Sponsored post | Blackdown Shepherd Huts

If you’re after something a little different for a garden retreat, home office or business venture, look no further than a beautiful Blackdown Shepherd Hut

While we may not all have a flock of sheep to tend to, a traditional shepherd hut can still provide a practical addition to your home, as well as a touch of luxury and escapism from the humdrum of life. Whether you’re after somewhere to retreat to at the bottom of the garden to watch the fruits of your labour grow, a peaceful sanctuary from which to work, or an additional living space where you, or others, can rest, the team at Blackdown Shepherd Huts can turn your dreams into reality.

ROOTED IN HISTORY
Established in 2011, it’s been over a decade since Will and his cousin George built their first shepherd hut in Will’s garage in Ilminster, Somerset. Inspired by the Victorian origins of these structures and with backgrounds in farming, they were both captivated by the heritage of these discerning spaces and the flexibility that they can bring to peoples’ lives. Mentioned as far back as the 16th century, shepherd huts were originally built as a mobile shelter so that the shepherd could tend to their flocks. They included a fire for warmth, a bed to rest in and wheels to move base whenever they needed. Nowadays, our needs may have changed, however the craftspeople at Blackdown Shepherd Huts are able to tailor your ideas to create a bespoke garden room, home office, overspill accommodation, relaxation retreat or glamping business.

QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP
Once you have the initial seed of inspiration for your design, the next step on your Blackdown journey is to contact the team and to join them for a chat over a cup of tea at their display garden and workshop, still located in Ilminster. There, you’ll see the heart and passion that they put into making each hut, fully aware that they’re producing a beautifully bespoke piece of design, built to withstand the test of time, and which, one day, will surely become an beloved heirloom of the future.

Seven steps to shepherd hut heaven

From those first sparks of inspiration to enjoying your bespoke design, there are several steps on the Blackdown journey

1 Visit blackdownshepherdhuts.co.uk or follow on social media – watch their videos and gather inspiration.

2 Drop the team an email or give them a call to chat about your ideas. They can also pop a beautiful brochure in the post to help your thinking process along.

3 Join the team for a cuppa and to chat through your ideas. You can also have a nosey around the workshop and see first-hand the craftsmanship that goes into every hut.

4 If you need any further convincing, why not road test a Blackdown shepherd hut at Dimpsey Glamping, just down the road from HQ, in Somerset (dimpsey.co.uk).

5 When you’re ready to take the next step, the team will draw up your plans. They may even pop over to visit the spot that you have planned for your hut.

6 Once completely happy with the plans, place your order . You can now sit back and relax while the team build your dream space. They’ll send regular photos and updates throughout.

7 Delivery day! Have your bubbles at the ready – your hut will be delivered on its due date and placed in exactly the right spot. Congratulations, you are now officially part of the Blackdown flock!

For more information and inspiration, visit blackdownshepherdhuts.co.uk or follow on Instagram: @blackdownshepherdhuts.

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You know spring has properly arrived when...

Daylight wakes you up in the morning

You leave the back door open

Soups and stews make way for salads

Your phone is full of pictures of blossom and spring flowers

Your book takes a little longer to read

You’re making detailed plans for your garden

You leave the house without a coat

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From our March issue:

More outdoor inspiration:

Competition | Win a weekend break in the South Downs

You could enjoy three nights in this boutique bolthole in Sussex and £100 to spend at nearby Stuff & Co.

Do you love to shop till you drop? If so, we’ve a three-night stay at West Street Loft in Midhurst, West Sussex, plus £100 to spend at neighbouring Stuff & Co, up for grabs. With its aged timbers and wonky walls, West Street Loft is a 16th-century conversion that’s been given a modern makeover, providing a luxurious base from which to explore the local surroundings, such as Cowdray Park polo, Goodwood and the glorious South Downs Way. Top of your list, though, should be to explore Stuff & Co, quite literally on your doorstep. Featuring a beautiful range of designer and vintage homewares, fashion, jewellery and furniture, treasures include locally-produced soaps, faux plants, cards and scented candles, ensuring there’s something for everyone.

To enter
Just click on the button below and answer the following question:
Q Which century was West Street Loft Built in?

For more information, visit stuffandco.co.uk or follow at: @weststreetloftmidhurst.

Terms and conditions

This competition closes at 11.59pm on 5 May 2021. One winner will be selected at random from all the correct entries received and notified soon after. The winner cannot transfer the prize or swap for cash. Prize subject to availability. Details of our full terms are on p127 of the magazine and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

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Competition | Win a UK holiday worth £500 courtesy of Classic Cottages

A luxury self-catering break in the UK could be yours

As the days grow longer and warmer, our minds inevitably turn to holidays, and the memories that will be made. Whether you’re looking for golden sands and turquoise seas or beautiful woodland and tranquillity, Classic Cottages has something to suit all tastes thanks to its exclusive collection of luxury self-catering cottages.

COAST OR COUNTRY?
If your ideal getaway is to escape to the breathtaking British coast, there are plenty of options to call your ‘home from home’, while you explore the rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, charming fishing villages and bracing coastal walks that this country has to offer. Should the restorative nature of a rural retreat be more your cup of tea, then head to the countryside with many properties just a stone’s throw from stunning woodland, wildflower meadows and windswept moors.

ADVENTURE FOR ALL
For the adventurous, there’s also Classic Cottages’ quirky line-up of glamping getaways. With shepherds’ huts, treehouses, safari tents, airstreams and cliff-top cabins to choose from, you’re sure to recharge your batteries while watching the twinkling night sky from your hot tub, or perhaps snuggled around a firepit, toasting marshmallows.

Whatever your dream break, Classic Cottages has something for you. Now, one lucky reader could be a step closer to making it a reality as The Simple Things has a £500 voucher up for grabs. Your only quandary is deciding on just where exactly to visit. For more information and to book online, visit classic.co.uk.

How to enter
To be in with a chance of winning, just click on the button below and answer the following question by 5 May 2021:
Q. What can Classic Cottages offer for adventurous types?

Terms and conditions

This competition closes at 11.59pm on 5 May 2021. One winner will be selected at random from all the correct entries received and notified soon after. The winner cannot transfer the prize or swap for cash. Details of our full terms are on p.127 and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

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Playlist | A Breath of Fresh Air

Songs that bring a bit of spring breeze to your day. Stop, look and listen here.

“Here comes the breeze
Come on blow me out”

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More of our playlists…

Competition | Win a book subscription with Adventurous Ink

You could win a subscription to this outdoorsy book club, plus Simple Things readers all receive one month free when they take out a subscription to Adventurous Ink

Is there anything better than getting stuck into a really good book? If there is, perhaps it’s getting stuck into a really good book out in the fresh air!

Adventurous Ink, the book club for outdoor folk, is curated by it’s founder Tim Frenneaux. Since securing his first foothold in the outdoor industry almost six years ago, Tim has tested a series of business models. Unlike most start-ups however, he wasn’t pivoting in pursuit of profit, he was in search of something more meaningful.

Finally, in 2019, Tim decided to stop selling ‘stuff’ to focus solely on Adventurous Ink.

An Adventurous Ink subscription is a simple way to go beyond your everyday adventures. Tim curates the best in nature, travel and adventure writing, delivering a surprise book each month to inspire adventures and reconnect with the natural world.

March’s issue is the compelling Losing Eden, by Lucy Jones; an impressive and essential read, even concerning at times, which demonstrates just how important our connection with the natural world is.

'Beautifully written, movingly told and meticulously researched ... a convincing plea for a wilder, richer world' Isabella Tree, author of Rewilding.

Simple Things reader discount

To help you discover the wellbeing, meaning and connection that comes from a deep appreciation of our environment, your first month is on Tim. Just visit adventurousink.co.uk and use the code SIMPLEFIRST at checkout.

Win a year’s subscription

And, just for Simple Things readers we have a full year’s subscription, worth £150, to give away, too.

To enter simply click the button below and answer the following question:

What is the name of the book featured in Adventurous Ink’s March issue?

Terms & conditions:
The competition closes at 11.59pm on 19 April 2021. A winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries after this time and notified shortly after. Full terms and conditions are at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

Job Vacancy | Lighthouse Keeper

Fancy a career change and something a little different? Apply within…

Do you have what it takes to keep Simple Things Lighthouse ship hape and Bristol fashion and ensure all ships pass safely around the rocks beneath? If think you fit the person spec below, drop us a line via seagull. 

Position: Lighthouse Keeper

Skills required: 

High level of fitness (the commute involves a lot of stairs).

Exceptional eyesight.

A head for heights.

Top notch organisational skills and a tidy mind.

Resourcefulness (particularly with reference to food preparation as deliveries can be sparse).

Experience of exterior decorating (on a large scale) would be helpful.

Must be able to confidently change a lightbulb.

Personality:

Must be capable of working independently.

An enjoyment of one’s own company would be an advantage. 

Happy to use one’s own initiative. 

Able to find the joy in solitude. 

An appreciation of seagulls would be an advantage.

And did we mention the solitude? 

Experience:

It’s probably best if you don’t have too much life experience; you’ll only miss it. 

Applicants who self-isolated for long periods during lockdown are encouraged to apply. 

In return, we can offer a fabulous coastal location, excellent views and plenty of opportunity for self-improvement (with the emphasis on ‘self’). Plenty of time off during daylight hours. While you will be required to work all night shifts, you will have the opportunity to read for pleasure while working the light - just one line at a time. 

As you may have noticed, we got just a little overexcited by our ‘Outing’ feature on lighthouses in our March issue. It’s a ripping read, whether you’re a fan of lighthouses, or are yet to discover their charms.

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More from our March issue…

More ideas for outings…

Sponsored post | Easter and Alfresco Dining

With lockdown restrictions easing, our outdoor spaces are set to become the backdrop to some epic gatherings, so we asked the experts at Macknade to share their top tips for al fresco entertaining.

Terrific Tables
Make your outdoor table a work of art! For an Easter theme, hand decorate eggs as a centre piece, or as a cute alternative to name cards. Seasonal bouquets from Macknade’s florist will add pretty touches to your table and are now available to order online for local delivery!.

Beautiful BBQs
Gone are the days when burnt burgers and undercooked chicken were the typical British BBQ fayre. The Big Green Egg has hatched! So much more than the average BBQ and available from Macknade in a variety of sizes, they’ll revolutionise the way you cook outdoors.

Fabulous Feasts
Huzzah for the Macknade Easter Recipe Box! Designed to feed six, each dish can either be cooked outside or prepared in advance with minimal fuss, so you can spend more time with your loved ones. Each recipe box comes with a choice of main course, featuring either aubergine and Kentish potato moussaka, butterflied leg of lamb with a salsa verde, or char siu marinaded pork rib eye. There’s also a variety of extras available, including a selection of wines to pair with your dishes, seasonal vegetables, a scrumptious lemon posset with rhubarb compote and a cheese board.

Perfect Picnics
Not all of us have gardens, so find a perfect spot in the park with your loved ones to enjoy eating al fresco. Pick up some delicious cheeses from Macknade’s Delicatessen counter, order a deli box online, or opt for a Colomba cake to share, plus a bottle or two of wine and you’re all set for the perfect celebration.

To order online or to visit Macknade in Faversham or Ashford, head to macknade.com.

Recipe: Goose egg lemon curd

In general, weather conditions allowing, geese lay from about the middle of February until mid-May. What a joy it is to find that first egg, pure white in colour, just like goose feathers.

It’s a sign that spring is arriving. One goose egg is equivalent to three chicken eggs, but the proportion of yolk to white is higher, adding richness when used in baking. Lemon curd made with goose eggs is in a class of its own. The neon-yellow shines through the jar. Try to find the freshest possible eggs – your local farmers’ market is probably the best bet.

Goose egg lemon curd

MAKES 4 X 225G JARS
finely grated zest and juice of 8 large unwaxed lemons
400g granulated sugar
200g unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
2 goose eggs, lightly beaten

1 Put the grated lemon zest and juice, sugar and unsalted butter into a heatproof bowl and place it over a pan of simmering water, ensuring that the base of the bowl does not come into contact with the water.
2 Stir occasionally until the sugar has dissolved and the butter has
melted. The mixture should be nice and warm, but not hot or the eggs will curdle.
3 Strain the beaten eggs through a sieve into the bowl.
4 Using a balloon whisk, whisk the curd gently for about 15 mins, until it thickens to a custard-like consistency and feels heavy on the whisk.
5 Remove the bowl from the heat and leave to cool, stirring occasionally. Pour the curd into sterilised jars and seal.
6 Store in the fridge and use within 28 days.

From Fern Verrow: A Year Of Recipes From A Farm And Its Kitchen by Jane Scotter and Harry Astley. Photographs by Tessa Traeger (Quadrille)

This recipe was originally published in The Simple Things Issue 45, which you can order from our online store. Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

From our March issue…

More spring recipes…

A fish and chip shop tour of Britain

Forget whether you have jam and then cream or cream and then jam on your scone, the most divisive culinary choices in Britain must be fish and chips.

Here we celebrate the glorious differences between chippies across the nation and discover a few chippy treasures (and a few battered horrors) we didn’t know existed. 

What’s your poisson?

There’s a definite north/south divide here: haddock is the most popular choice in the north while cod is the fish of choice in the south. In major cities and chi chi seaside towns, you might find fancier items such as crayfish tails and Dover sole but, try as they might, nothing truly beats simple crunchy fish and fat chips. If you want to branch out a little, there’s always a fish cake to tickle your fancy, and if you’re in Yorkshire, you might be lucky and get a Yorkshire Fish Cake (originally from Sheffield), which is made up of fish sandwiched between two slices of potato, battered; all your fish and chip raw materials in one easy, crunchy parcel. 

Chips with everything

Let’s face it, the chips are almost as important as the fish in this illustrious duo, if not more so. Chippy chips (or chipper chips, depending on your location) should be Proper Chips; hunks of potato in various sizes, occasionally with a bit of skin left on. French fries and skinny chips have no place here. 

In some areas of Britain they’ve stopped even pretending the chips aren’t the main event, and we admire that. In London, wet chips (with gravy or curry sauce) make up a fine meal in their own right. In the Midlands you might find chips served with gravy and peas or beans, known as a pea mix or a bean mix, and probably two of your five a day. While in the Black Country, orange is the new black and you can buy Orange Chips, which are chips coated in batter and turmeric or paprika and deep fried. 

What to put on your chips (or dip your chips in)

Salt and vinegar happens all over the UK but down south it’s pretty much de rigeur and there’s not an awful lot more choice, unless you’re going for ketchup or fancy yourself as continental and have your chips with mayonnaise. 

Gravy is found more commonly in the north, though the preponderance of pie shops in London means ‘liquor’ (or gravy to you and me) has made its way onto the capital’s chippy scene, too. Whether you pour the stuff all over your chips or delicately dip is more a matter of class (and whether you’re wearing a dry-clean only top). 

Of course, the chip condiment to end all chip condiments must be ‘chippy sauce’ - a mix of vinegar and brown sauce or simply brown sauce and water. If you’re new to this and are offered ‘salt’n’soss’ in a fish and chip shop in the north, that’s what you’re getting. Say ‘yes’!

But ‘things that go on chips’ vary from one area to another. In Newcastle you’ll find Bolognese and chips, in Liverpool Salt and Pepper Chinese Chips, in Cardiff cheese, chips and curry sauce, and in Weymouth, comforting cheese, chips and beans is considered a local speciality.

And what of the best bits… the crispy bits?

The leavings at the bottom of the fryer have long been recognised as being the best bits. Once upon a glorious time, they were free and considered the rightful property of children and teens, who hadn’t the money for a meal but could usually cobble together enough from between the sofa cushions to buy a buttered bun into which kindly fish and chip shop owners would add ‘scraps’.  Or if the sofa was ungenerous, you could just have them out of newspaper.

But were they called ‘scraps’ in your home town? In Lincolnshire they’re often ‘bits’, in South Wales, ‘scrumps’. In Yorkshire they’re sometimes ‘scrags’ and in Cornwall they’re ‘screeds’. They’re ‘scratchings’ in Leicestershire but ‘fish bits’ in Scotland. But whatever you called them, we’d like to start a campaign to make them free again. 

And while we’re as big a fan of a Marks and Spencer dinner as the next man, on principle we eschew their tubs of M&S Chip Shop Batter Bits. At £1.05, that’s a gentrification too far, we think. 

Give peas a chance

Mushy peas are a northern staple but available everywhere and we don’t think you should trust a chippie that doesn’t offer them. Some pea purveyors have gone still further, however.

We’d like to give a metaphorical medal to those chippies on the south coast that are proficient in the alchemy that is making mushy pea fritters. How you envelop something that is essentially liquid in another liquid and get the whole thing into hot oil is beyond our kitchen skillset. 

In Nottingham, we’re told they serve mint sauce on their peas, which seems like such a grand idea, we can’t believe we’d not thought of it ourselves.

Pea wet, meanwhile, (the reduced liquid left from cooking dried peas, or simply skimmed off the top of the mushy peas) proliferates in chip shops in Cumrbia, Lancashire, Durham and Yorkshire, and was apparently an acceptable breakfast (with bread) as far back as the 17th century. 

And finally...

We must make mention of all the eclectic and surprising non-fish-and-chips items available in various hallowed corners of this sceptred isle, from Cumbrian patties (mince, encased in mash, battered and fried), to rag puddings in Oldham (minced meat and onions wrapped in suet pastry and cooked in a cheesecloth), via faggot and pea batches in Coventry (speaks for itself) to the Wigan kebab (essentially a pie in a buttered barm - you need a big mouth and a big napkin for this one). 

And in this category, Wigan emerges as the clear winner, with not only that potato and meat pie sandwich (why have only one carb when you can have three, after all?) but also the fabulously monikered Smack Barm Pey Wet: deep-fried potato with salt and vinegar served in a buttered barm with a drizzling of pea wet. Wigan, we salute you (and pray for your arteries).

Whether you like your haddock and chips with white bread and butter and a cuppa, or your scampi tails accompanied by prosecco and tartare sauce, the diversity of British fish and chips is certainly something to celebrate. 

In our March issue we take a look back at takeaways over the years, from oyster stalls on the banks of the Thames to McDonald’s Chicken Katsu nuggets. 

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More from our March issue…

More food to comfort…

Build your own | Kitchen Sink Drama

Take a pinch of righteous anger, a sprinkling of political disappointment and a good dollop of marital misery and you can make your very own Kitchen Sink Drama in minutes!

Life has been a little more gritty than usual for most of us recently, and we’ve all spent more time at the kitchen sink than we would in normal times. We’re thinking that before the predicted artistic revolution of ‘roaring 2020s’ arrives, we must surely be due a kitchen sink revival. 

With that in mind, we’ve decided to pen a short kitchen sink drama of our own, and we’d love you to join in the fun. Phone a friend of family member with a talent for writing (or just a tendency to the dramatic), choose six items from the following list and build your own kitchen sink drama. Start with a gritty location somewhere in Great Britain, decide on a scenario and build your story around your six items. We’ll take any messages from The Royal Court theatre while you’re busy. Go!

1. A north of England accent, Salford for preference

2. An angry young man, preferably wearing a grubby white vest, reading a left-wing tract aggressively

3. A secret but unwanted pregnancy

4. A difficult conversation about communism over the dinner table

5. A youthful and hot-headed idealist with a ‘jolly good sort’ name, such as Helen or Jo

6. An amiable but awkward lodger

7. The Sunday papers, strewn messily across the floor

8. An endless basket of ironing and a utilitarian-looking ironing board that’s seen some action

9. A cameo featuring a future Labour party MP*

10. A Raleigh bicycle, leaned rakishly against the set somewhere

If you love a kitchen sink but could have enough of the angry young men, turn to page 112 of our March issue, where we’ve gathered together some of the most covetable kitchen sinks we’ve seen in our My Place feature. The one above belongs to Aisling Kirwan @mylimestonehome. 

*It’s true. Hazel Blears did in fact appear as a street urchin in the 1961 film of Shelagh Delany’s A Taste of Honey. 

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More from our March issue…

More creative fun…

Make | Homemade Cream Cleanser

A good spring clean always gives us a bit of a lift, and making your very own, natural products will add an extra level of satisfaction

This fresh-smelling DIY cream cleanser tackles stubborn shower scum and helps lift rust from stainless steel. It makes around 230g

180g bicarbonate of soda
20 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
2 drops tea tree essential oil
3 tbsp pure liquid castile soap, plus more if needed

Equipment: Medium bowl, mixing spoon and an airtight jar

1 In a mixing bowl, combine the bicarbonate of soda and essential oils. While stirring, slowly pour in the castile soap and mix until it becomes a smooth paste.
2 Transfer to a small airtight jar or similar container to store. It can dry out over long periods, if that happens, add a little more castile soap and mix.

To use: Add 1 tsp or more to a clean cloth. Run the cream over the surface to be cleaned, lightly scrubbing until any dirt and grime comes away. Rinse or wipe the surface clean.

This project is taken from Home By Natural Harry: DIY Recipes for a Tox-free, Zero-waste Life by Harriet Birrell (Hardie Grant). Photography: Nikole Ramsay and Ed Sloane. We’ve featured more of the recipes in our March issue, including a glass cleaner and a stain remover.

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More from our March issue…

More spring cleaning inspiration…

Recipe | kedgeree for a weekend at home

A lovely, lazy dish for brunch, lunch, or whenever you like…

We’ve all spent more time at home recently. While we’re all dreaming of a weekend away, why not have a ‘weekend away at home’, with fancy food, time to sit over the lunch table and chat and plenty of board games and books. This hot smoked salmon kedgeree is delicious served hot or cold. The brunch dish was first given the royal seal of approval by Queen Victoria, and if it’s good enough for her, it’s good enough for us.

Serves 4

2 tbsp ghee
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp grated ginger
2 bay leaves
½ tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp fennel seeds
1 tbsp mustard seeds
1 leek, chopped (white part only)
2 large tomatoes, finely chopped
750g of cooked basmati rice
2 tbsp medium curry powder
Juice of 1 lemon
1½ tsp sea salt flakes (or to taste)
200g cooked hot smoked salmon fillets
2 boiled eggs, cut into quarters
Lemon wedges, fresh coriander and dill to serve

1 Heat the ghee in a large sauté pan or frying pan over a medium heat. Add the garlic, ginger, bay leaves, cumin, fennel and mustard seeds and sauté for a few seconds until the seeds start to crackle and become fragrant.
2 Add the leek and sauté for a further 1-2 mins, or until it starts to soften and caramelise, then add the tomatoes and cook for another 1-2 mins, or until they’re glazed and softened.
3 Add the cooked basmati rice, curry powder, lemon juice and salt and mix well, ensuring that the rice breaks down and all the spices are evenly incorporated throughout.
4 Flake the cooked salmon fillets into the pan and mix thoroughly, taking care not to break up the salmon flakes too much. Reduce the heat, adding a couple of tablespoons of water if it looks a little dry. Cover and cook for a further 2-3 mins, or until the dish is completely warmed through.
5 Spoon onto a platter or serving dish and garnish with the boiled egg quarters, lemon wedges, fresh coriander and dill.

Cook’s note: Use ready-cooked basmati rice to make this recipe super-quick and easy to prepare.

This kedgeree recipe by Lousie Gorrod is part of our Weekend Away at Home feature from our March issue. You can find the rest of the menu, including a garlic dip, rosemary spiced nuts and a triple chocolate cake - as well as lots of ideas for making a weekend away out of a weekend at home - starting on page 48. Photography by Emma Croman.

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More from our March issue…

More comfort food for ‘at home’ days…

Magic | Willows

What’s that whispering in the breeze? Could it be elves? 

There’s something rather magical about a willow and the way they’ve insinuated themselves into cultures across the globe, waving breezily on the banks of the river in Kenneth Grahame’s stories of the riverbank one moment, and standing beautiful and blue on Willow Pattern plates the next.  

Go as far back as ancient Greece and you’ll know that Orpheus was said to have gained his gifts for music and poetry by touching the willow trees in a grove sacred to Persephone. Shakespeare featured willows frequently, too, though by then they were getting rather a bad press, with Viola begging an unrequited love to “make me a willow cabin at your gate”, Ophelia falling to her death from a broken willow branch, and Desdemona having her death foretold by a song about the trees. Shakespeare’s heroines don’t have a great experience with willows, all told.  

In Japan ghosts are said to dwell where willows grow, while in British folklore willows are believed to be capable of uprooting themselves and stalking travellers.  

But despite this, the trees have also been strong symbols of good fortune and positive magic.  

European folklore told that the sound a weeping willow makes in the breeze is the sound of elves whispering. Perhaps they were begging the wood to reveal the secrets of those who have told their innermost thoughts to a willow, to have them bound safe forever in its wood, as the story goes. As any Harry Potter aficionado will tell you, willow makes for the most magical of wands (and the strongest of broomsticks - well, if it’s good enough for cricket bats…) 

Meanwhile, Native Americans tied willow branches to their boats in order to protect them in a storm.  And if all that is not protection enough for you, folklore tells that if you knock on the trunk of a willow it will disappear your bad luck for you, which is where the superstition of knocking on wood was born.  

Superstition aside, willow bark has been used for thousands of years both as a pain killer and an anti-inflammatory. The Native Americans sometimes referred to it as the Toothache Tree. They were likely onto something there, as willow bark contains salicin, a natural form of aspirin. Magic indeed, when your wisdom teeth are giving you trouble and knocking on wood has done you no good.  

In our March issue, we meet some real people who perform magic with willows; the mother-daughter team at Willow With Roots willowwithroots.co.uk/, who weave their homegrown willow into everything from lampshades and magic wands to sculptures and garden hideaways. Now, if they’d like to make us a willow cabin at anyone’s gate, we’d probably be happy to forget all about unrequited love. Read more on page 60. 

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More from our March issue…

More folklore and fun…

Recipe | Leek & Thyme Flatbreads

A new idea to help use your early spring veg box well

Traditionally known as the ‘hungry gap’, early spring is the time of year when home-grown seasonal veg is harder to come by as winter veg comes to the end of its run but many spring varieties are yet to arrive. This may mean your weekly veg box feels like it is lacking excitement, but with a few new recipes ,there’s always a way to liven up a leek!

You could easily transform this crispyon-the-bottom, fluffy on the top flatbread into a pizza but, equally, the dough with more modest toppings is more akin to an Indian naan bread or a Persian bread made for dunking into dips. Whichever way you go, it’s delicious and a brilliant staple.

Makes 6-8

7g dried yeast or 150g active sourdough starter
4 tbsp lukewarm water
500g strong white flour
Sea salt, plus extra for topping 225ml cool water
2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for kneading and glossing
2 leeks, thinly sliced
A handful of thyme, leaves only (you can infuse the stalks in vinegar with garlic skins for a fantastically tasty garlic and thyme vinegar)
A crumbling of goat’s cheese, blue cheese, mozzarella or grated cheddar (optional)

1 Tip the yeast into a large mixing bowl and whisk in the warm water until frothy; if using a sourdough starter, simply mix in the warm water. Add the flour, a pinch of salt and cool water. Leek and thyme flatbreads
2 Use your hands or a spoon to bring the dough together. Add the oil and knead the dough for 5-10 mins, or until smooth and stretchy. Add a little more oil as you knead to keep it moist and prevent it from sticking.
3 Put the dough in a clean bowl. Cover with a plate, a lid, or clingfilm and set in a warm place for about 30 mins, or until it has doubled in size. If you’ve used sourdough in place of yeast, it will need longer to rise – at least 2 hrs or overnight.
4 Once the dough has risen, heat your oven grill to high and warm a large frying pan over a high heat.
5 Roll out pinches of dough (roughly golf-ball size) on a floured surface. Roll them thin for crispy flatbreads or about 2cm thick for fluffier (more naan-style flatbreads). Thicker flatbreads keep better.
6 Put the dough on the hot, dry pan. Drizzle a little oil on top, then add the chopped leeks, thyme and cheese, if you’re using it. Add a finishing gloss of oil and season with salt and pepper.
7 Once the bottoms are firm and look like they’ve been in a tandoor oven, remove from the pan and put them under the grill. Cook until golden on top. Repeat with the remaining dough.

Cook’s note: The dough will keep in the fridge for a week. It also freezes beautifully if you want to make it ahead of time or have any left over.

This recipe is just one of the ideas from our Veg Box Suppers feature by Rachel de Thample with photography by Ali Allen, which also includes creamed kale, coconut, cardamon and beetroot soup, rhubarb frangipane tart and an array of veg box pickles.

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More veggie suppers…

March | a could do list

We hope you might find something here you’d like to do (but no pressure)

At The Simple Things, we’re all about finding the small pleasures in life and making the most of them.. Every month, we put together a ‘could-do list’ (because we don’t believe in ‘to-do lists’) of things y ou might like to do, see or think about. Feel free to choose on or two, do them all (though probably not all at once) or just read and enjoy the idea of doing them. Sometimes just thinking about things you could do is the most fun of all.

Whatever you do, or don’t do, have a very happy March!

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More from our March issue…

More of our could-do lists…

Celebrating | A Really Good Garden Centre

We’re on a mission to find the best garden centres in the UK and we’d like your help

Lockdown has rekindled our love affairs with many simple pleasures: reading, baking bread, drawing… but perhaps the simple thing that made the biggest difference was gardening, and not just gardening, but very specifically the joy of a trip to the garden centre. 

A peculiarly but very jolly British institution, garden centres remained open for most of lockdown and, as the nation has once again begun tinkering with houseplants, tidying borders, planting up veg patches and eyeing up more ambitious plans such as willow teepees and outdoor bars, garden centres have been there to provide. In fact, so keen were we to get out in the garden, that during April 2020 there were more Google searches on when garden centres would reopen than on what was happening with school closures.

And little wonder. For a long time (not lonly during lockdown), garden centres have been our happy place. Memories of childhood Sundays spent walking the long aisles behind our parents, fingering geranium leaves and enjoying the unmistakable smell of compost remind us of a simpler time, when garden centres were exciting for being the only thing open on a Sunday. 

Our childhood selves would froth with excitement, though, at the wondrous things on offer at a garden centre these days. Many small chains and independent garden centres have become destinations in themselves, with brilliant cafes and restaurants (that we can’t wait to sample once again soon) offering homecooked meals that outstrip many a local pub; farm shops stocked with jars and sacks of local produce; stores selling artisan beers and wines, crafted gifts and covetable clothes (gone are the days when you were impressed to see a pair of green wellies and a Barbour in a garden centre). Many have even become hubs for creativity and outdoorsiness, putting on workshops and courses for the green-fingered and gardening wannabes alike.

We’ve always been excited to find a Really Good Garden Centre to visit, and we think we should all be sharing that knowledge with each other. So, we’re asking you to send us your recommendations and we’ll put together a Simple Things Guide to Really Good Garden Centres across the UK. Tell us about the RGGCs near you - the ones that have fabulous selections of plants as well as tool shops you can get lost in, yes. But also the ones that always did the best coffee, had the most useful shops and the prettiest views from their cafes. And also those with the most helpful and knowledgeable staff and the ones that run excellent clubs and workshops. We want to pinpoint the garden centres that are an oasis of green in cities, and also those that have over the yearsbecome busy hubs and a place to meet within rural communities.

You can comment in the box below or on our Really Good Garden Centre posts on Facebook and Instagram. We’ll collate the results and share them with you at a later date, so that as the world opens up again, we can all make the most of them, and say a bit of a thank you to these places that became little beacons of hope for many of us in the last year.

More garden inspiration…

From our December issue…

February | a final thought

Taken from Be Wild Be Free by Amber Fossey (Harper Collins), artist and mental health expert who instagrams at @zeppelinmoon.

It’s been a slightly surreal few months, and we liked the way this illustration by Amber Fossey from our back cover gave us a bit of a new perspective on it all. Sometimes looking at something in a slightly upside-down way is all you need to gain a new view of the world.

We hope you enjoyed our February ‘Heart’ issue, and it gave you a bit of heart, and something of a lift during the last days of winter. Spring Proper is inches away now and our March issue is in shops from tomorrow or you can order it via our online shop.

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More from our February issue…

More wit and wisdom from our back cover…

Why collecting is self caring

Thought yoga and meditation were the way to happiness, health and enlightenment? You might find your collection of Cornishware or coins is just as effective

Collecting often gets a bad name psychologically, with many believing that people collect in order to fill a hole that is missing in their lives, perhaps things they weren’t able to have as a child, or were unable to afford previously. There’s also a school of thought that collecting is something built deep within us, as a way of displaying to potential mates all our many and glorious possessions. And don’t ask Freud about his theory on collecting, unless you have a strong stomach. 

But psychologists now believe that there may be many positive benefits to collecting. And we’ve collected a few of them here:

Collecting can make you happy
Hunting for something and finding it, whether it’s a rare stamp, part of a coffee set, or a teddy bear, gives us a sense of joy. And having something new and beautiful in our homes is always a pleasure. We tend to collect things we love so having those things around us increases our happiness. 

Collecting can create community
Whether you’re attending conferences and collectors’ fairs in person or simply talking to others online about your collection, a collection can give you a link to others with the same passion and perhaps even create new friendships. It also gives us a sense of belonging to something bigger than ourselves.

Collecting can reduce anxiety
Spending time absorbed in any activity, such as arranging your collection or searching out new finds is a stress reducer. It allows you to escape from everyday life and focus completely on something else. 

Collecting allows us to be childlike
Children tend to be more natural collectors than adults, and peak ‘collector’ age is about 10. It’s something we tend to do more when we have lots of time on our hands, so children, people who have retired and, let’s face it, quite a lot of us in lockdown, are bigger collectors, and it’s lovely to rediscover that pleasure and pride we took in collections as children; like stepping back to a simpler time. 

Collecting improves our knowledge and brain function
As well as the obvious increase in knowledge about your subject area, being a collector helps with memory function and brain power, as you stretch your grey cells, remembering facts, dates and where you put that Penny Black...

You can meet more collectors in this month’s My Place pages which feature some beautiful collections from Instagram. such as the one by Nicky Guymer @somedaystuidio.co.uk pictured above.

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More from our February issue…

More collections…

Eco dilemmas | digital working vs paper

In our new series for Miscellany, we answer the green questions you were too afraid – or too confused – to ask.  This month: is digital working really greener than paper?  

This answer may at first seem obvious but it’s worth remembering digital documents are not carbon neutral. By 2040, if current trends continue, storing our digital data will account for around14% of global emissions – the equivalent CO2 impact of the entire US today. So, while cutting out unnecessary use of paper is a good idea, a virtual declutter will also reduce the environmental impact of your work day: 

• Make the effort to regularly look at what you’re storing digitally, deleting documents you no longer need. 

• Many internet activities can be made greener: switch to an eco-friendly search engine that carbon-offsets the emissions from searches (such as by planting trees), and don’t leave music or videos playing on your computer. 

• Change your email habits. A 2019 study concluded that if each person in the UK sent one less email a day, national COÇ emissions would be reduced by just over 16,333 tonnes. 

• When you use paper, take time to figure out those printer settings so you can print doublesided and in black and white as a default, use scrap paper for notes and lists, and make sure you recycle everything 

 The answers to our eco-dilemmas are taken from Is It Really Green? by Georgina Wilson Powell (published by DK)  

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More eco ideas…