Learn | The Art of Gentle Activism

Turning anger into something positive is good for your wellbeing as well as for your cause. If you feel strongly about making the world a better place, here are a few groups that are protesting gently and creatively, that might inspire you.

CRAFTIVISM
Sarah Corbett of Craftivist Collective was a conventional activist for 30 years before setting up this group, whose members use “beautiful crafted works to help themselves and encourage others to be the change they want to see in the world.” Pick a project you’d like to work on, from barbie doll activists to stitched messages on hankies, and work individually or as a group while connecting with other craftivist members.

RIGHT TO ROAM
Join the campaign for greater access to our land and waterways. There are lots of ways to get involved, from joining peaceful protests and trespass events to checking and recording the rights of way in your area. Check out righttoroam.org.uk for updates and details of future events. Recent changes to the law that prohibited wild camping in Dartmoor are under appeal following protests and campaigns (insta: @thestarsareours.uk), proving that change can happen. Check out the Scottish Outdoor Access Code to see what responsible nature access looks like (since 2003, people in Scotland have had access rights to most land and inland water): outdooraccess-scotland.scot, while greenandblackcross.org has info on protest and trespass laws.

GUERRILLA GARDENING
Plant and grow in public spaces to transform local areas, empower communities, support our ecosystem and make a statement about public access to common land and nature. Guerrilla gardeners plant and maintain scraps of neglected land such as grass verges, street tree beds, car parks, roundabouts and so on 

TRASH-FREE TRAILS
Never mind leave no trace, the trash-free trails mission is to leave a positive trace by clearing rubbish as you walk/run/cycle. Join the community of litter pickers, document your route and your haul, and take satisfaction in reporting your trail clean at the end. It’s a great way to combine nature and exercise with making a positive contribution. Visit trashfreetrails.org for info.

INCREDIBLE EDIBLE
Help turn disused plots of land into growing patches to supply the community with fresh, locally grown food. What started with a couple of friends in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, in 2008, has grown to over 100 groups across the UK. Their motto is ‘If you eat, you’re in.’ If you want to join up or start your own, see incredibleedible.org.uk for details – and watch Pam Warhurst’s TED talk for inspiration.

YARN BOMBING
If you’re a dab hand with knitting needles you could have a lot of fun joining a yarn bombing group. They create knitted and crocheted works of art to appear in public places, often to draw attention to an issue but sometimes just for decoration and to raise awareness of the craft. Some groups also create knitted products for charities and events. See if there are any guerrilla knitters in your area and, if not, see how much interest there is. All you need are a few people and a pile of wool.

The above ideas were taken from our feature The Power of Gentle Protest by Rebecca Frank in our July issue. You can read more from page 47.

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SHARE YOUR GENTLE ACTIVISM

We’d love to hear about your gentle protests. Email us: thesimplethings@icebergpress.co.uk or leave your story in the comments below.

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Make | A Soothing Lavender Eye Pillow

Lavender can ease headaches and help with insomnia, so lie down, pop on your eye pillow… and relax.

You will need

1/2m linen (you will have extra)
170g flax seed
30g lavender buds
Lavender essential oil (optional)

How to make

1 Make sure your linen is washed and dried before you begin. For each pillow, cut 2 layers of fabric measuring 12cm x 27cm.

2 With right sides together, sew 3 of the 4 sides, with a 5mm seam allowance. Turn the pillow the right way out and press.

3 In a bowl, mix the lavender buds, flax seed and a few drops of lavender oil. Add to the bag until mostly full, before folding in the seam allowance of the open edge and sewing it closed

For more ideas for projects to make with lavender, including wands and bath soak, turn to page 52 of the July issue of The Simple Things, in which Louise Gorrod talks us through the projects and teaches us a little bit about lavender on the way.

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Try Out | Cloud Pruning

If you’ve ever sprawled on the grass, looking up at the sky and marvelled at the undulating shapes of the clouds, this gardening trend might be for you. The Japanese art of Niwaki or ‘Cloud Pruning’ is all about pruning trees and shrubs into the shapes of clouds. 

Niwaki literally translates to ‘garden tree’ and Cloud Pruning is all about showing off the ‘true essence’ of the tree. Cloud Pruned trees look a bit like bonsai; the only difference is not size, but the fact that bonsai trees are grown in pots and Niwaki trees directly in the ground. 

How to start Cloud Pruning

1. Select your plant. Evergreens are best; perhaps a box, pine or Japanese privet. 

2. Plan your secateur attack. With privet, box and other hedges, prune into curved, fluffy cloud shapes from their usual ‘box’ shape. With trees, you might like to ‘clear’ some branches of leaves and twigs close to the trunk so that the ‘leafed’ parts appear to float like clouds. 

3. Use secateurs to trim the outside of a bush or shrub, and a pruning saw for thicker branches on a tree. Try to take out branches close to each other to allow the silhouette of the branches you leave to shine out a bit. 

4. You can use weights and stakes to encourage the branches to grow in a particular direction.

5. Prune once or twice a year to slowly form the shape you want. 

For more on Cloud Pruning, you could read Niwaki: Pruning, Training and Shaping Trees the Japanese Way by Jake Hobson. 

If you’d like to know more about general topiary, turn to page 84 of our July issue, in which Julian Owen meets some practitioners of the art, in our Modern Eccentrics series. Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

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Recipe | Tomato Tatin with Thyme Honey

A tatin typically features a fair amount of sugar but this has a lighter approach – caramelised, slow-roast tomatoes, crisp, golden pastry and thyme-infused honey. A not-too-sweet treat.

SERVES 4–6

150g honey
12 sprigs fresh thyme ~
200g plain white flour
A pinch of sea salt
125g unsalted butter, chilled and cubed, plus 2 tbsp for the tomatoes
1 egg yolk
500g cherry tomatoes, halved
2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
A generous sprinkling of thyme leaves, plus extra to finish
Herbs and edible flowers (such as chive blossom, tarragon, soft lemon verbena leaves, basil, thyme, rosemary, or oregano)

1 Preheat the oven to 200C/ Fan 180C/Gas 6. Start infusing your honey by mixing in the thyme (you’ll have more honey than you need).

2 Make the pastry by sifting the flour into a large mixing bowl or food processor and adding the salt. Add the butter and, using your fingertips, rub it into the flour, or pulse the ingredients in the processor until they resemble breadcrumbs. Mix the egg yolk with 2 tbsp ice-cold water, then, using a blunt knife, stir just enough of this mixture into the dough to make it come together. Wrap in a clean tea towel and put in the fridge to firm up.

3 Season the tomatoes and garlic with salt and pepper. Set a 20cm ovenproof frying pan over a medium heat and add the 2 tbsp butter. Once melted, arrange the tomatoes in the pan, cut side down. Scatter the garlic over the top and cut any remaining tomatoes in half again (so they’ll be quartered now) and nestle them in a layer on top and in the gaps of the base tomato layer.

4 On a lightly-floured surface, roll out the pastry to a large round and trim to a circle 2cm larger all round than the pan. Drape the pastry over the tomatoes and tuck the edges down around the inside of the pan, so it’s snugly blanketing them. Bake in the oven for 30 mins, or until the pastry is puffed up and golden.

5 Leave to rest for 1 minute, then invert the tart tatin onto a baking tray and cook a further 10-15 mins to help crisp up the pastry and caramelise the tomatoes further.

6 Once cooked, give the tomatoes a generous (1–2 tbsp) gloss of the thyme-infused honey (or your favourite honey, of course). Finish with a decent pinch of sea salt, a hearty grinding of black pepper and extra thyme leaves or other edible herbs and flowers. Delicious served hot or at room temperature.

Cook’s note: Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheated to warm through. Any extra thyme honey will keep happily for months, if not longer – it’s a delicious way of lapping up the flavour as well as the medicinal properties of the thyme. Use in dressings, marinades and more.

This recipe is one of the ideas from our Home Economics feature in our July issue, which this month is all about honey and beeswax. It also includes recipes and ideas for a Honeyed Carrot Cake and a Honey Ripple Ice Cream as well as Beeswax Candles and Beeswax Lip & Body Balm. The feature is by Rachel de Thample and the photography by Ali Allen.

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Wellbeing | Why the Sea Makes you Happy

Why we really do like to be beside the seaside…

We’ve been exploring the health benefits of the sea for centuries, from bathing in its salty waters to breathing in the cleaner air of the coast. But the power of the sea to improve our wellbeing is so strong, you can actually reap the benefits without even rolling up your trouser legs and getting your feet wet. 

A recent study from the University of Exeter found that simply living near the sea had protective benefits against anxiety and depression, with those living close to the sea less likely to experience mental distress. However, that benefit was reversed if they moved inland. In fact, just looking at the sea and out to the skyline can have a positive effect on mental health. A 2015 study found that having a sea view could slow heart rate and increase happiness, and hearing the sound of waves has a similar effect. 

Of course, we’d all love nothing more than a permanent view of the changing sea from our windows, but if you’re a little land-locked, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the benefits of the sea. On days where you can’t get to the water, here are some ways to bring it to you

Make a plant pot pond 

If digging a pond is out of the question, Helen Rook author of Urban Wild (Bloomsbury Wildlife) suggests this clever idea. Take a pot (preferably without holes). Fill with water, then add a couple of deep water and marginal plants (choose one for spread and one to cascade). Position out of direct sunlight and enjoy watching the wildlife it’ll attract.

Visualise the ocean

There are many guided meditations that use water as an aid for relaxation. Find one on a meditation app or simply sit for a while, close your eyes and imagine the sounds, smells and feel of your favourite watery environment. 

Have a soak in the bath

Oprah Winfrey is so keen on bathing – her ‘restorative escape’ and ‘ideas time’ – that she had a bathtub designed to fit her body. While that might be a bit ambitious, you can still benefit from the increased creativity, calm and ideas that come with a long soak.

Listen to the waves

The sound of water is very relaxing and can help you fall asleep, reduce stress and anxiety and clear your mind. You can find wave sounds on YouTube or next time you’re by the coast, record them so you can listen and picture yourself there again when you’re in need of a boost of vitamin sea. 

These ideas were taken from our July 2022 issue, in which Rebecca Frank wrote about Blue Space Thinking and why we are drawn to the water. The wonderful sea view pictured is by Marilyn Harrison. It’s just one of the rooms with a sea view that we featured in our My Place pages this month. 

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Tipple | Strawberry Fizz

Toast the fruit of the season with this refreshing tipple that works with or without alcohol

Serves 4

400g fresh strawberries, washed and tops cut off, plus 4 to garnish
1 tbsp honey
½ tbsp chopped mint leaves, plus a handful of uncut leaves to serve
Juice of 1 lime
Ice
Elderflower cordial
Sparkling mineral water or prosecco

1 Put the strawberries into a blender with the honey, chopped mint leaves and lime juice, and blitz until smooth.

2 Fill each glass with a few ice cubes and pour over the strawberry syrup until the glass is about a third full. Add a teaspoon of elderflower cordial to each glass.

3 Top with sparkling mineral water, or prosecco. Give the mix a stir and dress each glass with a strawberry (cut to fit on the side of the glass) and a sprig of fresh mint leaves

This recipe is taken from our feature Field of Dreams in our July issue, which includes lots of recipes for freshly picked strawberries and raspberries. It includes ideas for Strawberry Vinaigrette with a Spelt Salad, Chicken Breast with Spiced Raspberry Sauce, Strawberry Cake and Raspberry Loaf Cake. The recipes are by Kay Prestney and the photographs by Rebecca Lewis.

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July | Things to Appreciate

A few things to see outdoors this month and a thing to do, too…

With more than 11,000 miles of coastline, some of the UK’s most beautiful walks are along its coastal paths, exploring pine forests and clifftops and wandering past sand banks and sweet-smelling hedgerows. From them, you can spot some pretty amazing wildlife, too, both on the path itself, and out at sea.

On the South West Coast Path alone you might encounter wild goats, ponies and hares and spot dolphins and basking sharks. While up on the Fife Coastal Path, you could spot anything from seals to puffins to sea eagles, depending on the time of year. Sightings of are never guaranteed but you can always take a boat trip out to sea if you want to get up close and personal with dolphins, guillemots and other coastal creatures.

Choose a stretch of coast near you, pack a sarnie, a map and binoculars, then take in the view, and maybe steal a picture of a seal, too.

This outing idea was featured on our Almanac Pages, where each month we collate a few seasonal things to note and notice, plan and do. The nature table image above was taken by Alice Tatham of The Wildwood Moth who takes a photograph for our back cover each month, featuring things to appreciate in nature. She also runs workshops on seasonal photography and publishes seasonal journal stories from her home in Dorset.

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10 things | You Should be Able to Reach from a Deck Chair

Deck chairs are the ideal lounging situation, but once you’ve got comfy in one, physics can work against you and it’s not always easy to hop up again. Some might view this as an advantage… The key is to make sure you have everything you need to hand before collapsing into the canvas. Here are 10 things you should always be able to reach when lounging in a deck chair. 

1. A good book. We recommend a copy of Death in a Deckchair by Peter Boon. When a Murder Mystery event at a swanky hotel goes exactly how we all know it will, reluctant amateur detective Edward Crisp finds his relaxing summer swiftly disappearing before his eyes. But you can still enjoy your relaxing summer over this light and rather charming whodunnit. 

2. Sun protection cream. Very important. No one wants to emerge from a relaxing afternoon in the garden with burnt skin, or - perish the thought - to have to get up and go inside to top up on the Factor 50. Don’t forget to do your ears. 

3. A battery-operated radio. The ideal companion for a garden afternoon. Plays, music and chat are all there at the touch of a button. And if there’s a national emergency, you’ll be able to tune in for all the essential information you need without having to stir from your seat. 

4. A deck chair pillow. Deck chairs are very comfortable but even the most comfy of seating situations needs a little rearrangement now and then. A deck chair pillow straps handily to the top of your chair and allows for a snooze in between your various lounging activities. 

5. A long, cool drink. If you’re really smart you’ll also take out a Thermos with another long, cool drink in it, topped up with ice cubes, for an easy refill. 

6. A hat. Something in straw with a nice wide brim. For snoozing under, additional shade and generally wafting about as if you are in a Merchant Ivory film from the late 90s. 

7. A fly swat. Because you don’t want to have to use your nice hat for seeing off ill-tempered wasps.

8. A copy of The Simple Things. And maybe a few summer back issues, too. We say this only for your benefit, you understand. This is shaping up to be a nice, long afternoon and you wouldn’t want to run out of reading matter. 

9. A tinkly bell for attracting the attention of someone who can refresh your gin and tonic, swap the business section of the paper for the weekend magazine and answer the front door. 

10. A pole, or large stick for hoiking yourself out of the chair, just in case the tinkly bell falls upon deaf ears. You just can’t always get the deck chair staff these days…

Our deck chair must-be-able-to-reach items were inspired by the ‘Looking Back’ feature on the history of the deck chair in our July issue. We hope you can enjoy the read from your very own deck chair this month.

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Recipe | Ginger & Orange Chocolate Biscuit Fridge Cake

This cool but sweet and sticky fridge cake is easy to make, ideal for sharing and better still, you don’t even need to put the oven on.

Makes 12

400g dark-chocolate digestive biscuits

400g orange-flavoured dark chocolate

200g unsalted butter

50g chopped crystalised ginger

50g white chocolate

1 Grease and line a 25cm-square baking tin.

2 Using a pestle and an aluminium baking bowl, break up the biscuits until they’re in small pieces, but not too finely crushed. Or place the biscuits in a plastic bag and use a rolling pin on them.

3 Break up the dark chocolate into small pieces and place into a bain-marie. Melt the dark chocolate and butter, stirring until smooth.

4 In a large bowl, mix the crushed biscuits, the ginger and the melted butter and chocolate until combined.

5 Pour the mixture into the baking tin and use the back of a spoon to press the mixture into the tray, getting into all the corners and flattening the top. Allow to cool and then cover with foil or baking paper and place in the fridge overnight to harden.

6 Once hardened, grate the white chocolate over the top.

Cook’s note: This will store in the fridge for up to a fortnight and also freezes well.  

This recipe is just one of the ideas for a picnic in the park (with games!) from our July issue by Kay Prestney, with photography by Rebecca Lewis. The feature also includes recipes for Watermelon Slushies, Fennel & Poppy Seed Sausage Rolls and a Halloumi and Giant Couscous Salad. When you’ve finished your park picnic, let the games commence. We have lots of ideas, including DIY Coits, Football Skittles and ‘Foxes and Rabbits’. See you in the park!

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Playlist | Hello & Goodbye

Wave hello to our playlist for our July issue – full of good greetings.

Take a listen on Spotify here.
Have a browse of all our playlists.
Order a copy of July WAVE.