After a long winter, spring is finally here. Flowers including crocus, narcissi, daffodils, muscari and the stalwart dandelion and daisy are bringing colour to the landscape, and blossom is emerging on the trees. Winter birds are flying home, tadpoles are turning into frogs and before long, ducklings will be appearing along the canal and waterways. […]
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Autumn is the ideal time for crafting, and if you’re based near Loughborough, there’s lots to join in with this week. This Wednesday and Friday sees free crafting fun for children and adults at the Purple Pumpkin Patch,102 Ashby Road, Loughborough, LE11 3AF. (Children must be accompanied by an adult). Take advantage of their box of recycled craft […]
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I was excited to hear about Pre-Raphaelite Girl Gang, as I’ve long been a fan of Kirsty Stonell Walker’s brilliant website, The Kissed Mouth. I was even happier when the publishers kindly sent me a review copy. The book includes 50 profiles of the oft-ignored women of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, beautifully illustrated by both the […]
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Collecting photos of flowers every colour of the rainbow gets harder as autumn moves closer to winter. However, there are still plenty of flowers blooming if you pay attention. I find it a great way to add a challenge to a nature walk – and love seeing the colours change with the seasons. Red, orange […]
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As the nights come ever earlier and the weather becomes greyer, it can be tempting to drag all the pillows in the house onto the sofa, grab snacks and hibernate until spring. However, there’s still lots of beauty to be seen outdoors. Windy weather means nature crafting materials galore. And there’s so much more to […]
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Folklore Thursday is a wonderful weekly opportunity to immerse yourself in stories on Twitter. Each week has a different theme and, with Halloween approaching, this week’s theme is ghosts. Certain plants have long been associated with ghosts. Agrimony can help ward off evil spirits, as can basil (the latter being rather easier to source, if […]
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Upcycle Your Life took place at Fearon Hall, Loughborough last Saturday: a day of sharing skills and learning from the community as part of Fun Palaces. The event included people sharing produce, gardening tips, freshly pressed apple juice and beekeeping advice. People also shared their ideas for the green space around Fearon Hall. I showed […]
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