Small folk | Fairy Encounters

Do you believe in fairies? The camera never lies…

Have you ever had a fairy encounter? Many people have believed they have over the years, including Arthur Conan Doyle who was famously a firm believer in the Cottingley Fairies, until the girls who took the fairy photos admitted their prank.

More recently, Manchester Met professor of Art Research, John Hyatt, made headlines when he apparently photographed fairies in Whitaker Park, Rossendale, in Lancashire. 

"I was just taking [photos of] sunset through the trees and when I enlarged the photographs later in the studio, I saw these figures," he told the Manchester Evening News back in 2014. "They are not doctored apart from I increased the size of a detailed section of a larger photograph along with the DPI to stop them being just large pixels -- normal size enhancement techniques."

Some swore the tiny creatures with long legs were indeed fairy folk, while others, such as Erica McAlister, an expert in ‘small flying things’ from The Natural History Museum, was more circumspect, albeit in a rather charming way: “My first impression is that they can’t be fairies because there is no wand. But that’s like saying mosquitoes aren’t flies because they don’t look like ordinary house flies. So I had to approach this more taxonomically. Hmmm… maybe they are not fairies at all but rather insects. Small swarming winged insects. Small swarming midges such as chironomids.”

Hyatt replied that “People can decide for themselves what they are. The message to people is to approach them with an open mind," he said. “I think it’s one of those situations where you need to believe to see. A lot of people who have seen them say they have brought a little bit of magic into their lives and there’s not enough of that around.”

We think we can all agree with that. But maybe put that fly swat down… it might be a fairy!

You can see the Rossendale fairies/flies on the Natural History Museum’s website, where McAlister gives her full report on them. 

If you’re planning a magical midsummer for this week, don’t miss our feature on days out in search of fairies, mermaids and more small folk in our June issue, in shops now.

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Quiz | What Species of Dragonfly Are You?

Take our quiz to find out what your dragonfly style is

Our Magical Creature for June is the dragonfly. You can find out all about them on page 21 of the June issue. We were surprised to hear that there are around 30 species of dragonfly, darting about the British Isles. We thought it might be fun to see which species we all most identify with. Answer the questions below to find out.

What’s your summer wardrobe style?

A Always practical, so you can make the most of exploring the countryside: hardwearing khaki trousers, lots of layers and reflective trims in case you stay out after dark. 

B Earthy shades with global influences. 

C Casual - you’ve usually come straight from the garden. Jeans, Birkenstocks and a strappy top. 

D Sporty. Cyclist’s Lycras and swimwear, if you have anything to do with it. Summer is for getting stuck in. 

E Jewel shades and elegant lines, perfect for long, warm evenings.

Where are you spending your time off?

A On a road trip around Britain. You enjoy driving and want to see more of the country. 

B Somewhere in the Lakes or definitely somewhere with a pool where you can lounge by the water’s edge.

C You don’t know yet but when you get there it’s going to be a totally relaxing week. Just you, a pile of books and some good food. 

D You’re having a proper staycation but that’s not to say you won’t get lots done. You’re using the time to completely redesign the garden, will be catching up with friends and family you’ve not seen in months and are planning to sign up to a course to learn upholstery. 

E You’ve got a few trips here and there booked. Europe if it’s allowed. A weekend with female friends to a fab pub with rooms in the Cotswolds. And a week glamping with family. You’re not stopping until summer’s all over!

What’s your approach at a summer gathering?

A Mingle with lots of people and hopefully make a few new friends.

B Hide in the kitchen and hope you find some like-minded introverts. 

C You’ll be at the buffet. The best bit of any party. 

D You’ll be wherever the action is! Flitting about among the guests, investigating the food, making interesting conversation with new people and on the dancefloor until the end of the night when it’s back to yours for the after party!

E You’re a party lounge lizard. You’ll arrive (looking fabulous of course) and the party will simply find you. 

Reveal your dragonfly type

Mostly As: You’re a Hawker. Hawkers cruise around any eye level, flying many miles in a day.

Mostly Bs: You’re a Skimmer. They fly low across the water and are from one of the largest dragonfly families in the world. 

Mostly Cs: You’re a Chaser. Chasers are broader bodied and tend to be more still, shooting out at passing prey from a nearby perch when necessary. 

Mostly Ds: You’re a Darter. Darters are busy fellows, always dashing from place to place. They’re distinctive without being showy, common in gardens and are usually the last dragonfly species to be seen in Autumn.

Mostly Es: You’re an Emperor. These are brightly coloured dragonflies, very active, and rarely settle except in cool weather. 

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Make | Sweet & Silly Sandwiches

Picnic season is upon us, and what better reason for a silly sandwich? 

If there’s ever a time when we can cast aside the sensible egg and cress or ham and mustard it must be for a midsummer picnic when a bit of fun and frivolity is always on the menu. Here are a few of our favourite sweet sandwiches that are part lunch, part pudding and part party. 

Fairy Bread

An Antipodean delicacy; open buttered white bread slices, sprinkled with hundreds and thousands. Nutritional factor: zero. Fun factor: eleven out of ten. 

Banana and Honey

Reminding us of childhood Sunday teas, the hilarity of putting banana in between slices of Hovis has never left us. Jazz it up with a sprinkling of cinnamon. 

Grated Apple

Excellent with crusty bread and a slightly salted butter. Add peanut butter if you must but we quite like the simplicity of a good old apple sarnie. 

Chocolate, brie and raspberry

One for toastie fans. This is like a sweeter version of a bacon, brie and cranberry toastie. The brie and the chocolate (dark for preference) melts beautifully into the toast while the raspberry reduces to a very pleasant mush, taking the place of the cranberry sauce. 

Fruit Sandos

A Japanese staple: chilled, whipped cream and seasonal fruits - strawberries, mandarins, pear… whatever you like - sandwiched in slices of milk bread (brioche also works). Fresh, sweet and so pretty looking. 

Sugar sandwiches

No messing about here. This traditionally Irish treat was usually bestowed upon children by over-indulgent grandparents. There’s little as exciting as the sight of the bag of Tate and Lyle, a tub of Stork and some plastic bread on the sideboard in your Granny’s kitchen. Add some lemon juice for a bit of zing and a pancake day ambience. 

In our June issue, we have a rather lovely recipe for a grown-up silly sandwich. The Rose Petal & Strawberry Sandwiches (recipe below) are part of our Heart Body & Soul feature that focuses on roses this month. It also includes instructions to make Rose Bitters, Rosewater Tonic and a savoury galette with Rose Harissa. 

Rose Petal & Strawberry Sandwiches

Give your afternoon tea a floral and fruity twist with sandwiches that give scones a run for their money 

Per sandwich: 

Two slices of brioche bread 

1 tbsp clotted cream 

1 tbsp strawberry jam 

A few drops of rosewater 

3 strawberries 

Fresh rose petals, six or more 

1 Spread the cream onto both slices of the brioche bread. 

2 Stir the rosewater into the jam, then spread this on top of the cream on one slice of bread. Thinly slice the strawberries and carefully lay on top of the cream on the other slice. 

3 Remove the heels of the rose petals if needed before laying the petals on top of the jam and carefully putting the two pieces together. Either cut into dainty fingers or leave as delicious doorsteps.

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Outing | museums and galleries you might not have heard of

With museums and galleries reopening, we’re sharing a few lesser known gems that are worth seeking out this summer

We’re so lucky here in the UK to have some of the world’s most amazing museums and galleries available to us. From the wonders of the Science Museum in Kensington to the beautiful architecture of the Kelvingrove Gallery in Glasgow. From the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich to art by the sea at Tate St Ives. 

But look a little closer and almost every town and village in the UK has its own museum, some dedicated to local history, others simply collections of the weird and wonderful that someone has loved enough to put on display. There are museums of lawnmowers, collections of teapots (pictured above at Teapot Island in Kent) and everything in between. 

As museums and galleries begin slowly to open, we thought we’d share some of The Simple Things team’s favourites around the country. Perhaps you can visit them on your travels this summer? Don’t forget to send us a postcard! 

The Time Machine Museum of Science Fiction, Bromyard, Herefordshire

Editor Lisa Sykes recently visited the area and was disappointed to find this closed but having sadly pressed her nose against the glass is planning to return this summer and explore the Time Machine Museum thoroughly. It contains props, costumes and more from TV Science Fiction series including Doctor Who, Star Trek, Captain Scarlet, Thunderbirds, Red Dwarf and more, all displayed in a suitably creepy dungeon. It may be small but it’s like a TARDIS inside. In fact, there is a TARDIS inside. 

The Hat Works Museum, Stockport, Cheshire

The Hat Works Museum was a favourite haunt of Sub Editor Abbie Miller’s delightful mum, who was a fan of excellent millinery and loved a jaunt here. Abbie’s hoping to explore it again herself next time she’s back ‘home’. Housed in a Grade II listed Victorian mill, you can see hats of all manner as well as learning about the hatting industry and hat blocking. Visit just for the joy of asking a curator: “Where DID you get that hat?!” Check website for opening.

Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge

This gallery started life as a home, belonging to a Tate curator, Jim Ede, and it retains its warmth and personality, making it a firm favourite for Deputy Editor, Frances Ambler. As well as the fine art, there are plenty of plants, carefully considered arrangements of found natural objects and plenty of places to stop, pause and take it all in. Kettles Yard is a really magic place.

Ditchling Museum of Arts and Crafts

Whenever Editor-at-Large, Iona Bower gets an afternoon to herself she sneaks off to Ditchling in West Sussex to be mesmerised by the rows of natural dyes Eric Gill fonts at the Arts and Crafts Museum. Ditchling is a tiny village so the museum feels strangely huge within it, but it houses internationally important works by some of the artists and craftspeople who flocked to Ditchling during the 20th century. The museum also has a fabulous shop and the best salted caramel brownies in the county, all housed in a beautiful converted farm building. 

Pallant House Gallery, Chichester

Picture Researcher, Liz Boyd loves a day trip to Chichester to Pallant House Gallery, a permanent and rotating collection of artworks in a beautiful townhouse in picturesque streets. There’a a fabulous art shop there, too. 

Hillbrush Brush-making Museum, Mere, Somerset

As eclectic as they come, this museum of brush-making, attached to the Hillbrush factory, is a favourite with Commissioning Editor, Lindsey Harrad. If you’re taking children with you, it’s worth knowing that they provide an excellent kids’ information pack, which includes mini brushes, so that they can sweep their away around the museum. Check website for opening times. 

Derwent Pencil Museum, Keswick, Cumbria

In true Art Editor form, Joe McIntyre’s favourite museum is the Derwent Pencil Factory, home of the first pencil, and entered through its own graphite mine. You can also see secret WW2 pencils with hidden maps, an eight-metre long colouring pencil  and more. 

Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford

Pitt Rivers is a favourite of Commissioning Editor, Karen Dunn, and is home to the University of Oxford’s archaeological and anthropological collections, including everything from totem poles to skulls. If you can manage to eat after that, there’s a decent cafe, too. 

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Science | How Buttercups Tell you if you Like Butter

Lift up your chins and we’ll tell you how it’s done

Remember holding a buttercup under your friends’ chins to see if they liked butter? We can’t help thinking that a more accurate way to ascertain this may simply be to offer them a slice of bread and ask if they want it buttered or not, but that would be less fun, if more scientific. 

There is some science at play here though. If you want to know why buttercups really shine a yellow light on your neck, here it is:

It’s all about attracting pollinators. The vibrant yellow shade of the buttercup comes from pigments in the surface layer of the petals. If you look closely you’ll see that they also seem to be heavily glossed, an effect created by layers of air just below the surface of the petals, which reflects the light back. So when you hold one under your chin, it will shine a little yellow light onto your skin. The brighter and glossier the buttercup and the sunnier the day, the more likely you are to ‘like butter’.. The way buttercups seem to glow and light up the lawn is actually unique in the plant world. No other plant reflects colour and light in quite the same way.

Now we’ve ruined that bit of summer-flower-related magic for you, we feel we ought to make amends. Here’s a little blog we published a while ago about the story behind playing ‘he loves me, he loves me not’ with daisies. Daisy, daisy, give me your answer do, indeed. 

From the blousy paper daisies on the front cover to our buttercups in the house, pictured above, the new June issue is chock full of floral fun. We hope it brings a little cheer to you, too. 

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Project | Antiquing Terracotta Pots

Give your patio pots and containers a distinguished, aged look

Planning a little pottering in the garden this weekend? In our June issue, we have a feature with Arthur Parkinson, container gardening guru, about how he has created flamboyant islands of colour using only containers in his tiny but teeming plot.

The pictures are amazing, showing what looks like a vibrant jungle, but is really just a five-metre pathway unfurling to the front door of Arthur’s mum’s house in Stoke-on-Trent. 

Arthur trained at Kew Gardens before going to work for Sarah Raven and is now one of the UK’s youngest gardening stars. He talked to us about how to create showstopping gardens using flower pots - it’s definitely worth a read if you’re thinking of getting out in the garden this bank holiday weekend and getting elbow deep in compost. 

Here, he explains how to get that lovely aged patina on terracotta pots, so they look like you’ve been hard at work for years on your container garden. 

Arthur’s instructions on ageing terracottas

“With small, newly-bought terracotta pots, the best way to age them is to dunk them in a pond or in a water butt, then a coat of algae will grow quickly on them. Even a bucket can be filled up with rainwater for the task – it must be rainwater for the algae spores to be present. I have an upside-down dustbin lid propped up on bricks on the floor of the yard that we use as a bird bath and trios of terracottas take turns soaking in this, while providing little bathhouses to the precious town frogs! The water is emptied and refreshed weekly so that it does not harbour mosquitoes, and birds and bees also visit it to drink; all gardens should have watering holes for wildlife. After a month of being submerged, the teracotta pots will start to slime up and, once dried, will look marvellous.  

“Large terracottas too big to be submerged can be painted generously with organic, natural yogurt in the summer, which will then go green. For the algae to take, the pots need to be kept damp and away from full sun for a few weeks so that the spores can really get growing. When planting them up for summer, line their insides with old compost bags as this will help them to stay cool and reduce moisture loss.”

 Follow Arthur on Instagram: @arthurparkinson_  

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Make | Embroidery Hoop Templates

These sweet embroidery projects from Love Embroidery magazine are featured in our June issue. You’ll find all the instructions beginning on page 102 and you can buy the issue from our online store. But first you will need the templates. Download them below and get stitching.
Project: Jen Smith and Miriam Polak

Desert Dunes hoop

Notebook cover

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Competition | Win paint from Earthborn worth £200

Redecorate any room in your home with Earthborn’s beautiful , textural shades

Planning on using some of summer’s long, productive days to paint a nursery or redecorate a child’s bedroom? Then you could be in luck. Earthborn are all about environmentally friendly paints that are better for you, your home and the environment. And they’re giving two lucky readers the chance to win 12.5 ltr of paint – in any one of the 72 beautiful shades in their palette. You can choose from Claypaint, a super-breathable ultra-matt, ideal for walls and ceilings, or Lifestyle, a hard-wearing washable emulsion that hits the mark in busy homes. A spot of decorating can be a calming and uplifting task – especially when you’re working on children’s rooms. It brings with it the hope of a brighter future, as well as the satisfaction of a job well done. And choosing an eco-friendly paint is just one of the little steps you can take towards a greener world.

How to enter

For your chance to win 12.5 ltr of Earthborn paint, worth over £200, answer the question below by the closing date of 7 July 2021.

Question: How many colours are available in the Earthborn palette

Terms and conditions

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 7 July 2021. Two winners will be selected at random from all the correct entries received and notified soon after. The winners cannot transfer the prize or swap for cash. Subject to availability. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p127 of the magazine and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

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Playlist | The Dads' Playlist

Our playlist was inspired by the dad of our regular contributor, Lottie. Richard Storey became an internet sensation when he selected tracks for a ‘desert island disco’ on Lauren Laverne’s 6Music show earlier this year. To mark Father’s Day, we asked our dads (including Richard, naturally) to suggest some favourite tunes. And here’s the resulting playlist.

Listen here.

DJ: Frances Ambler and the dads of The Simple Things team.

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