In October we really start to notice the nip in the air. Our skin notices it too. Dryness, flaky skin and red patches are common at this time of the year as we adjust to harsher outdoor conditions, and cossetting indoor spaces. The top tip is to keep skin hydrated, ideally with lots of herbal…
September has brought a sudden change in the weather. Wet and stormy times bring a hazard to foraging. Pick a calm moment to venture to the hedgerows. There are plenty of treasures to gather now to use fresh or to prepare for your skincare larder. Your future self will thank you. 1. Bramble leaf –…
August is our bridge between summer and autumn. A chance to celebrate the fruits of summer, while still basking in the sunshine. Traditionally the time of the Lammas harvest, associated with hay baling, wheat and first fruits. It is a time of abundance, and a time to prepare for leaner months ahead: ‘make hay while…
Summer is at its fragrant height. Many plants contain essential oils, these are comprised of the volatile scent compounds important not just for attracting pollinators (and us) but also their means of communicating and healing.
Some of our five herbs to look out for this month have ‘officinalis’ in their latin name (and one was historically an officinalis, though now reclassified). When you see this in a name it’s an indicator that they are historically part of the official Materia Medica – that’s the apothecary’s list of plants with medicinal uses. So they don’t just look good and smell good, they also do you good.
Last night’s weather forecaster referred to it not just being ‘meterological summer’ in the sense of where we are in the calendar but weather-wise summer: this year we’re actually feeling the summer weather with sunny days, and the potential for some build up of thundery showers. Here then, are a few lovelies to get out…
Some commonplace plants which are now not so commonly used in skincare. Find out what you can forage locally and how you can enjoy the benefits by blending your own simple natural skincare treatments.
Here are some suggestions for local herbs that you can gather to make your own fresh, natural skincare.
There really is a change in the air in November, it’s certainly no longer warm enough to head out without a coat. For creatures of the hedgerow it’s a final opportunity to gather in winter stores before bedding down to see the winter through. Plants take a similar approach, with their attention going to storing…
5 TO FORAGE IN OCTOBER We’ve been so lucky this October to have some bright sunny days making it great to be outdoors. While the number of fruits, flowers and leaves to gather is reducing, it’s a good time to prep for winter months by bringing a few herbs indoors to be cared for on…
We’ve had a few blasts of on-coming winter in the past couple of weeks leaving a decidedly autumnal tinge in the air but still summer clings on and we’re able to gather ripening fruit on sunny days. There’s nothing quite like sitting outdoors stoning plums or coring apples in an effort to preserve the year’s…
