Sponsored post | Somewhere to Flock To

With summer in full swing, a Blackdown Shepherd Hut provides the ideal getaway to make lasting memories, whether glamping or at the bottom of your garden

August, it’s when most of us tend to make a little extra time to enjoy the best that summer has to offer – sunny days that stretch late into warm evenings, dining al fresco and an opportunity to gather good friends and family to both catch up and make future, long-lasting memories.

After the most unusual of years, exotic travel is still a while off, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create that holiday feeling, especially with the escapism that a Blackdown Shepherd Hut provides – be it in your garden or a rented hut at one of many glamping locations throughout the UK. See shepherdhutbreaks.co.uk for inspiration.

Even if this year’s summer holiday destination is not much further than the bottom of the garden, there are still plenty of ways to switch off, relax and take a break from life’s daily challenges. After all, a change is as good as a rest.

Lovingly crafted, a Blackdown Shepherd Hut offers a bespoke space for you to enjoy time with your loved ones. Picture a cosy hut around which to idle away the hours, with a wood-fired hot tub or a swinging day bed to stretch out on and catch up on that essential summertime reading. As the sun dips, get a fire pit going and gather around to keep the festivities rolling late into the night. For inspiration, visit Blackdown’s display garden in Ilminster, Somerset, where you’ll see its own fire pit, expertly crafted by Fire Pits UK. It’s the ideal opportunity to huddle in a little closer, share stories and good times and to toast marshmallows for a delicious evening sugar kick.

One thing’s for sure, a Blackdown Shepherd Hut is built to stand the test of time – as will the memories made spent enjoying these beautiful spaces.

Get the festivities flowing

Planning your own shepherd hut shindig? Here are a few ideas to create a memorable get-together

1 Bring out the blankets
Each Blackdown Shepherd Hut is cleverly designed to make use of every inch of space, so you’ll have plenty of storage for additional blankets and cushions. Great for cosying up as the evening temperature cools a little.

2 Don’t worry about the weather
Whether it’s an awning off the side of a Blackdown Retreat Hut, or a Blackdown handcrafted Oak Canopy, there’s a solution to the great British weather. With options including Blackdown’s Oak Canopy Swinging Day Bed, there’s also a comfy spot to relax, come rain or shine.

3 Pretty up your space
Collect a couple of blooms from the garden or some excess foliage and display in small vases, jars or even milk bottles. It’s a simple touch, but one that’s sure to delight your guests.

4 Savour the veggies
Colourful and caramelised on the grill, veggie kebabs will suit all tastes, either as a tasty main or a sensational side. And even if the heavens open, there’s always the hob in your shepherd hut to whip up a last-minute plan B.

5 Sweet like candy
A retro-style pick ‘n mix will go down a storm, as will ice cream or summer fruits. Simply grab a stack of bowls, serve up and satisfy that sweet tooth.

6 It’s cheesy, but… It’s a classic
For those who prefer something a little more savoury, serve up a cheese board with plenty of crackers, chutneys and grapes, all guaranteed to delight your guests.

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

Make | a Jasmine Garland for your hair or your wall

Whether you’re going to San Francisco or not, now is the time of year to be wearing flowers in your hair for sure.

This easy make is just one of the ideas for things to do with Jasmine from our July Heart, Body and Soul feature. Once you’ve crowned yourself Queen of Summer, you might like to whip up the jasmine body butter and even use the flowers in some cookery to make jasmine tea and honey chicken or tofu skewers, or the dark chocolate and orange tart with jasmine cream. 

But first things first; let’s get that garland made.

Tendrils of jasmine, with their star shaped flowers, lend themselves for use in a garland that you can wear in your hair or hang on your wall.

You will need:

Several strands of flowering jasmine

Scissors or secateurs

Floral wire

1 Snip off any broken leaves or petals from your jasmine strands.

2 Find your most robust strand and wrap it around the crown of your head to get a rough size for your garland. Take it off your head and wrap some wire around the ends
to secure.

3 With the remaining strands, continue to wrap the garland in both directions covering up or tucking in the ends of the strands where you can, using a small twist of wire to fasten. Keep going until you have a garland that pleases you!

Maker’s note: The circle can be whatever size you like, but for a garland to wear it will need to be around 25cm diameter or go large for a jasmine wreath to hang on the wall.

 Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our July issue…

More edible flower ideas…

Competition | Win an Organic BBQ Box worth £94

Fire up the barbie and get your taste buds tingling thanks to Coombe Farm Organic’s great range of award-winning meats

Those sounds and smells that signify it’s summer – the distant shrieks of laughter, the hum of lawns being mowed and the unmistakable smokiness of barbecues being fired up.

When it comes to organising a barbecue, the team at Coombe Farm Organic have it covered thanks to its award-winning, Soil Association-certified meat. With grass-fed beef and lamb and free-range outdoor pork, Somerset-based Coombe Farm Organic also partners with other Soil Association-certified farmers to produce a wider range of organic meats, including free-range chicken and duck from the Blackdown Hills and Sharpham Park venison.

The Soil Association stamp ensures that animal welfare is a top priority, as well as encouraging biodiversity across the land. Coombe Farm Organic’s field-to-fork philosophy – managing the supply chain from start to finish – also means that its customers can have complete confidence in what they’re eating.

Customers can purchase individual products or choose from a selection of meat boxes that have been thoughtfully created to cover a range of needs and all are delivered nationwide the following day. Included in the selection is the Organic Steak box, the Organic Everyday box and the Monthly Organic Meat box, with cuts suited to each season. The Large Organic Barbecue box features a selection of ribs, chicken cuts, kebab meat and classic sausages and burgers, along with rolls, and organic ketchup and mustard. So, with the food sorted, all you need do is keep an eye on the weather and get that grill going.

How to enter

Coombe Farm Organic is giving away a Large Organic Barbecue box, worth £94.40 each, to four lucky readers. Enter by clicking the button below and answering the question before the closing date of 8 September 2021.

Terms & Conditions

Four winners will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. The winners cannot transfer the prize or swap it for cash. You’ll find our full terms and conditions on p.127 and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

For more information and to see the full range, visit coombefarmorganic.co.uk

Playlist | Sporting Tunes

“I don’t like cricket
I love it”

Listen here

DJ: Frances Ambler

Recipe | Muhammara

A quick and easy dip to bring a bit of Syrian sunshine and spice to your garden gathering

Summer is definitely a good time for cold dips and a bit of gentle spice. So let us introduce you to the unctuous, nutty, slightly spicy, Muhammara. The recipe is from our feature Food, Family, Friends, in which Anas Atassi introduces us to the food, culture and community of his native Syria.

Muhammara is a really easy recipe to put together and is great mixed with houmous, or on its own, with flatbreads, raw veg and whatever you like to dip into it. Best served alongside cold drinks in the garden.

Serves 4

150g roasted red peppers from a jar

1 tsp red pepper paste

1 hot red chilli pepper

75g walnuts

50g flatbread or breadcrumbs

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1 tbsp pomegranate molasses

Juice of 1/2 lemon

To serve:

Extra-virgin olive oil

Pomegranate molasses

Small handful flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

Small handful of walnuts,
roughly chopped

In a food processor, pulse all the ingredients for about 2 mins. It should be thick and keep some texture from the walnuts. Drizzle with oil and pomegranate molasses. Garnish with chopped parsley and walnuts.

Taken from Sumac: Recipes and Stories from Syria, by Anas Atassi (Murdoch Books)

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our July issue…

More ideas for outdoor eating…

Outings | Places to Seek out Cool

When the temperature rises, there are plenty of places to enjoy the cool

It’s lovely to see the sunshine out but if you’re in need of a little relief from it, seek out the shade, the cool and the dark. Cold places that you might wrap up in during winter (or simply avoid), in summer become welcome retreats to relish. Here are a few places to enjoy the cool on hot days.

Churches

If the heat gives you the urge to throw yourself down on the nearest cold stone floor, get thee to the nearest church where being prostate is less likely to be frowned upon. Churches and cathedrals with cloisters, crypts and catacombs will win you extra cool points. But, not only do they provide a refreshingly cool environment, churches can be a quiet and soothing place to sit and think, as well as an opportunity to appreciate some of the most beautiful art and architecture on public display. 

Caves

In the hot weather, it’s easy to understand why Bilbo Baggins was so reluctant to leave his hobbit hole. There’s a cave for every kind of troglodyte, whether you prefer your cavities natural or manmade, inland or on the seashore. Their temperatures of around 8 to 10C provide the necessity – nay giddy pleasure – of being able to pull on a pullover. Seek them out in the gardens of stately homes - a much cooler place to lounge than a chaise longue. 

High places

If you want to catch a breeze, head to the top of a hill or – even better – the top of a tall tower on a tall hill. It doesn’t need to mean a hike up a mountain though - just an area that is slightly higher than average. According to the Met Office, temperatures fall by around 5 to 10C for every 1000 metres you go up, making somewhere like the Cotswolds, for example, significantly cooler than the nearby Severn Valley.

Someone else’s air con

Precious objects and manuscripts require carefully controlled temperatures, so galleries and museums also make for cultured and cool visitors. A well-timed trip to the cinema allows you the ultimate indulgence of a couple of hours in a properly cool room. You could even order an indecently icy slush drink and experience the thrill of added brain freeze. For the ultimate quick fix, take a trip to the supermarket. Skip straight to the chilled food aisle and devote some serious time to debating the merits of petit pois versus garden peas. The M&S picnic section is also a great place for the overheated to linger – although you’re likely to leave weighed down with fancy stuffed olives and the like, considerably lighter of purse.

Woods and forests

For sun that twinkles, rather than blazes, seek out the sanctuary of a secluded forest. Wooded areas create their own microclimates that make them particularly enticing in hotter weather. The natural filter of the leaves and branches make them seem cooler. They’re also less windy, as the trees act as a natural windbreak, making for ideal picnic conditions: just take a look at Manet’s 1860s painting Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe for inspiration (stripping off optional).

These ideas for cool places to spend hot days in were originally published in issue 38 of The Simple Things. For more ideas on places to stay cool this summer, don’t miss our feature on rivers, waterways and lakes in our current July issue, in shops now, or available from our online store. 

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our July issue…

More summer outings…

Sponsored post | Worth its Salt

With a bold new look Maldon salt continues to bring out the best in your cooking

What makes a truly delicious dish? Often, it’s that final twist – or pinch – of seasoning that really helps to bring flavours alive. For four generations, Maldon Salt has been handharvesting its famous pyramid-shaped salt flakes using the same, time-honoured techniques.

Based in the coastal town of Maldon, Essex, the Osborne family continue to produce a globally-recognised brand, loved by chefs and home cooks the world over. Used to enhance all manner of dishes, from savoury to sweet (see our tasty recipe below for Blackcurrant ripple ice cream) Maldon Salt continues to go from strength to strength. And, as it approaches it 140th anniversary, this family-run business is marking the occasion with a striking new look for its packaging, designed to look as good in your kitchen as it tastes in your food. Ideal to keep next to the cooker or on the table for fantastic flavour at your fingertips.

Blackcurrant Ripple Ice Cream

Serves 8
200g blackcurrants
2 tbsp sugar
Juice of ½ lemon
230g double cream
450g ricotta
800g condensed milk
2 tsp vanilla bean paste
Pinch of Maldon Salt

1 Start by making the blackcurrant ripple. Put the blackcurrants, sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan over a medium heat and allow to simmer for around 10 mins, or until it thickens and resembles jam. Tip the mixture into a bowl and place in the fridge to cool.
2 Meanwhile, to make the ice cream base, add the double cream to a large bowl and, using an electric or hand whisk, beat it until it forms stiff peaks. In a separate bowl, whisk together the ricotta, condensed milk and vanilla bean paste, along with a good pinch of Maldon Salt, then fold the double cream into the ricotta mix until smooth. Transfer to a freezer-safe container and place in the freezer.
3 After about 30 mins, remove the ice cream from the freezer and dollop some of the blackcurrant coulis across the top of it, then use a knife to ripple it through the ice cream. Return to the freezer and freeze overnight. Any leftover blackcurrant coulis can be drizzled over the ice cream just before serving. Cook’s note: If you don’t have fresh blackcurrants, frozen work just as well, although you may need to simmer the mixture for a little longer to thicken it. Try experimenting with other seasonal berries throughout the year, too.

Fact file | Bananarama

A few fascinating facts about one of our favourite all-female bands

1. Bananarama’s first demo tape was in Swahili, a cover of Black Blood’s Aie A Mwana.

2. The name ‘Bananarama’ was inspired by the Roxy Music song Pyjamarama - and bananas, because they felt they were exotic.

3. The first flat Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward shared was above the Sex Pistols’ rehearsal rooms in Denmark Street, London. The walls were covered in Johnny Rotten’s murals of Sid and Nancy, so Sara and Keren added their own names to the image, too. 

4. When Jacquie O’Sullivan replaced Siobhan Fahey, she rerecorded her vocals on I Want You Back and Nathan Jones.

5. Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward have been friends since they were four and growing up together in Bristol. 

6. After finding fame fast, they now admit they kitted out their first flats stealing sheets and towels from hotel rooms while they were touring. 

7. Keren Woodward is a classically trained pianist. 

8. And finally, a Simple Things/Banarama fun fact: Siobhan Fahey’s sister, Maire, was the editor of Prima magazine, a title also once held by TST editor Lisa Sykes. See we’re much less than six degrees of Kevin Bacon away from our eighties idols?!

We were inspired to find out more about Bananarama after reading the Looking Back feature on girl bands in our July issue. The issue also has a rather wonderful girl bands playlist in it, too, which we thoroughly recommend.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our July issue…

More musical appreciation…

Recipe | Matcha Tea Swiss Roll with Chocolate Filling

The unmistakable flavour of matcha is tempered by the rich chocolate and feather light sponge

This modern take on a traditional Swiss Roll is full of fresh Asian flavours (and sticky chocolate), ideal for a summery tea party in the garden or to round off a Japanese feast. It’s the finale to our Sunshine Sushi menu in our July issue, which is on sale now.

Serves 8

3 large eggs
75g caster sugar
75g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
20g matcha powder, extra to garnish

For the filling:

75g dark chocolate (min 70% cocoa)
100g butter, room temperature 150g icing sugar

To make:

1 Pre heat the oven to 200C/Fan 180C/Gas 6. Line a Swiss roll tin or baking tray with baking paper, leaving some overhang and have another piece of baking paper ready for rolling.

2 Add the eggs and sugar to a stand mixer and whisk on medium speed for 8 min (or whisk by hand) – the result should be light and airy and doubled in volume.

3 In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and matcha powder, then fold gently into the eggs and sugar.

4 Pour into the baking tray and cook for 8-10 mins. Remove from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack (you should be able to lift the sponge out via the baking paper). Remove the baking paper from the sponge and transfer to the fresh piece. At the short end of the sponge, score a line with a sharp knife about 4cm from the bottom being careful not to cut all the way through. Using the baking paper, roll the sponge up into the Swiss roll shape. It’s important this is done whilst the sponge is still warm to prevent it from cracking or refusing to roll. Set aside to cool completely.

5 Meanwhile, make the filling by melting the chocolate in a bain-marie. Beat the butter and sugar until smooth, then fold in the chocolate.

6 Once the sponge is cool, unroll carefully, removing the baking paper, then cover one side in filling using a palette knife. Roll the sponge up again, transfer to a serving plate and dust with matcha powder to serve.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our July issue…

More cakes to make…

Games | for campervans, caravans and tents

Gather round the foldy-up table and join us for some fun and games for small spaces

If you’re heading off camping this summer you’re probably planning a few games around the campfire. There’s nothing like staring into the flames over a hand of cards with a steaming mug of tea (or a whisky) by your side. 

But the reality of British weather means you need a back up plan, too, and we’re all about embracing the back-up plan. While basking in the great outdoors, under the stars on a warm night is a wonderful thing, we love just as much the cosiness of playing a game, crammed happily around a tiny table with hot drinks on the Primus and rain battering the roof (or canvas) over your head. 

Camping accommodation wasn’t built for large board games with many pieces. So here’s our round-up of games for small spaces that require few props, or nothing at all, and won’t end with someone’s tea being spilt during a particularly riotous round of charades. 

Monopoly Deal
Monopoly without the board and, better still, without the commitment of hours! This tiny travel version of the classic board game can be played in around 15 minutes.. Buy Monopoly Deal. 

Mini Jenga.

As much fun as the giant, building and balancing game, but fits easily into your rucksack and can be played on the teeniest of caravan furniture or on a fold-up camping table. Buy Mini Jenga.

Wink Murder

An oldie but a goodie. Take as many sheets of paper as you have players. Write ‘potential victim’ on all but one. Write ‘murderer’ on the last one. Chat, eat, drink and go about your business as usual. The murderer must secretly wink at others to ‘murder’ them without being spotted. If you are winked at you must silently count to five then enact a grisly ‘death’. If you think you have spotted the murderer you may accuse them by ordering them to turn over their card. 

Balderdash

All you need is a pen and paper for this. A dictionary is useful but you can also look up ‘Balderdash free words list’ on your phone to get you started. Take it in turns to choose an unusual word and secretly write down the definition. The other players make up their own plausible definitions. The person who picked the word then reads out all the definitions including the real one and everyone votes on which they think is the real word. Players score points for every person who votes for their ‘definition’. You get a point if you guess correctly, too. 

Bulls and Cows

For the mathematically inclined… One player writes down a secret 4-digit number. The other players take it in turns to guess it. Player one tells them how many they got right or wrong and how many were in their correct position. (Clue: it pays to write down each guess and how many were correct or incorrect and how many were in the right positions). By process of elimination someone will eventually work out the correct number. Good for anyone who has ever felt the pain of forgetting the combination to the padlock on the shed. And no, we’ve no idea why it’s called bulls and cows either.

Bananagrams

This is basically Scrabble but faster and with no board. Even more fun when camping and you have no access to a dictionary for anyone to check if you’re cheating or not. Buy Bananagrams. 

Find me on a Map

OK, we’ll admit we just made this one up but it’s great for when you’re in an area you don’t know well and want to know better. Get out the OS map. One person chooses a square and everyone takes it in turns to ask a question. Is there a church in your square? Is it close to water? Is it on a fold? You get the picture. The first person to get it goes first. Bonus points if you choose somewhere with a rude place name in. 

Ultimate Werewolf

Our favourite game of the moment, again in a very compact little cards-sized box. You need at least five players and are all given roles - as seers, witches, werewolves and more and you have to work out who the werewolf is amongst you. There’s an excellent app to make it more atmospheric but you can just play it with one of you as the ‘moderator’. Lots of fun and excellent for nights when there’s a storm howling outside your campervan. Buy Ultimate Werewolf. 

The After Eight Game

You will need a box of After Eights. Everyone sits around a table, tips their head back and places and After Eight on their forehead. The aim of the game is to move the After Eight down your face towards your mouth using only your facial muscles and gravity (no hands), and then eat it. Delightfully silly and immature and lots of fun. 

Pub Cricket

This is one for the way home in the car. You can play in teams or as individuals. Team one or person one goes in to bat. Every time you pass a pub you get a run for each leg in the name of the pub, so The Dog and Duck scores 6 (4 for the dog’s legs and 2 for the duck’s). The Coach and Horses would be 8, though you could probably argue for more horses based on the painting on the sign. You keep batting as long as every pub you pass has legs in. If you score no points (The King’s Arms, The Crown etc) you head back to the pavilion and someone else goes in to bat. You keep your score as it is for your next turn in to bat. 

If you’re inspired by the idea of living a campervan life, don’t miss the feature in our July issue about people who’ve adopted the campervan lifestyle in a more permanent way.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our July issue…

More camping inspiration…

Competition | Win a Millican bag for your everyday adventures

Based in the Lake District, Millican was founded to make a better alternative for the bag on your back.

Crafted to take you anywhere, from the commute to a wild swim, all bags feature external water-bottle pockets, laptop sleeves and all the pockets you could need for valuables and essentials. Woven into Millican’s fabrics are solutions that meet the exacting needs of backpacks that are used every day, in all environments, and that align with reducing our global impact. Weatherproof, lightweight and made to last a lifetime, all fabrics are made from 100 per cent recycled single-use plastics reclaimed from post-consumer waste.

This spring, Millican is offering three lucky oh readers a chance to win a companion for their everyday adventures. First prize will be a Millican Smith Roll Pack 15L (with pockets), worth £125, and the two runners-up will receive a Millican Core Roll Pack 20L, worth £80.

To enter, simply press the button below to answer this question: where is Millican bags based?

a. Yorkshire

b. The Lake District

c. Durham

Terms and conditions
The competition closes at 11.59pm on 28 July 2021. One winner and two runners-up will be selected at random from all the correct entries received and notified soon after. The winners cannot transfer the prize or swap them for cash. Bag colour choices are dependent on stock levels at the time of the competition closing. Details of our full terms and conditions can be found at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules

Biography | The real Mad Hatter

Get to know one of Wonderland’s most loved characters a little better

With midsummer upon us, and London’s V&A Museum’s Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition newly opened, we took some time in our July issue to consider a few life lessons from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
There’s sage advice in there for everyone, from always eating the cake, to not boring people about your cat, to (of course) staying curious.
In that spirit of curiosity, we decided to do a little digging into lesser-known aspects of Wonderland. So here, for your curiosity, is an introduction to the Real Mad Hatter.
Of course, the first thing to know is that Lewis Carroll never described him as the ‘Mad’ Hatter at all, only ‘Hatter’. But who was this mysterious millinered man?
Well, he was probably a chap called Theophilius Carter, who was also not a hatter but a purveyor of furniture with a shop at 48-49 High Street, Oxford and had possibly been at the same Oxford college as Carroll at the same time.
He was known as a local oddball who used to stand around outside his shop wearing a top hat at a rather rakish angle on the back of his head, and looking generally a bit unusual. It’s been asserted that John Tenniel, who illustrated the original Alice book, came to Oxford for the purpose of drawing him from life without his knowledge, though there’s no record of this being the case. Apparently, Tenniel’s illustrations are an uncanny likeness, however, of his rather obvious chin and juglandaceous face
Whether he was mad or not, is unclear but he was certainly an eccentric and also invented the ‘alarm clock bed’, a hare-brained contraption that would wake the sleeper by dropping him into a bath of cold water. Now, that would have successfully roused that sleeping dormouse. The alarm clock bed was shown at The Great Exhibition of 1851, apparently.
And, should you be interested in the answer to the Hatter’s riddle to Alice: “Why is a raven like a writing desk?“, the answer is that it isn’t; Carroll intended it as a bit of meaningless nonsense. However, several people have since suggested that the answer might be “Because Edgar Allen Poe wrote on both”. So now you know.

More from our July issue…

Ideas for a mad midsummer tea party…

Sponsored post | Travel Therapy in Austria

Find cultural and natural wonders in equal abundance with a break in beautiful Austria

With the world of travel starting to appear on the horizon once more, we can now begin to plan trips and adventures that for so long we could only dream about. Even just the planning and anticipation of a future getaway can boost our mood and positivity, fuelling the drive to get out more and exercise our newly-regained freedom to explore. When it comes to an inspired destination, there are few countries that can beat Austria with its mix of cultural cities and some of Europe’s most spectacular Alpine scenery as a backdrop. It’s a country that really does offer something for everyone and, with a strong sense of wellbeing and mindfulness at its core, you’ll return from a break in Austria feeling thoroughly refreshed and energised.

Having been voted the world’s greenest city in 2020, Austria’s capital Vienna offers culture and greenery in abundance. In fact, almost 50% of the city’s space is covered in parks, vineyards, woodland and gardens. Conscious that cities can be stifling, especially in the summer months, and that people need a cooler space to escape to, the Breathe Earth Collective was born. An urban oasis that allows for a few minutes of calm, surrounded by a small forest of tress, ferns and mosses and a refreshing 5-6˚C drop in temperature from the heat of the city. Graz, Austria’s second largest city, is also part of the scheme.

“When it comes to relaxing, it is nature that makes all the difference,” says Lisa Maria Enzenhofer, one of the key architects behind the initiative. “Green has a calming and relaxing effect and the love of plants, known as phytophilia, is innate to us humans.”

Breathe deep

Whether it’s seeking a short respite in the Breathe Earth Collective dome, or fully immersing yourself in some of Austria’s stunning countryside, the process of switching off and reconnecting with nature through your senses helps to focus the mind, boost happiness and ease any worries. Anywhere with a high density of trees and plant-life can have a beneficial effect, as not only do they release oxygen into the air, but also biochemicals called phytoncides. These phytoncides are produced to help trees warn other trees against danger and to ward off harmful bacteria, however they also have an anti-microbial effect on our bodies when inhaled, helping to boost the immune system. Commonly known as forest bathing, research has shown that simply stopping and taking time to be amongst nature, removing technology, and absorbing the sights, sounds and smells of your surroundings will help to reduce high blood pressure and levels of anxiety, while mood and creativity all receive a welcome boost.

Meanwhile, if water is your preferred therapy of choice, then consider one of Austria’s picturesque lakes. The city of Klagenfurt is located on the eastern shores of Lake Wörthersee, one of Europe’s warmest Alpine lakes, and the crystal-clear waters offer ample opportunity to relax and unwind.

Finding freedom

For many, jumping straight in for a spot of wild swimming will recharge the batteries and give that feeling of freedom, while for others, simply being near to water, or ‘blue space’ – be it on the shore or aboard a boat – will enable you to reap the therapeutic benefits. Studies have found that the gentle sounds associated with large bodies of water and the quality of light reflected back have a restorative effect on wellbeing.

With so much to discover, Austria has something to suit all our wellbeing wishes, whether that’s forest bathing, wild swimming, hiking through Alpine meadows or simply rediscovering your zest for adventure. Your only quandary? Deciding on where to plan a trip to first…

Osterreich Werbung/Michael Stabentheiner

Graz Tourismus/Robert Josipovoc

A mountain stroll from Salzburg

If you fancy getting active during your stay, the Mönchsberg mountain towers above the city and is loved by locals and tourists alike as an idyllic space to escape to. Locals recommend stocking up on freshly-baked Baumkuchen – a hollow spit cake made from yeast dough and dusted with cinnamon and sugar – and heading towards one of the many paths that will take you, at varied levels of exertion, to the summit. From the top, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of Salzburg’s rooftops and a sense of silence and tranquillity that come from escaping the heat and the business of the city below.

Linz Tourismus/Robert Josipovoc

For more information, visit austria.info

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.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our June issue…

More fascinating folklore…

Competition | Win a Coastal Treehouse Break with Mermaid Gin

An Isle of Wight treehouse break for two, worth £600, plus a surf lesson and a gin tour

As the summer sun beats down, it’s easy for thoughts to meander towards holidays and trips to the coast. Fortunately, Mermaid Gin, which is hand-crafted on the Isle of Wight, has just the tonic with the chance for one lucky reader to win a weekend away for two, with surfing lessons and a tour of the island’s distillery included.

Treetop getaway

With miles of rugged coastline, wild woodland, nature reserves and hidden sandy beaches, there’s so much to explore in this area of outstanding natural beauty. Get off the beaten track and enjoy simple, relaxed living for a weekend at Into The Woods. You’ll stay in The Nest, a cosy, secluded treehouse for two. Relax, get back to nature and take in the stunning views at this tranquil country escape.

Need a dose of Vitamin Sea?

Embrace nature and ride the waves with a surfing lesson from iSurf at the island’s best-kept secret, Compton Bay, a golden stretch of beach set below glorious, prehistoric coastline. Finally, round off your weekend with a tour of The Isle of Wight Distillery – home of Mermaid Gin – where you can watch the stills in action while sampling the range of island-inspired spirits. What better way to unwind than with a Mermaid & Tonic, or two, and a delicious meal, all while you sit back on the terrace and drink in your picturesque surroundings, thoroughly refreshed after a trip away.

For information on Mermaid Gin, visit isleofwightdistillery.com or follow on Insta: @mermaidgin and @isleofwightdistillery.

How to enter

For your chance of winning a weekend break to the Isle of Wight with Mermaid Gin, enter our competition by clicking the button below and answering the following question by the closing date of 4 August 2021.

On which island is Mermaid Gin distilled?

TERMS & CONDITIONS: This competition closes at 11.59pm on 4 August 2021. One winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. The winner cannot transfer the prize or swap for cash. Prize subject to availability. Winners must be available to travel to the Isle of Wight on 24 September 2021. The stay is booked for 24–26 September 2021. Ferry travel to and from the Isle of Wight is included, however, the winner must provide their own transport to the ferry terminal and whilst on the island. The accommodation is self-catered. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p127 and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

Playlist | Leaders of the Pack (girl bands)

Inspired by our Looking Back feature on girl bands this month, we’ve put together a playlist of some of our favourites, from The Supremes to The Spice Girls..

Listen here

DJ: Frances Ambler

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More playlists…

Lists | Famous Penfriends

In our June issue we celebrate the joy of penpal letters. Here are a few famous penpals whose correspondence we’d love to sneak a look at…

JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis

Tolkien and Lewis were great mates and kept up the friendship via letters, too. Though both rather serious literary figures, apparently their letters were full of fun. 

Catherine The Great and Voltaire

Even rulers and philosophers need to unburden themselves sometimes. This pair corresponded for some 15 years. 

PG Wodehouse and Agatha Christie

Showing it’s never too late to get a penpal, Wodehouse and Christie began their correspondence when he was 88 and she was 79. They were both huge fans of the other’s work. 

Charles Darwin and Joseph Hooker

Darwin wrote to botanist, Hooker, for many years, even setting out his early idea that animal species ‘might not be immutable’ years before he wrote about evolution fully in On The Origin of Species. 

Henry James and Edith Wharton

These two great novelists corresponded for most of their adult lives, unburdening themselves about their personal troubles in letters (Wharton had an unhappy marriage and James suffered with depression). 

Vincent and Theo Van Gogh

The artist was a prolific letter writer, but the person he wrote to most frequently was his brother Theo, who kept them all carefully, and many of them can still be read today. Sadly, his less careful brother Vincent destroyed most of Theo’s letters back to him. There’s brotherly love for you.

Read more about penfriends, how to find them, what to write to them and more in our June issue, on sale now.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our June issue…

More letter-writing inspiration…

Competition | Win a year of coffee for you and a friend with Taylors of Harrogate

You and a friend could start each day well with a year’s worth of coffee worth more than £350

There ‘s something special about a good cup of coffee, whether it’s savoured in your favourite spot on your own or shared with friends… socially distanced of course. Taylors of Harrogate’s new range is all about making it as easy as possible to make your favourite coffee drinks at home.

Their coffee experts worked hand in hand with coffee lovers to create the new range, named with the end drink in mind. From sourcing the right beans, to roasting them to bring out the delicious flavours and then blending to give the perfect result.

There is a smooth Espresso, a comforting Latte and the perfect blend for your cafetiere, all named after the drink they are designed for. Latte and Espresso are available in a choice of ground or beans depending on how you prefer to make it.

Just for The Simple Things readers we have a year’s worth of coffee (ground or beans) for you and a friend, worth £363, to give away, too.

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

Which coffees are available in a choice of beans or ground coffee?

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 31 July 2021. For our full terms and conditions and competition rules visit icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

From our June issue…

Some cake to go with your coffee…

Recipe | Salty Dill Cucumbers

Add crunch to a burger or some zing to a doorstop cheese sandwich with these crunchy dill pickles

Makes two 500ml jars

3 cucumbers, cut into thick slices
½ ltr of white vinegar
500g icing sugar
100g salt
1 dill flower head or a handful of fresh dill

1 Put the cucumber slices into a bowl. Mix the vinegar, sugar and salt then pour over and add the dill .
2 Place the bowl in the fridge for two days , giving the cucumbers a stir from time to time.
3 After two days, transfer the cucumbers and vinegar mix to your jars. Let them soak for about a week before they 're ready to be enjoyed

These pickles are just one of the recipes and makes from our A Bit On The Side feature in our June issue, which also includes a remoulade, homemade ketchup, cucumber relish, porchetta roast, hot dog buns and beef patties. All ideal fodder for a weekend in the garden with friends. The recipes are by Nicoline Olsen and the photograpy by House of Pictures.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our June issue…

More things to eat in the garden…

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. 

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our June issue…

More Simple Things Quizzes…