relaxed approach, albeit keeping the formality of the original layout with its Yorkstone terrace and gravel paths out front, plus a grass amphitheatre and terraced levels behind. Brianne revels in the multi-layering that a garden can sustain: “I marvel at how all these plants can be banked on top of each other in one patch of land,” she says. “First we have masses of snowdrops and winter aconites, then come the narcissi, followed by the blue of Brunnera macrophylla, scilla and countless grape hyacinths. In summer, roses and clematis climb a pergola with a herbaceous border at their feet.” They introduced hellebores gingerly, wrapping them with straw in winter for protection, believing them to be tender. “Turns out they’re tough as old boots!” Robin says. “They’ve seeded themselves all over the garden and now we have substantial colonies – they are out before Christmas and go on beyond Easter.” Last spring Brianne was concerned when a greater number of narcissi than usual came up ‘blind’ (with foliage but no lowers): “It was the irst time this had happened in 30 years. I assumed it was down to the very cold, wet weather we’d experienced, but it could have been anything. In a small garden you’d probably be

132

MARCH 2016

“First we have the snowdrops and winter aconites, then come the narcissi”

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Colonies of hellebores and narcissi surround a clipped pittosporum; narcissi in the

spring sunshine; pink bergenia and pale blue scilla edge a pond overhung by Cercidiphyllum japonicum f. pendulum countryliving.co.uk

GARDENING HOW TO GET THE BEST FROM YOUR NARCISSI Prepare the ground beforehand to avoid compaction – bulbs do best in moist, free-draining soil. Add humus-rich compost to improve thin soil. Ideally, choose a sunny spot for bulbs. In semi-shade, ensure they’ll receive at least three to four hours of sun each day.

Don’t tie foliage in a knot: leave it to die down naturally for ive or six weeks ater flowering for the bulb to replenish itself. Sprinkle Growmore fertilizer on the soil as bulb tips emerge.

advised to lit the bulbs and start again but, of course, that isn’t practical on the scale we have here.” Instead, she will watch and wait, hoping for a better turnout this year. Brianne believes that the upper part of the garden is a stretch of old downland turf. Leaving it to naturalise has seen the appearance of orchids, including twayblade, common spotted, pyramidal and even bee orchids. Wildlife proliferates here: she has observed 63 species of birds, half of which have bred on site, and 22 species of butterlies. Where previously Robin close-mowed the lawns, they now leave them to revert to something more natural, which has paid dividends, as they are now awash with primroses in early spring. “You can hardly put a foot down between them,” Brianne says. Further down the garden, below the house, two clumps of cowslips, which she dug in sometime in the early 1980s, have reproduced continually until now there are thousands. “It takes a few years for them to reach a critical mass of 20 or 30 – then they seem to just take of,” Robin explains. “Visitors can’t believe their eyes when they encounter the vast sea of yellow.” Brianne keeps a watchful eye on the advancing armies of lowers in her garden, already noting that the primroses are steadily moving downhill while the hellebores are moving upwards. Long may the march continue. The Old Rectory, Coombes, West Sussex (01273 452497; [email protected]). Group visits by appointment. THIS PAGE, FROM TOP Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’ provides a blaze of colour among

134

MARCH 2016

naturalised narcissi; a circular seating area ofers an ideal spot to admire the garden

Enjoy garden features, top tips and much more in the CL free weekly newsletter. To sign up, text CL to 84499 followed by your email address.* countryliving.co.uk

*TEXTS TO THIS NUMBER ARE CHARGED AT YOUR STANDARD NETWORK RATE. BY TEXTING INTO THIS SERVICE YOU ARE OPTING IN TO RECEIVE MESSAGES FROM US BY EMAIL AND SMS. YOU CAN OPT OUT FROM SMS BY TEXTING STOP TO 84499 AND FROM EMAIL BY CLICKING ‘UNSUBSCRIBE’

Take care not to plant the bulbs too shallowly.

STRAPLINE

The

MODERN PANTRY

CHEESE

In her new series, Alison Walker shows how to transform everyday ingredients into delicious dishes with a difference RECIPES AND FOOD STYLING BY ALISON WALKER

PHOTOGRAPHS BY TARA FISHER

STYLING BY WEI TANG

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT British varieties Cheshire, Caerphilly, Shropshire Blue, curd cheese, Cheddar and goat’s cheese are as distinctive and versatile as their European counterparts

FOOD & DRINK

RED CHICORY AND SHROPSHIRE BLUE SPELT RISOTTO Preparation 30 minutes Cooking 40 minutes Serves 4 Nutty pearled spelt is combined with creamy yet tany Shropshire Blue cheese, crunchy walnuts and bitter chicory in a satisfying risotto-style dish. 50g butter 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1 stick celery, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed about 1 litre hot vegetable stock 225g pearled spelt 75ml dry white wine 2 medium bulbs red chicory 75g Shropshire Blue cheese, diced countryliving.co.uk

50g walnuts, toasted and roughly chopped 1 tbsp finely chopped curly parsley

1 Melt the butter in a large sauté pan over a low heat. Add the onion and celery and fry for 10 minutes until sotened. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Put the stock

in a separate pan and keep hot on an adjacent hob. 2 Add the spelt to the onion and stir to coat in the buttery juices for a minute or two. Pour in the white wine and bubble until almost evaporated. 3 Add a ladleful of hot stock and simmer gently, stirring. Once it has almost evaporated, add another ladleful and keep on repeating until the stock is used up or the spelt is cooked through – this should take about

25 minutes. The spelt will become slightly creamier (don’t expect it to be as creamy as a risotto made with rice, though) and it will retain a slight bite once cooked. 4 Trim the chicory bulbs at the stalks and separate into leaves. Slice them into bite-sized pieces. Stir the cheese into the risotto until it’s melted, then stir in the chicory leaves. Serve at once, garnished with the walnuts and parsley. MARCH 2016

137

FOOD & DRINK GOAT’S CHEESE POLENTA WITH FILLET OF BEEF AND MUSHROOM SAUCE Preparation 20 minutes Cooking 25 minutes Serves 2 For this dish, choose a young, sot goat’s cheese that will blend easily with the polenta. 2 tbsp olive oil about 400g fillet of beef 2 shallots, finely chopped 150g chestnut mushrooms, sliced 150ml red wine 15g unsalted butter, diced FOR THE POLENTA 400ml milk 100g quick-cook polenta 125g British soft goat’s cheese, cubed leaves from lemon thyme sprig

138

MARCH 2016

1 Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan oven) gas mark 6. Place a frying pan over a medium heat until hot. Add half of the oil, then brown the beef on all sides. Transfer to a small roasting pan and cook for 15-20 minutes for rare. Insert a skewer into the centre of the meat for 10 seconds – it should feel piping hot to the touch. Remove to a

warm dish, loosely covered with foil, and leave to rest. 2 Add the remaining oil to the same pan and gently cook the shallots until sotened. Add the mushrooms and fry over a medium heat for a few minutes until golden and cooked through. Pour in the red wine and bubble until reduced by half. Add any juices from the resting meat and stir in the butter. Check the seasoning and keep warm. 3 Bring the milk to the boil, then quickly pour in the

polenta. Keep stirring until it thickens, then add the goat’s cheese and lemon thyme leaves, and stir until it is all combined. (If the polenta stifens too much, slacken with a splash of hot water to loosen to a spoonable consistency.) 4 To serve, divide the polenta between two warmed plates. Cut the beef into thick slices, arrange on top of the polenta and spoon over the mushroom sauce.

countryliving.co.uk

CHESHIRE CHEESE STRAWS Preparation 20 minutes, plus resting and chilling Cooking 17 minutes Makes about 40 Here, the ubiquitous Cheddar has been replaced with the more subtlelavoured Cheshire cheese, but the result is still as deliciously moreish. 350g plain flour ¼ tsp English mustard powder pinch of cayenne pepper 175g cold unsalted butter, diced, plus extra for greasing 150g Cheshire cheese, grated 1 medium egg yolk mixed with 3 tbsp ice-cold water 1 medium egg, beaten, for glazing 2 tsp each sesame and poppy seeds

1 Put the lour in a food processor with the mustard powder, cayenne pepper and a large pinch of salt. Whizz in the butter until the mixture resembles ine breadcrumbs. Add the cheese and pulse briely to combine evenly. 2 Transfer the pastry mixture to a large bowl and stir in enough of the egg yolk and water with a

lat-bladed kitchen knife until it begins to clump. Bring the dough together with your ingers, then tip onto a lightly loured worktop and gently knead until smooth. Flatten into a disc, wrap in clingilm and leave to rest in a cold place or the fridge (depending on the temperature of your kitchen) for 20 minutes or so. The dough should be rested (to relax the gluten) but still be pliable enough to roll out easily. 3 Lightly grease 1-2 large baking sheets. Divide the pastry in half and roll out each piece to a rectangle about 20cm x 18cm in size and about 5mm thick. Neaten the edges with a knife. Brush the pastry halves with beaten egg. Mark them into 40 straws measuring 18cm x 1cm, then sprinkle with seeds. Transfer to the baking sheets, spaced apart, and chill for 30 minutes in the fridge until irm. 4 Heat the oven to 190°C (170°C fan oven) gas mark 5. Bake the straws for 15-17 minutes until golden. Cool on a wire rack. They will keep for up to a week in an airtight container.

FOOD & DRINK CHEDDAR AND ONION JALOUSIE Preparation 25 minutes, plus chilling Cooking 40 minutes Serves 4-6 This simple-to-prepare puf-pastry cheese pie is delicious served hot or cold and works well with other British cheeses, too, such as Cheshire, Wensleydale or Red Leicester. 200g Maris Piper or King Edward potatoes, peeled and cut into 5mm-thick slices 1 medium onion 1 sharp, firm dessert apple (about 125g), peeled and cored 100g mature Cheddar, grated leaves from a large sprig of lemon thyme 375g ready-made puf pastry 1 medium egg, beaten

1 Put the potatoes into a small pan of salted water, bring to the boil and

140

MARCH 2016

simmer for about 5 minutes until just tender. Drain and leave them to cool in a colander. 2 Thinly slice the onion and apple with a sharp knife or, even better, with a mandolin if you have one. Put them both into a large bowl with the grated cheese, cooled potato and thyme leaves. Season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then gently mix everything together until well combined.

3 Divide the pastry in half, with one piece slightly smaller than the other. On a lightly loured surface, roll out the smaller half to a rectangle measuring 30cm x 21cm. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet. 4 Pile the cheese and onion mixture onto the rolledout pastry, leaving a 3cm border all around. Brush the border with beaten egg. 5 Roll out the remaining pastry into a rectangle that will comfortably cover the cheese mixture and pastry base without stretching. Lay it on top and seal the edges by pressing with a fork. Trim to neaten. Make horizontal slashes

widthways across the top about 2cm apart. Brush with beaten egg and chill until cold and irm. Heat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan oven) gas mark 7. 6 Brush the pastry with more beaten egg, then bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 200°C (180°C fan oven) gas mark 6 and continue cooking for another 10-15 minutes until golden and well risen. Serve with a green salad or seasonal vegetables. If you like, you can prepare the pie to the end of step 5 (minus the egg wash) up to two days in advance.

MALTED-MILK CHEESECAKE BARS Preparation 25 minutes, plus chilling Cooking 1 hour 12 minutes Makes 10 slices Curd cheese is similar to cream cheese but is lower in fat and has a slightly more acidic taste, which balances the sweetness of the malted-milk powder. Don’t be tempted to use low-fat versions, though, as the result will be a watery rather than rich and creamy baked cheesecake. 200g malted milk biscuits 50g unsalted butter, melted FOR THE FILLING 400g soft curd cheese 150g golden caster sugar 200ml soured cream 1 tsp vanilla extract 4 tbsp malted-milk powder (such as Ovaltine) 3 medium eggs plain chocolate, for drizzling

1 Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) gas mark 4. Line the base and sides of a square 20cm cake tin with baking parchment. 2 For the base, pulse the biscuits in a food processor to make fairly coarse evenly sized crumbs (or put the biscuits in a plastic bag and bash with a rolling pin). Tip the crumbs into a

bowl and stir in the butter until they are well coated. Press the mixture into the base of the cake tin and level with the back of a spoon. Bake for 10-12 minutes until irm. Lower the oven temperature to 140°C (120°C fan) gas mark 1. 3 For the illing, beat the curd cheese with the sugar, cream, vanilla and malted milk powder in an electric mixer on a slow speed until combined. Beat in the eggs, one by one, until smooth. 4 Pour the mixture onto the cooked base and bake in the oven for 50 minutes to 1 hour until just set and

slightly wobbly in the middle. Leave in the oven for 15 minutes with the door ajar and the oven switched of. Run a latbladed knife around the edges of the cake tin to loosen the cheesecake – this should help to stop the surface cracking. Cool on a wire rack, then chill overnight. 5 Carefully lit out the cheesecake onto a board. Using a teaspoon, drizzle melted chocolate across the top. Leave to set for a few minutes, then cut into 10 equal pieces and serve.

OPPOSITE Gill w ith Harry Boglione from Haye Farm in Dorset THIS PAGE Roast chicken and egg salad

In this new series, the West Country chef meets his favourite local food producers, then creates mouthwatering dishes with the ingredients they grow and produce Ths month CHICKEN AND EGGS RECIPES AND FOOD STYLING BY GILL MELLER

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANDREW MONTGOMERY

INTERVIEW BY ALEX REECE

FOOD AND DRINK EDITOR ALISON WALKER

MARCH 2016

145

THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE Harry and his partner Emily hope their trailblazing organic methods will help Haye Farm become a model for agricultural practice in the future

Gill Meller has lived in the West Dorset/East Devon area all his life. As head chef at River Cottage, he has been involved in sourcing sustainable and ethical food, creating recipes and developing the cookery school, where he also teaches. He has oten appeared alongside Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall in his TV series, and has lately been producing books as an independent food writer. The ield-to-fork mentality of good ingredients, simply prepared, is key to his approach and he has built up relationships with numerous inspiring producers, growers and farmers in his area. “Everything I do hangs on these amazing people,” he says, “and respecting the part they play in the food I cook.”

FOOD & DRINK

always like the change of the seasons, and it’s especially exhilarating ater a hard winter because, even though it’s a lovely time of year and one of my favourites, to see the irst signs of spring lits my heart. It signiies to me a whole new chapter in the culinary year. Just the smell of wild garlic or coming across the irst nettles inspires me, and I think the transition lits creativity for cooks. Early spring is a time of new growth and new life, which is one of the reasons egs are associated with Easter. I’m a massive fan of the extraordinary versatility that egs, and chicken, inherently ofer as ingredients. Without egs in particular, it would be a diferent landscape foodwise, when you think that we use them for mayonnaise, meringue and everything in between. For me, having access to really fresh egs makes a huge diference to my cooking. It’s not so much the inished result but how you feel about what you’re making, because you know where the egs have come from. From the way they taste to the way they crack in the pan or even the colour of the yolk, everything about them says they are from hens living the life they really should be. A couple called Harry Boglione and Emily Perry run a mediumsized mixed farm in a valley around the corner from where I live, between Lyme Regis and Axminster. The organic chickens and egs they produce at Haye Farm can’t really be compared to the countryliving.co.uk

commercial equivalents. In the case of their table birds (which are Hubbards), there are all sorts of things about the carcass that are considerably diferent from a standard, indoor-reared chicken: the bone size, the colour and thickness of the skin and, ultimately, of course, the lavour. The texture of the meat has a proper grain to it – partly because their muscles have been able to develop normally. Harry and Emily have only been at the farm a year, but they’ve invested a lot of time and efort in diversifying the land. They have eg and meat chickens (about 600 of each), a small herd of Red Devon cattle, some Oxford Sandy and Black and Gloucester Old Spot pigs, ducks and sheep. They also grow a wide variety of vegetables. Harry’s very unusual in that he’s pretty young to be in control of such a large farm – he’s only in his mid-twenties. He says that his knowledge of growing comes mainly from his parents, who are the owners of Petersham Nurseries in Surrey. With regard to livestock, he has previously worked on farms in both England and Australia, but a lot of his farming know-how is “self-taught and passion-driven”. “We do a bit of everything because we believe the best way is to be as sustainable as possible,” Harry explains. “And it also works for us, because we sell all our products directly to the consumer rather than going through supermarkets.” Haye Farm now supplies local MARCH 2016

147

FOOD & DRINK salad, I have done just that. Early new-season beetroot and waxy potatoes are tumbled together with salty anchovies, which are so good with both chicken and egs. 500g new potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces 8 small beetroot 4 eggs 6-8 salted anchovy fillets, roughly torn 200g-300g leftover roast chicken small handful of chives FOR THE DRESSING 2 tsp Dijon mustard 2 tsp sugar ½ small garlic clove, peeled and bashed 2 tsp cider vinegar 50ml sunflower oil 50ml olive oil

1 First make the dressing.

2

3 concerns, such as River Cottage, with its produce, along with restaurants in London (Petersham Nurseries and The River Café, for example) and a few grocery shops in the capital, too. For their eg chickens, they cultivate speciic plants and vegetables in order to encourage their foraging behaviour. The meat chickens also have a much larger area to do this than normal – even for an organic farm. “I’m quite keen on the concept of combining farming and nature, which is something that’s not generally considered possible,” Harry says. “I genuinely believe that the right practice is using all land for both reasons – we can encourage biodiversity and create habitats for wildlife as well as having a productive, proitable farm.” It is his hope that Haye Farm will one day become a model for agricultural methods. Along the hedgerows of Harry’s farm around now, there’s a whole array of new wild pickings coming up, including wild sorrel, nettles, primroses and wild garlic. I’ve decided to feature some of these lovely early herbs and plants in my recipes. I’m particularly fond of nettles, so I’ve come up with a hearty chicken and nettle pie, which makes an ideal accompaniment if you’re venturing out on a springtime picnic. For more information on Haye Farm, or a price list, contact [email protected] or call 01297 552036.

148

MARCH 2016

4

ROAST CHICKEN AND EGG SALAD Preparation 20 minutes Cooking 30 minutes Serves 4 It’s quite unusual to see recipes in which chicken and egs are paired in the same dish, but here, in this vibrant and substantial

5

Put all the ingredients into a lidded jar. Season and shake vigorously to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning, sweetness or acidity as required. Put the potatoes in a pan of salted water and bring up to a simmer. Cook for 10-12 minutes until they are tender. Drain and, while still warm, toss with 2 tbsp dressing, season and leave to cool. Cook the beetroot in the same way, although they will need to simmer for 20-30 minutes until they are tender when pierced with a knife. Drain, leave to cool, then peel. The skins will slip of quite easily. Bring a medium-sized saucepan of water to the boil. Add the eggs and simmer for 6-7 minutes. Drain, cool, then peel and halve. Scatter the dressed potatoes and beetroot in a large shallow salad bowl or platter. Dot the eggs around the vegetables, then lay pieces of anchovy illet and roast chicken in and countryliving.co.uk

around the eggs. Finish the salad with fresh chives, some laky salt, freshly ground black pepper and a good trickle of the remaining dressing.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH WILD GARLIC Preparation 25 minutes Cooking 1 hour 30 minutes Serves 4-6 In spring, I use freshly foraged, tender wild garlic to lavour countryliving.co.uk

roast chicken instead of my usual garlic bulb and thyme combination. It makes a delightful alternative.

chicken or vegetable stock 1-2 tsp redcurrant jelly

1 Put 75g garlic leaves into 100g wild garlic leaves 50g butter, softened zest of 1 lemon 1.5kg-2kg chicken 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 glass of white wine (or water) 1-2 tbsp plain flour 300ml-400ml hot

a food processor along with the butter, lemon zest and some salt and freshly ground black pepper. Pulse until you have a coarse bright green butter. 2 Remove the chicken from the fridge about 1 hour before you plan to cook

it. Pull the legs away from the body and lit the wings out from under the bird – this helps hot air circulate around the meat while it is cooking. Place the chicken in a roasting tin. 3 Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan oven) gas mark 6. Lit the skin from the breast by carefully edging your ingers between skin and meat. You can do this both from the back and the neck end of the chicken. Try not to tear the skin. Spoon two-thirds of the wild-garlic butter under the skin of the bird, massaging it down to the thighs and wings if you can. Season the chicken all over with salt and freshly ground black pepper and drizzle with the olive oil. 4 Roast the chicken in the oven for 20 minutes, then add the wine or water to the base of the tin. Cook, basting once or twice, for another 50 minutes. Spoon the remaining wild-garlic butter over the bird and scatter in the last of the wild-garlic leaves, chopped roughly if they are big. They will wilt in the roasting tray juices. Cook for a further 10 minutes. Check that the bird is cooked by pulling at a leg – it should want to come away from the body without much efort. If the meat is not cooked, return it to the oven for a further 10-15 minutes. Lit the chicken onto a large serving platter and leave to rest for 15 minutes before serving. 5 To make a simple gravy, spoon of the excess fat from the roasting tray and set it over a low heat. Sprinkle in the lour and stir well, cooking gently for 1 minute. Add the stock and bring to a simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper and tweak the sweetness with a teaspoon or two of redcurrant or other fruit jelly. Serve with the chicken. MARCH 2016

149

FOOD & DRINK

EGG MAYONNAISE WITH TARRAGON, PARSLEY AND SPRING ONIONS Preparation 15 minutes Cooking 10 minutes Serves 2 I love proper egg mayonnaise, particularly when the mayo is homemade and rich, and the eggs are still warm. Tarragon is a lovely herb to use with eggs and it’s great with chicken, too – it is delicate and wonderfully fragrant with an undertow of cool green aniseed, which lits this light lunchtime dish. 4 free-range or organic eggs ½ bunch of tarragon, leaves picked 2 slices sourdough bread

150

MARCH 2016

3-4 spring onions, thinly sliced handful of flat parsley leaves extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling FOR THE MAYONNAISE 1 very small clove of garlic 1 large fresh egg yolk 1 heaped tsp Dijon mustard 2 tsp cider vinegar 1 small salted anchovy fillet, finely chopped 100ml sunflower oil 100ml extra-virgin olive oil

1 For the mayonnaise, crush the garlic with a good pinch of salt, then combine in a bowl with the yolk, mustard, vinegar and anchovy. Season

with freshly ground black pepper. Whisk well for 30-40 seconds. 2 Combine the oils in a jug, then slowly whisk into the egg mixture, a few drops at a time to start with, then in a very slight trickle, whisking all the time until you have a thick, glossy mayonnaise that holds its shape. Taste and add more salt, pepper, mustard or vinegar if required. You can also make this in a food processor using the same method. Keep the mayonnaise in the fridge and eat within one week. 3 Bring a medium saucepan of water to the boil. Add the eggs and simmer for

7-8 minutes. Drain and run under cold water. When cool enough to handle, peel and coarsely chop the eggs and mix in a bowl with 2 tbsp of the mayonnaise, half the tarragon leaves, chopped, and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. 4 Toast or, better still, chargrill the bread over a high heat until it takes on some griddle marks – this brings a great lavour to the dish. 5 Put a piece of toast on each plate and top with the egg mayo. Scatter over the spring onions, parsley leaves and remaining tarragon. Season and inish with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.

countryliving.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK CHICKEN AND NETTLE PIE Preparation 40 minutes, plus standing Cooking 1 hour 35 minutes Serves 6-8 Spring is a good time to pick nettles for cooking. Lush, tender and very sweet, they’re just as tasty as spinach and, like kale, are incredibly good for you. This rustic pie shows of the nettle’s ainity with chicken. It’s superb warm from the oven, but equally good cold, as part of a picnic, perhaps. FOR THE PASTRY 300g plain flour 150g cold butter, diced iced water 1 medium egg a splash of milk FOR THE FILLING 1 large colander of nettle tops, washed 1 tbsp olive oil 200g bacon lardons

152

MARCH 2016

2 small onions, sliced 2 garlic cloves, sliced 25g butter 75g plain flour 500ml warm chicken stock 100ml double cream 350g cold roast chicken

1 First make the pastry: put the lour in a bowl, add the butter and rub with your ingers until the mixture resembles ine breadcrumbs. Add a good pinch of salt and enough water to bring it all together into a pliable dough. Wrap in clingilm and chill. 2 Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, add the nettles and cook for 1-2 minutes. Drain and plunge into cold water to retain their green colour. Drain well and set aside. 3 Meanwhile, put a medium or large heavy-based pan over a medium heat. Add

the oil and, when hot, throw in the lardons. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat starts to render and the bacon begins to colour. Add the onions and garlic, and cook for 5-6 minutes. Add the butter and, when bubbling, stir in the lour. Cook for a minute or two. 4 Pour in the stock and bring to a simmer – the sauce will begin to thicken. Keep stirring until smooth and velvety. Add the cream and chicken and cook for 1-2 minutes over a low heat. 5 Chop the nettles and stir into the chicken with some seasoning. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. 6 Heat the oven to 190°C (170°C fan oven) gas mark 5. Grease and lour an 18cm spring-form cake tin. Roll three-quarters of the pastry into a circle about 4-5mm

thick. Carefully line the cake tin with the pastry – there should be an overhang of a few centimetres. 7 Spoon the cooled chicken illing into the pastry case and level. Roll out the remaining pastry to about the same thickness to make a lid. Whisk the egg with a splash of milk to make an egg wash; brush this around the lip of the pie, then lay the lid over the top. Trim away the excess, then use your inger to crimp the pastry together tightly. 8 Make a cut in the centre and brush the surface with more egg wash. Cook for 50-60 minutes. Remove the sides of the spring-form tin. Brush around the pie with egg wash and return to the oven for 15 minutes. Leave to stand for 25-30 minutes, then serve with mustard and salad leaves.

countryliving.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK

3

4

5

6

7

8

LEMON CURD AND CREAM MERINGUE WITH HAZELNUTS, PRIMROSES AND SORREL Preparation 30 minutes Cooking 2 hours 30 minutes Serves 6-8 This pretty dessert makes the most of good free-range egs, with crisp, pillowy meringue topped with sharp, fragrant lemon curd. If you have primroses in the garden, scatter a few over the top – they look lovely. Wild sorrel tastes like

154

MARCH 2016

lemony gooseberries, making it an ideal foil to the sugary meringue. FOR THE MERINGUE flavourless oil, for greasing 4 egg whites 200g caster sugar FOR THE LEMON CURD finely grated zest of 3 lemons 200ml lemon juice 125g unsalted butter 450g caster or granulated sugar 4 large eggs, beaten TO SERVE 300ml double cream

35g toasted hazelnuts, lightly crushed small bunch of fresh primroses, flowers picked small handful of young sorrel leaves

1 Heat the oven to 140°C (120°C fan oven) gas mark 1. Lightly grease a sheet of baking parchment and lay over a large lat baking tray at least 30cm x 30cm. 2 To make the meringue, whisk the egg whites with

an electric whisk until they hold stif peaks. Still whisking, add the sugar, a spoonful at a time, until incorporated. Continue to whisk for 6-8 minutes until the meringue is thick. Spoon onto the tray. Try to make a large circle with slightly peaked edges, but it doesn’t have to be perfect. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 110°C (90°C fan oven) gas mark ¼ and cook for another 2 hours. Remove and leave to cool. Store in an airtight container if not using immediately. To make the lemon curd, put the lemon zest and juice, butter and sugar into a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Slowly whisk until the butter has melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour in the eggs and whisk every few moments for 8-10 minutes until thick and creamy. Push the curd through a sieve into a clean bowl and leave to cool before chilling. To serve, whisk the cream until thick. Spoon over the meringue, spreading it out towards the edges. Generously top with the chilled lemon curd, then sprinkle with the hazelnuts. Finish with the lowers (if in season) and a scattering of sorrel. Serve immediately. Any remaining lemon curd will keep in the fridge for at least a week..

CL OFFER River Cottage is ofering CL readers a 15% discount on its Smallholder, Cakes and Sweet Pastry and Savoury Pastry and Pies courses if booked to take place before 31 May 2016 using the code CLMARCH. For details, visit rivercottage.net.

countryliving.co.uk

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

HEALTHY HARVEST Growing your own vegetables can do more than just supply you with seasonal fresh produce. New research reveals it can do long-term good for body and mind. The study, published in the Journal of Public Health, found that people making short, weekly visits to an allotment had lower levels of depression, tension and anger, and higher levels of self-esteem than nongardeners. In addition, those with green fingers were also less likely to be overweight and had a healthier body mass index. So it’s time to start planning this year’s mood-boosting crops.

BEAUTY BUZZ

Ayurvedic treatments

Some of the latest skin and haircare formulations draw on the healing qualities of Ayurveda, the ancient system of medicine with its roots in the Indian subcontinent. As Ayurvedic medicine aims to restore balance to body and mind, these utilise the therapeutic elements of traditional oils, plant roots, herbs and spices to rejuvenate, revitalise and restore. Take time to massage in and enjoy the aromas. Try Aveda Invati Exfoliating Shampoo (£22), Scalp Revitalizer (£45, aveda.co.uk), and Thickening Conditioner (£24.50); Khadi Anti-Aging Face and Body Oil (£11.90, khadihair.co.uk); and Urban Veda Sandalwood + Botanics Soothing Day Cream (£18.99, urbanveda.co.uk).

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

BEST BUY Look fresh-faced this spring with new Clarins Ombre Iridescente in Silver Green (£19), Multi-Blush in Rose (£18.50) and Lip Perfector in Tofee Pink Shimmer (£18, clarins.com), containing mimosa, jojoba and bamboo to nourish and protect skin. countryliving.co.uk

ENJOY AN EASTER FEAST OF DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS CAKES, TARTS AND BROWNIES with Clean Cakes (£20, Jacqui Small). The recipes are free from gluten, dairy and reined sugar, and created by pâtissière Henrietta Inman (see CL, September 2015).

NATURE’S MEDICINE CABINET Molasses Say no to Easter eggs and get your fix from blackstrap molasses instead. This thick, black, treacle-like substance is produced when sugar cane is turned into refined sugar. Unlike the white stuf, it comes with a host of other nutrients. In fact, just one tablespoon can meet around one quarter of your daily iron need, and over half your magnesium. It’s also rich in bone-boosting calcium. Add it to cakes and gingerbread, or take as a morning tonic with ginger tea*.

HELP LOWER CHOLESTEROL LEVELS naturally with Perfect Vascular Natural All in One (£33 for a month’s supply, from pharmacies), which contains a combination of red yeast rice, plant sterols and Co Q10. GIVE LUNCHTIMES A WHOLEGRAIN MAKEOVER with new Merchant Gourmet Indian and Thai Flavoured Grains (£1.39, from supermarkets). Deliciously spiced, they contain healthy pearl barley, green lentils and wheatberries, and are perfect with chicken, ish or roasted vegetables. For more tips and products, see netdoctor.co.uk. MARCH 2016

157

B E AU T Y

petal

POWER Harness the healing properties of British cottage-garden blooms to nourish and revive your complexion WORDS BY KATE LANGRISH

HEALING ROSE

PHOTOGRAPHS BY NATO WELTON

The delicate petals of a rose belie its strength, as this lower is a potent ingredient in skincare. “Rose is called the queen of lowers,” says acupuncturist and aromatherapist Annee de Mamiel, creator of British skincare range de Mamiel (demamiel.com). “It has excellent emollient properties for sotening and hydrating dry skin, an anti-inlammatory action to help treat redness and irritation, and antiseptic and astringent qualities for acne.” Rose lower water acts as a very gentle cleanser in REN Rosa Centifolia 3-in-1 Cleansing Water (£13, renskincare.com), which is perfect for sensitive or reactive skin. Its hydrating capability is utilised to the full in Laura Mercier Infusion de Rose Nourishing Oil (£43.50, uk.spacenk.com) to rejuvenate a winter-worn complexion.

STYLING BY POLLY WEBB WILSON

B E AU T Y

AROMATIC JASMINE

The heady fragrance of jasmine blossom works on the mind as well as the body. “Jasmine is one of my favourite oils. It helps improve elasticity, and is a fantastic balancing oil that tones oily, dry, sensitive or irritated skin,” Annee explains. The lower is combined with rose in de Mamiel Summer Facial Oil (£67, demamiel.com) for a scent that is the essence of summer. When the weather starts to warm up, rub a couple of drops into the palms of your hands and inhale before massaging into the skin. Darphin 8-Flower Nectar Oil Cream (£65, darphin.co.uk) is a product with real petal power – more than 280 are infused into each jar. Smoothed on before bed, it not only helps condition skin but also assists relaxation with its wonderful aroma.

ENRICHING GERANIUM

The upliting scent of geranium makes it a perfect wake-up call in This Works Energy Bank Shower Gel (£16, thisworks.com). “It really is the best way to kickstart your morning,” says Kathy Phillips, founder of This Works. Or, for a quick boost throughout the day, wash your hands with Seascape Refresh Hand Wash (£16, seascapeuk.com) – geranium also has antibacterial qualities, so will aid the cleansing process naturally.

160

MARCH 2016

B E AU T Y

SOOTHING CAMOMILE

Just as camomile tea can ease your digestive system, the extracts can relieve irritated skin, too. “The plant has antiinlammatory properties – it calms, reduces swelling and relieves itching,” says Louise Riby of Elemental Herboloy. Very sensitive skin types should try Elemental Herbology Delicate Cleanse (£20, elementalherbology. com), a milky cleanser that combines camomile with rose water. Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil (£85, uk.spacenk.com) contains retinoid oils, which increase skin-cell turnover and improve texture – but they can aggravate sensitive skin. This oil incorporates camomile’s calming qualities, though, so you can still reap the beneits.

COOL CORNFLOWER

PRINTS BY BRIDGEMAN ART GALLERY; DRIED FLOWERS FROM DAISYSHOP.CO.UK

This meadow favourite is oten included in eye creams for its toning potential, but a high level of anthocyanins (the compounds that give the lowers their colour) also mean it’s packed with antioxidants to help protect skin. Chantecaille Flower Infused Cleansing Milk (£54, uk.spacenk.com) tones and clariies, and Le Couvent des Minimes 3 in 1 Micellar Water (£15, uk.lecouventdesminimes. com) uses cornlower water to remove impurities gently.

162

MARCH 2016

where to buy Stockists in this issue

Aston Matthews

A AN ANGEL AT MY TABLE 0845 200 0723;

photography Jill Tate

B

C

D

The Astonian bathroom

we offer you the best possible prices with the assurance of superior quality and generous year-round discounts

E

F G

H

order online at

www.astonmatthews.co.uk visit our showroom

141-147A Essex Road Islington, London N1 2SN 020 7226 7220 [email protected]

I J K

anangelatmytable.com A NORTHERN LIGHT anorthernlight.net BAILEYS 01989 561931; baileyshome.com BLOOMINGVILLE bloomingville.com BODEN 0330 333 0000; boden.co.uk CATH KIDSTON 0845 026 2440; cathkidston.com THE CONTEMPORARY HOME 0845 130 8229; tch.net COX & COX 0844 858 0744; coxandcox.co.uk DASH & ALBERT dashandalberteurope.com DESIGN VINTAGE 01243 573852; designvintage.co.uk DOWNING & BEDFORD downingandbedford.com EARTHBORN 01928 734171; earthbornpaints.co.uk EMILOUMAKES 07976 529769; emiloumakes.co.uk FARROW & BALL 01202 876141; farrow-ball.com GARDEN TRADING 0845 608 4448; gardentrading.co.uk GRAND ILLUSIONS 01747 858300; grandillusions.co.uk HANNAH BERRIDGE hannahberridge.com HARVEY MARIA 0845 680 1231; harveymaria.co.uk HOBBYCRAFT 0330 026 1400; hobbycraft.co.uk HOUSEOLOGY 0141 280 4533; houseology.com HUGH DUNFORD WOOD 07932 677540; dunfordwood.com IKEA ikea.com/gb/en JANE MEANS 01522 522544; janemeans.com KATIE ALMOND 07528 368043; katiealmond. co.uk THE KITCHEN DRESSER COMPANY 01782 575565; thekitchendresser.co.uk

L LAURA ASHLEY 0333 200 8009; lauraashley.com LAURA BAXTER 07939 238608; laurabaxter.co.uk LITTLE RAM STUDIO folksy.com/shops/ littleramstudio LOAF 0845 468 0697; loaf.com M MADE BY HAND ONLINE madebyhandonline. com MANDARIN STONE 01600 715444; mandarinstone.com MERCHANT & MILLS 01797 227789; merchantandmills.com P PARNA 01865 522272; parna.co.uk PEONY & THISTLE peonyandthistle.com PIMPERNEL & PARTNERS 020 7731 2448; pimpernelandpartners.co.uk pipii R RE 01434 634567; re-foundobjects.com ROULLIER WHITE 020 8693 5150; roullierwhite.com S SALLY NENCINI 07866 802238; sallynencini.com SANDERSON 0844 543 9500; sanderson-uk.com SARAH RAVEN 0345 092 0283; sarahraven.com SARAH WENT CERAMICS sarahwentceramics.com THE SHOP FLOOR PROJECT 01229 584537; theshopfloorproject.com SKINFLINT 01326 565227; skinflintdesign.co.uk T THREE RED APPLES threeredapples.com TOM PIGEON 01333 720796; tompigeon.com TWIG twiguk.co.uk V V&A SHOP 020 7942 2696; vandashop.com VOLGA LINEN 01728 635020; volgalinen.co.uk W WALLFLOWER LONDON 07949 114510; wallflower.london WILLOW & STONE 01326 311388; willowandstone.co.uk THE WOOL ROOM 01780 461217; thewoolroom.com countryliving.co.uk

next month in Our April issue is on sale from 25 February

INSPIRING INTERIORS

AMAZING AURICULAS

A breath of fresh air Simple ways to make the most of the season

EASTER TREATS

NEVER MISS AN ISSUE Turn to page 64 to see our latest subscription or renewal offer

With the NHS under pressure and thousands queuing for the treatment they need, you can avoid waiting lists with AXA PPP healthcare and get the treatment and drugs you need, when you need them, so you can focus on getting better. Personal Health is AXA PPP healthcare’s next generation of private healthcare cover. Members have access to treatment and care for the things that matter most, including: O Access to more than 250 hospitals and 24,000 specialists and other practitioners O A direct line to AXA PPP healthcare’s Fast Track Appointments team, who can find a specialist at a time and place right for you – they can even book the appointment for you O 24/7 telephone support from dedicated cancer and heart nurses O Second opinion available with chosen out-patient option O Market-leading heart and cancer cover and care, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy* O Market-leading no-claims discount O Speedy access to eligible treatment O Ofers private rooms, usually with the added convenience and comfort of en-suite facilities and your own TV and telephone *Availability of cover subject to medical history and cover chosen

£50 free M&S vouchers when you join†

AXA has been named Best Healthcare Provider 2015 – Your Money Awards for the fourth year running. So whatever your budget, there’s a plan that’s right for you and your family – AXA PPP healthcare believes great health coverage is for everyone.

Personal Health provides cover for treatment of conditions that arise after you take out the plan. To find out more on what is and isn’t covered, and receive a no-obligation quote

VISIT AXAPPP.CO.UK/ADMARCH OR CALL 0800 169 2222, QUOTING CNL00731 Lines are open 9am-8pm Monday to Friday. AXA PPP healthcare may record and/or monitor calls for quality assurance, training and as a record of the conversation. Personal Health is underwritten by AXA PPP healthcare limited. AXA PPP healthcare Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Registered in England number 3148119. Registered ofice: AXA PPP healthcare, 5 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1AD. † The Marks and Spencer voucher offer is for new customers only. The vouchers will be sent to you within 28 days of receiving your first subscription payment if paying annually, or, if paying monthly, within 28 days of receiving your second month’s subscription. This offer can not be used in conjunction with any other offer, apart from our 5% discount for paying annually. Only one voucher will be issued per household. Offer may be withdrawn at any time.

reader offers

reader of fers FRESH SPRING FASHION

Anguilla jacket, Zizi cardigan, Neve top, Tamara trousers, Tribal necklace and Leather belt

Enjoy 10% off at Adini with free UK returns*

ANGUILLA JACKET

(SL143) In soft navy (shown) or pebble; S-L1 (12-18); L60cm.CL price £59.40 (usually £66) Zizi cardigan (BC140) In cloud blue (shown), sunset red or aqua; XS-L2, (10-20); L55cm. CL price £43.20 (usually £48) Neve top (SR90) In shell (shown), ink black, latte, strawberry, tidal blue or white; XS-L2 (10-22), L62cm. CL price £18.90 (usually £21) Tamara trousers (SCC513) In natural (shown) or black, S-L1 (12-18), 78cm in seam. CL price £44.10 (usually £49) Tribal necklace (SSJ4) CL price £24.30 (usually £27) Leather belt (WB1) In blue, L106cm. CL price £35.10 (usually £39)

ANGUILLA JACKET

Marseille dress and Oyster clutch

MARSEILLE DRESS

(LPL4182) In French blue (shown) or hessian; XS-L2, (10-20), L108cm. CL price £58.05 (usually £64.50) Oyster clutch (SSB3) In oyster; approx H32cm x W45cm x D14cm. CL price £40.50 (usually £45)

Anguilla jacket, Neve top, Tamara trousers and Desert shawl

(SL143) As above. CL price £59.40 (usually £66) Neve top (SR90) In shell (shown), ink black, latte, strawberry, tidal blue or white; XS-L2 (10-22), L62cm. CL price £18.90 (usually £21) Tamara trousers (SCC513) As above. CL price £44.10 (usually £49) Desert shawl (PV1) In cloud blue (shown) and khaki; 32 x 170cm. CL price £9.45 (usually £10.50)

TO ORDER Call 020 8090 0331**, quoting CLPF6, or visit adinionline.co.uk and enter the voucher code CLPF6 when requested. Terms & conditions *Free returns on your first order only. This is an exclusive Adini Online and mail order ofer, and is not available at any Adini stockist. Ofer available on the entire Adini Spring/Summer Collection 2016, first order only, until 31 March 2016. Please allow five to eight days for delivery. If returning item/s, use the supplied pre-paid returns label within 14 days. Depending on the contact details you give us, Hearst Magazines UK directly, or via its agents, may mail, email, SMS or phone you with ofers, products and services reflecting your preferences. If you don’t want ofers from us or third parties, please state ‘no ofers’ when you ring. Please see hearst.co.uk/dp for Hearst Magazines UK’s full data policy. **Calls from landlines are charged at the standard national rate; calls from mobiles may cost more

countryliving.co.uk

MARCH 2016

167

advertisement feature

Items previously sold in Silver auctions at Fellows

AN AUCTION OF SILVER & PLATED WARE – MONDAY 14TH MARCH The March auction of Silver & Plated Ware is full of beautiful unique items, ready to refresh your home décor for spring. Alongside trinkets and novelties, Fellows are delighted to be ofering silver latware and cutlery in abundance, perhaps you could bid on some well-crated tableware for a special Easter Lunch? Quarterly auctions of Silver & Plated Ware are held throughout the year alongside auctions of Antiques & Fine Art, Jewellery, and Watches.

Visit www.fellows.co.uk for the full calendar of auctions, and view online catalogues complete with imagery and condition reports along with details of how to bid. If you would like more information regarding free valuations and consigning your items to an auction at Fellows, call 0121 212 2131 or email [email protected]

You and your home Our picks this month

CARPET BAGS Sot, strong, long lasting carpet bags, range from small corded pouches to large Gladstone bags. They are a comfort and a joy to live with. A well chosen fabulous handbag or a stunning piece of luggage always draws admiring glances… For beautiful and vibrant bags made in the UK visit www.carpetbags.co.uk

VARCA Varca Loafers have been referred to as an ‘outdoor slipper’ thanks to their luxurious comfort. These handmade Italian loafers are available in a variety of diferent styles of leather or suede, leather lined with a full rubber sole. A stylish and practical shoe with classic designs in sizes 35-44, £120. Visit www.varca.com for the full range or call 01903 746677 to request a brochure.

URBAN FOLK Your unique destination for authentic Mediterranean home-indings handcrated by experienced local cratsmen and carefully hand-picked by Urban Folk. Here you can discover hard-to-ind small production pieces and internet exclusives. Featured Salad Bowl is the epitome of Mediterranean Style: Fine red clay masterfully wheel-thrown and on top hand-painted with chic olive wreath designs. Discover more exclusively at www.urbanfolk.eu

advertisement feature LOVE YOUR HOME Love Your Home are experts at what they do. In 2008 the company set out to deliver beautifully designed and well-made sofas and beds at competitive prices. Love Your Home has decades of expertise and design and make all of their product range – they live and breathe design and build, they are always pushing for perfection. The company has an understanding of their clients’ needs and as a result introduced the Bespoke Service that ofers a great and easy solution ensuring your piece fits the space it is intended for perfectly. The Bespoke Service has come to make up 48% of their orders as it ofers a excellent design tool and is not intimidating, but easy to use and well worth it. Love Your Home has a core collection of beds and sofas which is regularly updated and can be seen either online at www.love-your-home.co.uk or in person at their stunning barn showroom set in the Surrey Hills, 45 minutes from London.

Reader ofer, 15% of (cannot be used in conjunction with any other ofer) for all new orders placed by February 29th. Use promo code for online purchases: CLOFFER and quote CL for inshore and telephone orders 01483 410 007.

Stylish living Ideas for your home

CLASSIC AND ELEGANT CUTLERY DESIGNED FOR MODERN LIVING This delightful range is Old English mirror inish stainless steel with dishwasher safe cream handled knives. Exclusive price – Set for six people at £295, this includes six seven-piece place settings (as shown) and two table spoons. A set for four people costs £220. Prices include VAT and UK delivery. www.glazebrook.com Tel: 020 7731 7135.

SWOON EDITIONS From artisan workshops direct to your doorstep, discover new designs every day without the inlated price tag at SWOON EDITIONS. Like the made-to-order Winston sofa – our take on the iconic chesterield – shown here in Midnight wool and dark beech. Our designer pored over every detail from the exaggerated scrolled arms to the feather-illed cushions. Available in two sizes and 25 colourways. From £1,099, including delivery. Readers also save £20 on orders over £200 with voucher code COUNTRYLIVING. To order, go to swooneditions.com/countryliving or call 020 3137 2464. Ofer expires on 25.02.16.

advertisement feature HELP COMBAT THE SIGNS OF AGEING

EXQUISITE NIGHTWEAR COLLECTION

Lines, wrinkles, crepey eyes, sun and skin damage. Fight back against the passing of time with Regentiv’s The Specialist Serum. A potent formula developed by leading skin specialists with Retinol, Vitamin E, Aloe Vera and SPF. Customers say “Since starting with The Specialist Serum my friends have been asking me what I am using, my skin has never looked better”. 30ml £29.95, 50ml £44.95, 100ml £79.95, 200ml £149. FREE P&P. To order Tel – 01923 212555 or visit www.regentiv.co.uk Regentiv Ltd, PO BOX 400, Herts, WD17 3ZW.

Nothing is nicer than a good nights sleep and nothing is guaranteed more to give you the very best night time comfort than sot, ine quality nightwear that has been designed and made in England by David Nieper. Better still if it’s easy to pack, lightweight and crease-resistant, it makes visits away to a holiday home or a long weekend a real pleasure. Styles are available in sot satin, pure cotton, sot luxury leece and knitted velvet velours. Call 01773 83 6000 or visit www.davidnieper.co.uk for a catalogue. Please quote CL32.

KRILL OIL – THE NEW SUPER OMEGA 3 Omega 3 in Krill Oil is in a unique phospholipid structure which research now suggests is far superior to ish oil omega 3 when delivered to the body for maximum omega health beneits. Krill Oil also provides astaxanthin, a highly respected antioxidant and choline, beneicial for brain and memory function. Silvertown Health Krill Oil is eco-harvested to protect nature in the pristine clear waters of the Antarctic. RRP £24.95, Reader Ofer £16.97 + p&p. (60 capsules up to two months supply). Free home spa facial masque with irst order. This ofer can be withdrawn at anytime. Online Order/ more info – www.silvertownhealth.co.uk or Tel 24 Hour Order Line – 0345 0956903.

Look good, feel good Treat yourself this spring STYLISH WIDE FITTING SHOES

TIMELESS JEWELLERY FOR ALL OCCASIONS

Wider Fit Shoes Ltd ofers stylish, afordable shoes to it you perfectly – whatever your width. Today, they are the leading supplier of wide-itting shoes in the UK, ofering footwear from EE through to 8E ittings. Their entire range of shoes and slippers are adjustable, durable, lightweight and lexible and every purchase is backed by their no quibble guarantee. No wonder they’re recommended by foot health professionals nationwide. For a free, colour catalogue or more information please call 01933 311077 or order securely online at www.wideritshoes.co.uk Please quote CLX1605M for 10% of your irst order.

Eternal Collection ofers beautiful costume jewellery and accessories at prices you will love. They have a fantastic selection of enamel, exquisite pearl, Venetian glass, gemstone, fashion and Swarovski crystal jewellery to suit all tastes and a vast range of clip-on and pierced earrings. No quibble guarantee and free returns. For your FREE catalogue call 03453 707071 or visit www.eternalcollection.co.uk 10% OFF your irst order when you QUOTE CL45. * Excluding Postage & Packing. Not valid with any other promotion.

THE TRAVELLER On promotion from £89.00 to £ 69.00 + P&P. Comfort and style combine in this very wearable indigo denim knitted jacket. Indigo Traveller features a full length zipper front and denim fabric cufs with buttons. The stand-up collar is lined with denim fabric to complement the cufs. For extra comfort, the side splits have been cleverly designed with a loop and button to provide extra adjustment. Two neat side split pockets complete the look. As its name suggests, the perfect piece to take on all your travels. Available from our store www.originalblues.uk or phone 020 8813 7766.

IDYLLIC ESCAPES COUNTRY LIVING PRESENT A SELECTION OF IDYLLIC RETREATS FROM WHICH YOU COULD CHOOSE A PEACEFUL AND RELAXING BREAK

PRINCE HALL COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL & RESTAURANT Stay for one night D,B&B get 2nd night free* Warm, welcoming and with an atmosphere akin to staying with friends Taste of the West food awards 2013, 2014, 2015 Food and Drink Devon Awards – Best Fine Dining Restaurant award 2015 Trencherman’s award – Best Dine & Stay South West (shortlisted) Editors choice best dog friendly award 2014, 2015 Less than 4 miles from Dartmeet PL20 6SA See our website for all special offers www.princehall.co.uk *when dining in restaurant on both nights

LAKELAND HIDEAWAYS Cottages in and around the pretty village of Hawkshead in the heart of the Lake District We are a local, friendly agency with choice of over 60 cottages Pets welcome and free fishing Short breaks and flexible arrival dates available Easy to use website with online booking www.lakeland-hideaways.co.uk Tel 015394 42435

EXCLUSIVE LUXURY HOLIDAY PROPERTIES IN THE UK AND IRELAND A Rural Retreats property has been carefully chosen for its beautiful interior as well as its idyllic setting. With a portfolio of over 300 properties throughout the UK and Ireland, from cottages to country houses for 2-24 guests, many with flexible start days and 2 night stays, there's sure to be a property that will be perfect for you and your family. Request your NEW 2016 Brochure out now! www.ruralretreats.co.uk or telephone 01386 897 959

WILDERNESS COTTAGES THROUGHOUT SCOTLAND

LAKE DISTRICT Unique Farmhouse Holiday Cottages

CHATEAU LOU CASTEOU TENNIS ACADEMY, COTE D’AZUR, FRANCE

Quality self catering cottages, houses and apartments, throughout Scotland. Countryside to seashore, rustic to 5 star luxury. Short breaks available & pets welcome. New 2016 Brochure Available. Tel: 01463 719219 www.wildernesscottages.co.uk

Stunningly located on a traditional Lakeland working hill farm, two spacious self-catering cottages, amidst breath-taking scenery. Both are historic listed buildings – one a former farmhouse, the other a wing of the 16th C. Hall. Both sleep six in comfort, are traditionally furnished in oak and antique pine, with open fires and all creature comforts. Wonderful walking straight from the door. Full details: www.hartsophallcottages.com or tel: 01229 860206

Events will run throughout Spring 2016, enrol now to book your place. The chateau is also available for private rental and is ideal for special events, parties and luxurious holidays. Four nights luxury accommodation in the chateau. Daily professional tennis coaching sessions. Champagne reception. All meals, drinks, wines and aperitifs. Tennis Tournaments and Award Ceremony. Transfers from Nice airport. Please contact [email protected] with questions and for reservations. www.loucasteou.com

WALES COTTAGE HOLIDAYS

COAST & COUNTRY COTTAGES

Find your home from home with a cosy cottage from Wales Cottage Holidays. We offer a fantastic choice of properties throughout the glorious Welsh countryside and along our stunning coastline.

Over 400 holiday properties in and around Dartmouth, Salcombe and throughout the beautiful South Devon coast and countryside. Luxury waterside apartments, stunning barn conversions, cosy thatched cottages, many with sea or country views, pools or the use of leisure facilities. Special Offers. Short Breaks. Dog-Friendly Properties. Baby Friendly Properties. Order 2016 Brochure. 01548 843773 or book online coastandcountry.co.uk

ESCAPE TO YOUR PERFECT COTTAGE HIDEAWAY!

See www.walescottageholidays.co.uk or call us on 01686 628200

SALCOMBE HOLIDAY HOMES

DISCOVER REAL SPAIN

Salcombe Holiday Homes specialise in properties solely in the centre of Salcombe, many taking advantage of the wonderful views of Salcombe’s spectacular estuary and surrounding countryside. With a wide portfolio of properties to choose from we have plenty of choice for your holiday in this truly unique waterside town.

Wonderful wildflowers in spring, abundant birdlife and beautiful walks on long golden autumn days. Look forward to your holiday at our secluded watermill in the heart of Andalucia where you can unwind in a lush, wooded river valley. Self-catering holidays of any duration in a choice of individual properties. 40' eco pool, gym and free WiFi. Within easy reach of Malaga airport and with good access to Granada, Cordoba and Seville. www.ratonera.com 07706 853983(UK)

Telephone 01548 843485 www.salcombe.com

ADVERTISMENT FEATURE

BRECON BEACONS HOLIDAY COTTAGES For that perfect break, we have over 350 great cottages in superb locations in and around the Brecon Beacons National Park, Black Mountains and Wye Valley. Romantic cottages for 2 people, rustic farmhouses and large country houses some sleeping 20, with oak beams and open fires. Pretty villages, good pubs, hill walking, pony trekking, mountain biking and fishing. Pets Welcome. www.breconcottages.com 01874 749914

Cosy Cot (pictured), nr Salisbury, Wiltshire is just one of many distinctive Hideaways holiday cottages across the South of England, West Country, Cotswolds & Welsh borders. HIDEAWAYS Visit our excellent website www.hideaways.co.uk or request our full colour brochure 01747 828 000

CADGWITH COVE COTTAGES Cottages in Cadgwith Cove and around the Lizard Peninsula – a truly unspoilt area of Cornwall. Sandy beaches, quiet coves, inspirational coastal walks, long summer evenings, balmy autumn days and winter (almost) unknown We can't wait to see you... Telephone 01326 290162 e-mail [email protected] www.cadgwithcovecottages.com

MARCH 2016

171

COTTAGES • FOOD • WILDERNESS

NORTH NORFOLK

WINDERMERE LAKE HOLIDAYS

Enjoy a treatment in the Walled Garden Spa, a swim in the heated ozone pool, dinner in the award winning restaurant and, of course, all the wonderful walks around the estate.

Escape to a luxury cottage Sleeps up to 8 & cot. Open fire & wood burner Walled garden secure for children + dogs Ample off-road parking. 5 mins walk to coastal path. Short breaks available.

Treat Yourself to an Spring Break at our Luxury self-catering holiday apartments with stunning views on the shore of Lake Windermere. Short breaks available throughout the year. Tel: 01539 443415 www.lakewindermere.net Email: [email protected]

All of our houses have wood burning stoves, are dog friendly and are furnished to the highest standards. Telephone: 01326 221224 Web: www.trelowarren.com

www.morstoncreek.com 07584 247863

5Ħ (Gold Award) self-catering cottages on the historic Trelowarren Estate. 1000 acres of peace and tranquility just ten minutes from beautiful beaches like Kynance Cove, the wooded Frenchman's Creek, and the romantic Helford River.

BEECH FARM COTTAGES

TINTERN ABBEY COTTAGE

VisitEngland Award for “exceptional quality of accommodation & customer service”. Village location on edge of N. Yorkshire Moors. Cottages sleeping 2, 4, 6, 10 people. Heated indoor pool, sauna, children’s play area, paddock, llamas.

Across from the magnificent Abbey, unsurpassed views. Idyllic Wye Valley Welsh borders. Fully renovated, warm 18C cottage. Sleeps up to 6 in 3 bedrooms. Two smart bathrooms, whirlpool bath, lavendered linens, cosy woodburner, CH incl., range cooker, sheltered garden, parking, WiFi. Easy M4/M5, close to castles, racing. Excellent golf, walking, eating. Pet welcome. Visit Wales 5 star & winner Best Self Catering & Winner Best Visitor Welcome Gold 2015. Credit cards. Short Autumn/Winter/Spring Breaks. Christmas. www.monmouthshirecottages.co.uk 01600 860341

Tel: 01751 476 612 www.beechfarm.com email: [email protected]

NORTH DEVON COAST Luxury barn conversions sleeping 2-8. C.H. & woodburner. Near coast and pubs. 2 acre meadows with each barn. Pets welcome. Tel 01237 441 311 www.pattard.com

SANDBURNE VEGETARIAN GUEST HOUSE KESWICK – THE LAKE DISTRICT Two beautifully finished twin rooms with luxury showers in the former home of Donald Watson, founder of the Vegan Society; far reaching views over wonderful Keswick towards the Coledale and Lorton Fells, delicious vegetarian or vegan breakfasts using locally sourced organic products wherever possible; large attractive garden, easy parking, walks from the door, warm Cumbrian welcome. Free wifi. www.sandburne.co.uk

WOODPECKERS B&B, HAMPSHIRE

CHATEAU LOU CASTEOU FITNESS RETREAT

Exclusive B&B and self-catering private accommodation in close proximity to Mottisfont Abbey, Hilliers Arboretum, Broadlands and the Test Way. Our accommodation includes three cottages and is separate from the house in our grounds. With your own front door, it guarantees a home from home atmosphere in a wonderfully relaxing rural location, tucked away at the end of a country lane. www.woodpeckersbandb.co.uk 01794 342400 [email protected]

Events will be run throughout Spring 2016. Lose weight and improve your Fitness Level. Set in the beautiful Cote d’Azur, minutes from the sea, this luxurious fitness retreat provides the perfect balance of energetic fitness classes, outdoor activities, aqua-gym, circuit training, gourmet meals and pampered luxury to help guests improve their fitness level or kick start a fitness regime. 5 days luxury accommodation in en-suite bedrooms with sea or mountain views. Fabulous nutritious, low carb meals and elegant dinners with wine. [email protected] www.loucasteou.com

172

MARCH 2016

WILLOW BARNS BED & BREAKFAST AT THE WHITE HORSE GRAFFHAM.

BARSHAM BARNS RURAL CHIC IN NORTH NORFOLK

4 Star Gold Award, six luxury en suite rooms set at the foot of the South Downs, in the heart of the National Park. Wonderful views, walking, close to Goodwood, Cowdray Park and market towns of Petworth, Arundel and Midhurst. With The White Horse, our beautiful pub and restaurant next door, makes Willow Barns an ideal getaway. Contact us at www.willowbarns.co.uk 01798867493 (Willow Barns) 01798867331(The White Horse)

Find out why everyone is talking about Barsham Barns! Seven stunning contemporary barn conversions sleeping from 4 to 14, full of sunlight and space, where families or groups of friends can enjoy rural peace in beautifully designed interiors. Each has private outdoor spaces for playing or relaxing, luxuriously equipped with everything you could possibly need, and all within 5 miles of the North Norfolk coast. See us: www.barshambarns.co.uk Talk to us: 01328 821744

THE LONG HOUSE B&B

DEVON HOUSE BOAT HOLIDAYS

Guests are made welcome to my home in the South Downs National Park. Three bedrooms, two with ensuite wet room shower rooms. Separate kitchen to make hot drinks etc or evening meals for longer stays. Excellent walking in the SDNP and easy access to Winchester, Chichester and Portsmouth. 01730 823 239 www.thelonghouseeastmeon.co.uk

Hidden away near the North Devon coast lies a unique holiday experience. Amidst 35 acres of unspoilt countryside lie Swallow Tail, Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow, nestled among the rushes on their own private lake. Each 50ft barge offers accommodation for 4 - 5 in ensuite cabins. Fishing, birdwatching, wildlife and peace. Available for short or weekly breaks. www.blagdonwater.com 01409 255730

WHEATACRE HALL BARNS LUXURY NORFOLK HOLIDAY COTTAGES

ISLE OF WIGHT AND DORSET HOLIDAY COTTAGES

Luxury 5 Star Self-catering Accommodation in Beautiful rural South Norfolk on the edge of the Waveney Valley – Eight Converted Barns on a working Arable and Dairy Farm.

Charming cottages in beautiful rural and coastal locations situated throughout the Isle of Wight & Purbeck, Dorset. Pretty thatched cottages, farmhouses, stone cottages with stunning sea views in picturesque villages. Some cottages with swimming pools. Graded by the tourist board 3 - 5 Stars. Telephone 01929 481555 www.islandcottageholidays.com www.purbeckcottageholidays.com

www.wheatacrehallbarns.co.uk 01502 677208 [email protected]

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

Garden Marketplace

DATA PROTECTION: WE WILL USE THE INFORMATION YOU SUPPLY TO PROCESS YOUR COMPETITION ENTRY. FOR OUR PRIVACY POLICY VISIT HEARST.CO.UK/DP

185 174 184 176 179 178 185 178 185 179 178 176

ACCESSORIES ARTS, CRAFTS & GIFTS BATHROOMS BEDS & BEDDING BUILDING & HOUSE DECOR CONSERVATORIES COURSES DOORS & WINDOWS FASHION FIRES, STOVES & HEATING FLOORS & FLOORING FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS

185 GARAGES & 173 184 185 181 175 185 178 185 184 185 183 185

OUTBUILDINGS GARDEN MARKETPLACE GATES & FENCING GENERAL INTEREST HOME INTEREST HOUSE & GARDEN HOUSE SIGNS HOUSESITTING JEWELLERY LAMPS & LIGHTING PETS & LIVESTOCK SOFT FURNISHINGS TRAVEL & HOLIDAYS

WIN YOUR WEDDING CONFETTI The Real Flower Petal Confetti Company are the UK’s original flower petal confetti farmers and grow acres of beautiful blooms each summer that are harvested by hand to become biodegradable wedding confetti – www.confettidirect.co.uk 01386 555045. For a chance to win two Petal Confetti Baskets in the colours of your choice use these clues to find four advertisers who can be found in the Classified section of this month’s issue of Country Living. O Woodland lighting gifts. O Rugs with a twist. OShirt company shares name with English composer. OBaby blankets named after burrowing mammal. Send your answers on a postcard to: CPCNLP15942, Hearst Magazines UK, The Data Solutions Centre, Worksop S80 2RT. The closing date for entries is 31st March 2016. NB: One entry per household. Not open to employees of Hearst Magazines UK (or their relatives).

British made ironwork Door canopies

Porches

Trellis

Planters

Window boxes

Summer-flowering bulbs available from February, spring-flowering bulbs available from September. Plus gardening tools and gifts. 10% discount with code CLSPR16 www.theflowerbulbcompany.co.uk Whetman Pinks

2016

Fo vi r la si te w t ou st o eb r f sit ne ers e w

COUNTRY DIRECTORY

Create a riot of colour in your garden with flower bulbs!

80 Years of Unrivalled Growing and Breeding Expertise

WHETMAN PINKS SAVE 15% on fragrant English Pinks when quoting code CL03 before 30th April 2016 Tel: 01626 863328

www.whetmanpinks.com

catalogue available

01225 851577 garden-requisites.co.uk

Plugs & cut flower bouquets

Whirlygig Garden Design Landscaping

020 7403 7368 www.whirlygig.biz

Play with your food . FOOD The cookbook for kids MissionExplore.net

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

15% off everything online with discount code: Spring2016

www.fieldandhawken.co.uk @fieldandhawken

MARCH 2016

173

Arts, Crafts & Gifts

Personalised Blankets Free Brochure Tel: 01482 440221

www.mrmoleblankets.co.uk

PLANT SUPPORTS Beautiful designs for herbaceous perennials, roses, shrubs & climbers. Made in England. www.leanderplantsupports.co.uk Tel: 01773 550495 for a brochure

Arts, crafts & gif ts PENELOPE TIMMIS CONTEMPORARY ART

Paintings, cards, Splash backs etc Studio/gallery open by appointment. 07709342351, [email protected], www.penelopetimmis.co.uk

174

MARCH 2016

www.pebblestosand.co.uk Tel: 01295 738531

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

Introductory Courses in: • basket weaving • rag-rugging • leatherwork • natural toiletries • candle making • mushroom growing • hen keeping • wild food foraging and campfire cooking • self-sufficiency crafts weekends • lots more - see website

WWW.THEOAKANDROPECOMPANY.CO.UK

01227 469 413 10 mins out of York. Two nights Free Camping or basic hut or tipi accommodation plus Yoga, massage and healthy lunches included on self-sufficiency crafts weekends so you go home feeling both empowered with new skills and relaxed.

m: 07729-491099

www.barkandlichen.co.uk

Contact: www.wildharvest.org [email protected] 07561 112831

UNIQUE HANDCRAFTED TABLEWARE Original Paintings & Prints Full Range Available at NicholasMosse.com

www.lindamumba.co.uk Tel 0788 740 4232

Beautiful Bespoke Bookart 10% off your first order using code ‘COUNTRYLIVING’ Offer valid until 31-03-16

www.skylarsprettylittlebooks.com

www.love-local.com

House & Garden BYGONE NEWSPAPERS Anniversary & Birthday Gift Ideas

• ORIGINAL Daily Newspapers 1847 -2016 • A perfect gift to commemorate any special occasion • Each newspaper is accompanied with a Certificate of Authenticity • We offer a great range of high quality nostalgic gifts For Free Details FREEPHONE

0800 138 0990 to 8pm Int: 00 44 1934 412844 www.bygonenews.com/clm

Back from Black Beam Renovation Ltd RENOVATING BEAMS SINCE 1997

Dolly G Canvas Art

Wonderful Gifts and Home Furnishings made in the South West

Bespoke hand-crafted canvas art. Initials, names, words, shapes or quotes. Each design made to order. Please visit our Facebook page Dolly G Canvas Art or email us at [email protected]

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

BEAMS RENOVATED WITHOUT MESS! A UNIQUE PROCESS - NO BLASTING

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

MARCH 2016

175

Beds & Bedding

Live life in luxury.

Handmade in Britain, In any fabric in the World.

BTY_P]>LWP PYO^8ZYOLd1PM]`L]d$th

^ZQL^LYO^_`ʬNZX

www.buttonandsprung.com 03333 201 801

##"#

REMOVABLE, WASHABLE AND NOW EVEN MORE AFFORDABLE

200 Years British CRAFTSMANSHIP

Furniture & Furnishings

NEWPORT SOFA WAS £439 - NOW ONLY £329  No risk money back 21 day home trial  5 year hardwood frame warranty  Delivered direct from our factory to your living room  All made in Great Britain  Delivery within 4 weeks  Over 20 sofa designs in fabric and leather  Direct from the manufacturer prices

SOFAS & CHAIRS DIRECT

For a free brochure call

01685 844944

www.oakridgedirect.co.uk 176

MARCH 2016

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

GREAT BRITISH SOFAS

r veno Gros r sofa te 3 sea ONLY NOW 59 £6

No risk 21 day moneyback home trial . 5 year hardwood frame guarantee

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

Great British Furniture

Makers of Fine Leather Furniture for Generations

VINTAGE CHESTERFIELD 3 SEATER SOFA WAS £1799 - NOW ONLY £1199 ● British Standard tested and approved ● Made in our own UK factory ● Direct from the factory prices ● 21 day money-back promise ● 2 year guarantee

TRADITIONAL BRITISH UPHOLSTERY

Windsor 3 seater sofa was £849 - NOW ONLY £699

To view our entire range or to order your free colour brochure

call 01443 771222 or visit www.thomaslloyd.com

www.kirkdale.co.uk FOR A FREE BROCHURE CALL 01495 243999

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

MARCH 2016

177

Floors & Flooring

Doors & Windows

The Braided Rug Company www.braided-rug.co.uk

Bespoke Oak Doors

01654 767248

Machine washable rugs and runners. From £29.

For details of classified advertising call 020 3728 6260

Door Frames, Architrave, Skirting, Architectural Hardware

www.bespoke-oak-doors.com 01969 650355

Enjoy your garden all year round with a Glass Veranda from Eden

O

FO R R D TH IN ER IS STA N SP L O RI LA N TI W G ** O N

Conservatories

01509 234000 - www.floorsofstone.com Cotes Mill, Nottingham Road, Loughborough, LE12 5TL

JANUARY

-

A

G

E

D

O

A

1

8 4 1

K

F

-

L

O

O

R

I

N

G

• Wide range of bespoke designs available • Huge choice of frame colours and weatherproof finishes • Manufactured in all shapes and sizes • Our glass verandas can be converted into an open glass room at any time 10 • year guarantee CALL FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTATION AND BROCHURE

0800 107 2727

SALE UP TO

GENERATIONS

30 OFF

*

%

Quoting CL28/01

www.edenverandas.co.uk Or write to: Eden Verandas Ltd, FREEPOST RTCG-SEBB-KJAH, Unit 13 Armstrong Mall, Southwood Business Park, Farnborough, GU14 0NR. *Terms & conditions apply. Correct at time of printing, please see website for latest offers. **Subject to planning permission not being required

Housesitting Who will pamper your pets, secure your home, baffle the burglars and reduce your insurance premium?

I stay content while you’re away Fully compatible with under floor heating Every board is entirely planed by hand Carefully aged and polished by hand tosimulate years of wear

01509 210 321

178

WWW.GENERATIONS.CO.UK

MARCH 2016

To book, or for a brochure call 01296 630 730 or visit www.homesitters.co.uk FOR DETAILS OF CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING PLEASE TELEPHONE 020 3728 6260 OR VISIT WWW.HEARSTMAGAZINESDIRECT.CO.UK

s ch eo e at id sit W rs’ v eb ne ur w ow n o o

Building & House Decor

GARDEN ROOMS

The Woodburning Stove... perfected

Country Living Lifestyle British designed and built a Clearview stove will enrich your life. Part of its charm and appeal comes from the natural warmth produced and the excellent clear view of its dancing flames behind crystal clear glass. Remarkably clean burning a Clearview stove is considered by many to be the finest available.

FULLY INSULATED, DOUBLE–GLAZED, BESPOKE GARDEN ROOMS FOR USE AS: Summerhouses • Offices • Studios • Gyms Hobby & Games Rooms • Workshops R

Call: 01491 839379 www.homesteadtimberbuildi gs.co.uk

VISIT OUR SHOWSITE – open 7 days a week

OU RY FO

E E URE R CH F BRO

OW LN L CA

STOCKISTS THROUGHOUT THE UK Manufactured at More Works, Bishops Castle, Shropshire SY9 5HH Brochure Line: 01588 650 123 www.clearviewstoves.com

Fires, Stoves & Heating Italian wood burning cookers, stoves, boilers and pellet heaters to suit every budget Nectre Bakers oven 5.5 -8.5 KW output Glass Firebox & oven Dimensions (WxHxD): 550x825x540mm £1,950 inc vat & delivery. Free fire starter kit with every stove Tel: 01584 878552 info@ ludlowstoves.co.uk www.ludlowstoves.co.uk

STOP HEAT LOSSES

T: 01179 372 555

www.pinckneygreen.co.uk

NOW YOU CAN MAKE YOUR FIREPLACE SAFE, CLEAN AND EFFICIENT, YET STILL SEE THE FIRE. Fit A&M Glass Fireplace Doors over the fireplace opening and you will save heat, reduce draughts and enjoy a real fire without risk. Also MESH SPARK CURTAINS made to measure. A & M ENERGY FIRES Dept. CL3 Pool House, Huntley, Glos GL19 3DZ www.energyfires.co.uk

TELEPHONE: 01452 830662

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

MARCH 2016

179

Home Interest THE WORLDʼS MOST EFFICIENT STOVES

Keep warmer this winter

The only swing & bench maker licensed by The RHS

Visit us online at

sittingspiritually.co.uk Telephone: 01297 443084 Email: [email protected]

more heat for less wood than your current stove

See us at

Chelsea Flower Show 2016 Stand RHW369

...guaranteed “It is our only form of heating! The efficiency is tremendous. In three weeks we have used as much wood as we previously used in three days!” To see the video visit www.burley.co.uk/woodburner or phone 01572 725502 for a brochure

Handcrafted in Devon ✓ Approved to burn wood in smoke free zones

Call 01473 826952 for a free Brochure

www.jim-lawrence.co.uk

Efficient, green & clean. Our wood burning and multifuel stoves are built to last by craftsmen with a passion for quality and design. To find your nearest stockist visit:

www.woodwarmstoves.co.uk or call 01884 35806

WOODWARM STOVES

180

MARCH 2016

COVELLI TENNANT Vintage Textiles & Bespoke Upholstery 07855 256 007 07971 043 916 www.covellitennant.com FOR DETAILS OF CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING PLEASE TELEPHONE 020 3728 6260 OR VISIT WWW.HEARSTMAGAZINESDIRECT.CO.UK

the sale save up to

30%

Visit our 12 showrooms or shop online: www.wesley-barrell.co.uk For a brochure call 01993 893130

PRICES HELD

The finest of British Country Outbuildings

a delicious

Oak Fronted Carriage Houses & Stand Alone Timber Garages ALSO GARDEN STUDIOS EQUESTRIAN BUILDINGS AND S P O RT S PAV I L I O N S

Est 1909

High Street, Strood, Kent ME2 4DR

slice of country life

Tel: 01634 290033

www.creamerykitchens.co.uk SEE US IN STORE - OR ONLINE Lynx Trading Estate, YEOVIL BA20 2HL T: 01935 434700 FOR DETAILS OF CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING PLEASE TELEPHONE 020 3728 6260 OR VISIT WWW.HEARSTMAGAZINESDIRECT.CO.UK

MARCH 2016

181

CL02_FEB16

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

Transform your staircase in our

JANUARY SALE

NOW

EXTENDED

upto

*On orders placed before 29th February 2016. We make it easier than ever to create a new or renovate your existing staircase in as little as 48 hours. Make a statement in your home. Call now for a free design appointment. James Grace Staircases

@JGStaircases

Call 0345 164 5090 or visit www.jamesgrace.co.uk

GOOSIE B e a se sp v r o a v k il i a ce e b l e

SCUMBLE

Our fab ric your fa or bric

order Made to e UK th in Made

Handmade Furniture in sustainable solid hardwood www.theheadboardworkshop.co.uk or call us on 01291 628216

Annual Textiles Fair Sunday 10th April 2016 10am - 4pm Enjoy browsing a massive collection of vintage and antique textiles from the best dealers in the South. Free entry. Light lunches and other refreshments will be available. Close to A350/A303 on the Dorset/Wiltshire border.

STATION ROAD, SEMLEY, DORSET SP7 9AN TEL 01747 853317 WWW.DAIRYHOUSEANTIQUES.COM

182

MARCH 2016

www.scumblegoosie.com 01453 731305

MYLLBANK BOARDING CATTERY A family run establishment in the peaceful countryside just off J10 M20. www.myllbankcattery.co.uk 01233 732284 FOR DETAILS OF CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING PLEASE TELEPHONE 020 3728 6260 OR VISIT WWW.HEARSTMAGAZINESDIRECT.CO.UK

The Footstool Wo rkshop

www.thefootstoolworkshop.co.uk 01443 831981 UV-PROTECTION OIL SUNSCREEN PROTECTION FOR EXTERIOR WOOD! > Weather, dirt and UV resistant > Reduces wood swelling and shrinkage > Microporous, does not peel or blister > Prevents growth of mould and algae > Re-finish without sanding NEW

Clear

Oak

Natural

Cedar

12x

UV-PROTECTED TESTED ACCORDING TO EN 927-6

01296 481220 www.osmouk.com

ESSE offers range cookers in sizes, styles, and fuel types to suit every home. Customise your favourite model with a striking shade from our 23-strong colour collection. ESSE 990 WOOD BURNING RANGE COOKER [email protected] | 01282 813235 | www.esse.com

‘Sheila Maid’®

Order the online from

www.sheilamaid.com or by telephone:

+44 (0)1307 468589

Soft Furnishings Est.Est. 1986 1986

OUR ICONIC CAST IRON & NATURAL PINE CLOTHES AIRER IS THE ECO WAY TO DRY EACH DAY™ HAND FINISHED ROUND EDGED RAILS - TRADITIONAL CURVED SHAPE - AVAILABLE IN 4 RAIL OR 6 RAIL OPTIONS. 7 COLOURS AVAILABLE

4 Rail Option

57” £59 6ft £62 7ft £65

Cast Iron Colours:

6 Rail Option

(clear lacquer)

57” £82 6ft £85 7ft £88 Manufacturers and suppliers of quality ‘hand crafted’ tree guards, estate fencing and gates. Each product is produced using high quality steel and painted using the latest electrostatic paint process. This ensures that your fencing investment is secure for years to come. Nationwide delivery and fitting available.

www.paddockfencing.com [email protected] 01733 270724

Nutscene (1922) Ltd, Forfar, Angus DD8 2RG

www.nutscene.com

Original Black White Red Blue Green Ivory

“Top quality reasonably priced!” Curtains, blinds and pelmets etc made to measure & installed. Thousands of fabrics, poles etc. Call now for a home visit by a professional Interior Designer

0208 688 6282 01372 723 640 Croydon Epsom fabricworldlondon.co.uk

For details of classified advertising call 020 3728 6260

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

Exquisite bespoke soft furnishings, upholstery and interior design service. Unparalleled quality, wealth of resources and comprehensive service to make your home beautiful! Please contact us for a free quotation. Material Concepts, 168-170 Battersea Park Road, SW11 4ND London

materialconcepts.co.uk [email protected] 020 7622 6495

MARCH 2016

183

Bathrooms

Lamps & Lighting

What makes an Albion bath unique? Our exclusive bath material creates a difference you can feel....

High Quality Decorative Lighting Specialists

Request your brochure on: 01255 831605 or go to: www.albionbathco.com

ALBION Handmade bathrooms directly from our factory

www.richardhathawaylighting.co.uk Tel: 01225 758335

Gates & Fencing

 

 

.

Bespoke hand made cleft oak gates and fencing. www.cleftwood.com

184

MARCH 2016

Tel :01296 730930

[email protected]

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

Garages & Outbuildings

Places to relax and recharge

Jewellery STYLE NEVER GOES OUT OF FASHION Cobra & Bellamy make affordable classically designed watches

helpfulholidays.co.uk 01647 434055

Pictured is our latest addition to the range the LAMORNA, a ladies watch retro in design easy to read a joy to behold Available in Stainless steel at £115, 21 Carat or Rose Gold Plated at £125 with a black or brown hand stitched leather strap. The Lamorna is the watch we have all been waiting for. To view the complete collection go to www.cobrabellamywatches.co.uk or call 01736 732112

H H A M L E T

quality cottages 01348 830 005 www.qualitycottages.co.uk

Pets & Livestock

Accessories

House Signs A stunning range of hand made leather dog collars and leads for all breeds of dog. The quality and craftmanship you have been looking for is right here. +44(0) 1430 879072 [email protected]

Manbags are good for girls too! The Golden Mustang Crazy Horse Satchel £119.

General Interest Travel & Holidays

Constructed from the finest leather, its 16 inch length makes it the perfect size for day-to-day use. Please use voucher code CL15 at checkout for 15% discount on all bags. Free delivery.

myleathermanbag.com Contact: 0333 1234 104

Courses

New luxury cruises to the Outer Hebrides Come aboard our new luxury mini-cruise vessel,The Glen Etive, specially designed to cruise the Outer Hebrides in comfort and style. Our new 10-night itineraries for 2016 allow the time to fully explore these idyllic islands while enjoying first class hospitality on board.

www.hideandcollars.co.uk

Having Dog Problems? PACDOG Control System Experts Have The Solution For You ••Electronic Dog Fence ••Electronic Dog Training Systems ••Bark Controllers Keep Your Dog Safe And Visible Night or Day With Our High Vis Collars, Leads and Long Line Training Leads Contact us now for sales and expert advice: UK Freephone: 0800 028 4325 Irl Low Call: 1890 361 361

Shop at www.pacdog.co.uk

Unique, bespoke, unusual, quality tags for dogs. www.tagsfordogs.co.uk

Fashion

Come and cook! ◆ Inspiring courses to suit everyone ◆ State of the art facilities ◆ Our teachers are all industry experts ◆ Over 20 cookery courses from £90 ◆ Half day and full day courses

Th

tive s e Glen E

Luxury

10-night

020 7439 5500 www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/ institute/cookery-school

cruise

www.themajesticline.co.uk Call 01369 707951 or email [email protected]

Stuck in a rut? Need a change? Residential courses in the heart of Wiltshire. Choose from upholstery, soft furnishing or loose covers. Individual tuition. Please telephone for details: 0797 925 1853 www.upholsteryworkshop.com

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

Nightshirts for men & ladies

www.elgarshirts.com Handmade in Yorkshire

MARCH 2016

185

MY COUNTRYSIDE

CAROLINE QUENTIN

The actress on the seasonal delights and spectacular scenery of the West Country

I grew up in Surrey in the 1960s when the green belt was still untouched. It was a suburban childhood but my sisters and I had a pony and spent a lot of time outside. We only ever holidayed in the UK and I still do mostly. Two of my favourite counties are Norfolk and Sufolk: I love the coastline there, as I’m a keen birder. I used to live on the coast in Walberswick, where I would do a lot of walking on the marshes, looking for bitterns and warblers. When ilming Caroline Quentin’s National Parks, I learnt a huge amount. I didn’t realise that their main purpose is public use – they’re created with our enjoyment in mind, so we have to get out and use them. Each one has its own character and personality, full of diferent wildlife and ways of living. In the New Forest, for example, the verderers look ater everything, while in the Scottish parks there’s a wonderful feeling of remoteness; in Wales they have

186

MARCH 2016

a sense of the area’s history with mining villages and disused pits. It made me realise how much I love this country. I was already familiar with the county before ilming Cornwall with Caroline Quentin. My grandmother was born in Newquay, my mother moved back there from Canada when she was 15 and a lot of my family are still there – one of my cousins works on the Padstow lifeboat. I also enjoy spending time in my holiday home on the Helford River. I moved to my 40-acre smallholding in Devon ten years ago. I have to travel into London regularly by train, but when I return home to the West Country and see that glorious green through the window, I’m

full of joy. The house has now also become the base for my husband’s business, ‘Sam Farmer’ – he created it ater discovering the lack of teenage toiletries for our children. We have six dogs and six cats, along with turkeys and chickens. A neighbour’s sheep graze the land, too. We also keep pigs, although I leave them to Sam; I was knocked over by a couple of hety ones a few years ago, and have since developed a very healthy respect for them! It was important to me that my children had a rural childhood – Emily was born when we lived in Soho and I soon realised that you can slow everything down in the countryside. I’m keen for people to appreciate that you don’t have to pass through Devon to get to Cornwall – you can stop; it’s a beautiful county. The moors are spectacular, the coastline is wonderful and we have fantastic National Trust properties. And you can go out without seeing a living soul. At this time of year, I enjoy watching the lime-green buds transform into beautiful yellow dafodils. I can’t wait for the longer days, brighter mornings, newly hatched chicks and blossom on my trees. When the sun comes out over the Devon countryside, it’s like living in a Technicolor movie. Along with a big family lunch, we still do an Easter eg hunt – my children are quite grown up now, but there’s always someone little who will take a basket in search of chocolate egs hidden in the henhouses.

It was important to me that my children had a rural childhood

Caroline Quentin is currently playing the part of Mrs Bumble in Dickensian on BBC One. countryliving.co.uk

INTERVIEW BY CHARLOTTE DEAR. PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAMY; REX/SHUTTERSTOCK

FROM LEFT Caroline has a family link with Newquay, and also enjoys spotting warblers on East Anglian marshes