Competition | Win a Farm Stay worth £850

We have a weekend break at Devon’s Collacott Farm to be won, where you can spend time with horses to deepen your connection to loved ones

Sometimes, when you slow life down, the memories ramp up. Whether it’s a long woodland walk with the dog, a spot of family den building, or simply taking a seat and absorbing the nature around you, some of the best moments happen when life eases.

Tucked away in the north Devon countryside, Collacott Farm offers friends and families the opportunity to press pause to create memories that they’ll cherish for a lifetime. With six beautifully restored stone cottages all set within woodland and farmland, Collacott Farm strives to strengthen the connection between people and nature. In order to do this, it hosts Guided Horse Connection ™ sessions, a unique experience where guests can connect with horses in a relaxed environment and learn from the way that these gentle animals respond to the people around them.

If this sounds like pure heaven, then you’ll want to enter our competition. The Simple Things has teamed up with Collacott Farm to offer one lucky reader and up to five guests and two dogs the chance to win a two-night self-catering stay, worth £850. A Guided Horse Connection™ session is included in the prize, giving guests the chance to discover new things about each other, bringing them closer together – no riding required.

So take a moment, enter our competition, and you could soon be enjoying the benefits that being closer to nature, and in particular horses, can provide in strengthening connection.

For more information and to book, visit: collacott.uk or follow on Instagram at: @collacottfarm

How to enter

For your chance to win a stay at Collacott Farm, worth £850, enter our competition by clicking the button below and answering the following question by the closing date of 9 September 2026. 

Q: Which English county is Collacott Farm in?

Terms and conditions

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 9 September 2026. One winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. Subject to availability. The prize is a two-night stay at Collacott Farm in north Devon for up to six people and two dogs with a Guided Horse Connection ™ session included. The prize must be taken on a weekend (Fri-Sun) between 01.04.27 and 30.09.27, excluding UK school holidays. Booking must be made directly with Collacott Farm within 28 days of being notified. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not respond with 14 days, a new winner will be selected. Transport to and from the venue is the winner’s responsibility. The winner cannot transfer the prize or swap it for cash. Collacott Farm reserves the right to substitute the prize for one of equal or greater value if deemed necessary. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 of the magazine and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules. 

Competition | Win a Bag for Life from Wildish

Created to add a touch of adventure to your everyday, Wildish bags are built to last and gather a lifetime of stories

When Oscar and Nell started making Wildish bags seven years ago, it wasn’t really because they wanted to make bags. It was because they wanted to spend more time outside, with other people – the bags were almost an accident. They wanted something that could be thrown in the back of the car, taken swimming, stuffed with sandwiches and could make an ordinary Tuesday feel like a bit more of an adventure.

They couldn’t find what they wanted, so they made it. To their surprise, people started buying them. Every bag is made here in Britain in small batches from organic dry-waxed cotton canvas. They’re designed to last for years, and if something goes wrong, Wildish would rather repair them than encourage you to buy another one. Because the best bags aren’t the pristine ones, they’re the faded ones – the ones that have become part of the family. The ones that make you think, ‘Oh, that’s the bag I took to Skye’ or ‘That’s still got sand in it from Cornwall’ – even if, these days, it mostly just carries your laptop to work.

Over the years, that same thinking has shaped everything else the pair has done. Wildish Club – the community-building non-profit funded by the bag sales – their coffee, clothing, enamelware and Snail
Mail Club all exist for much the same reason, to help people spend a bit more time outside and a bit more time together.

If you’d like to bag a bit of the Wildish spirit then we have a Gouthwaite backpack (above), worth £215, to be won, while two lucky runners up will each receive a Ramsgill crossbody bag (below), worth £75 each. So enter today and you could soon be setting off on your own Wildish adventure. They make the bags. The stories are up to you.

How to enter 

For a chance to win a Wildish bag, enter by clicking the button below and answering the following question by the closing date of 9 September 2026.

Q: What is the name of the bag Wildish are offering as the main prize in this competition?

For more info, visit wildishstore.com or follow on Instagram at: @wildish.uk

Terms and conditions

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 9 September 2026. One winner and two runners-up will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. Subject to availability. The winners cannot transfer their prize or swap for cash. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 of the magazine and online at: icebergpress.co.uk/comprules. 

Project | Make a Map Table

Illustration by Christina Carpenter

Upcycle a coffee or side table into a place to dream of new adventures.

You will need

An old table; a paper OS map larger than your table; sandpaper; wallpaper paste and brush, clear varnish or Modge Podge

To make

1 Lightly sand the top of your table, wipe clean and leave to dry. If you want to paint the rest of the table and legs, now’s the time to do that, too.

2 Once dry, cut your map to the exact size of your tabletop. Any map with lots of features will look great but it’s lovely to use one that’s special to you. Spread wallpaper paste over the surface and carefully stick the map to it, smoothing out any wrinkles or bubbles with a ruler.

3 Once the paste has dried, apply varnish or Modge Podge over the top of the map to harden the surface. You may need to do two or three coats.

4 Add coasters, drinks and travel guides and use the table to plan your next adventure.

Find more seasonal ideas to note and notice, plan and do on our Almanac pages each month.

More fun with maps…

More from our July issue…

Science | Why Food Tastes Better Outside

It’s not just you, everyone agrees that food tastes better outside… Yes even if it’s under an umbrella standing over the barbecue. But what makes an outdoor meal so much tastier? 

Is it psychology, our imaginations or something a bit more scientific? Maybe it’s a bit of all three. One thing’s for sure: whether you’re lingering over a five-course picnic or simply enjoying a cold beer and a packet of crisps in the garden, everything tastes better when eaten outdoors. Here are a few reasons why.

1. It’s not that it tastes better, it’s that you smell it more. Up to 80% of what we think is taste is actually smell, and fresh air improves our sense of smell. So it stands to reason that food consumed in the fresh air will seem to have more flavour. 

2. Just being in nature improves our wellbeing and that improves everything. Studies show that spending time in nature can reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety (apart from during a wasp attack on the strawberries, we suppose). When your body is calm, heart rate slows, muscles relax and the body is better able to get on with background tasks such as digestion. And we all know that food is more enjoyable when it’s not giving you a tummy ache.

3. It’s partly about atmosphere. Psychologists note that when we eat outdoors it’s often part of a celebration, or is shared with friends, perhaps a barbecue or a picnic. Being among friends or loved ones, and in celebratory mood, puts us in a positive frame of mind, more likely to enjoy the flavours of the food we eat, too.

4. And partly about association. Do fish and chips taste better on the beach because the saltwater smell enhances them? Does the smell of a barbecue bring out the flavour of your smoky sausage? Smells you associate with the food heighten your experience of them. But there’s also an association with times gone by, a sort of nostalgia. Perhaps you’re transported back to a childhood seaside holiday when at the coast with your chips, or the smell of freshly cut grass as you eat your ice cream in the park takes you back to a happy summer day with friends when you were younger. It all adds to your experience, making everything feel a bit more pleasurable.

5. You feel you’ve earned it. Whether you’ve built a fire on which to flip your homemade burgers, or just spent a short while packing up a picnic or a garden lunch, when you sit down to eat outside, it feels a bit more like you’ve ‘earned it’. The sense of achievement sends positive messages to your brain, letting it know you’ve done a good thing and deserve to enjoy it. 

If you’re feeling inspired to do a bit more cooking and eating outdoors now, turn to our My Place feature in our June issue, in which we admire some beautiful outdoor kitchens, like the one above belonging to Cara Mills.

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Competition | Win a Set of National Trust Books

Make more time for the things you love – whether that’s exploring the UK, bringing delicious food to your table, or discovering nature’s wonders – with your very own collection of National Trust books.

This summer we’re giving three lucky winners a bundle of National Trust books worth more than £100 each!

For the food lovers, make salads the main event at your next summer BBQ with Irresistible Salads. With over 80 flavour-packed recipes from around the world, this wonderfully varied recipe book proves that salads can be bold, satisfying and utterly delicious – not just a side dish.

If you prefer something sweet, The National Trust Book of Biscuits is full of classic and modern biscuit recipes for teatime, picnics, and everything in between.

Want to spend more time outside? Learn how to create a space you’ll cherish all year round, no matter its size, shape or location with How to Create Beautiful Flowerbeds and Borders.

Discover the bees that live all around us with bestselling author Dave Goulson’s The Bee Spotter’s Guide – perfect to pop in your bag for a day out. For fungi fans, you’ll also have the chance to win an early copy of The Fungi Spotter’s Guide!

Get ready for your next adventure in the UK with inspiring routes, scenic walks and gorgeous camping guides to help plan your trip – you’ll find the perfect antidote to fast-paced living inside Great British Journeys, 100 Classic Country Walks and Under the Stars.

There’s something for every reader in this amazing collection, so enter now for the chance to win!

The Prize

We have three sets to give away, which each include The National Trust Book of Biscuits, The Bee Spotter’s Guide, The Fungi Spotter’s Guide, How to Create Beautiful Flowerbeds and Borders, Great British Journeys, Irresistible Salads, Under the Stars and 100 Classic Country Walks. Each set is worth £110.92.

To enter

To enter the competition, click the button below and answer the following question:

Q: The Irresistible Salads book contains how many flavoured packed recipes?

Terms and conditions

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 28th August 2026. A book bundle includes 1 x The National Trust Book of Biscuits, 1 x National Trust The Bee Spotter’s Guide, 1 x National Trust The Fungi Spotter’s Guide, 1 x National Trust How to Create Beautiful Flowerbeds and Borders, 1 x National Trust Great British Journeys, 1 x National Trust 100 Classic Country Walks, 1 x National Trust Under the Stars, 1 x National Trust Irresistible Salads. 3 winners will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. Subject to availability. The winner cannot transfer their prizes or swap them for cash. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 and online at: icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

Recipe | Mixed Beans, Goat's Cheese & Tomatoes

Lovely for a late summer’s day. Adding rehydrated dried beans gives you the chance to use more interesting varieties.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

250g dried beans

Few sprigs thyme

2 bay leaves

500g mixed green beans, trimmed

2-3 spring onions, sliced

250g cherry tomatoes, halved

Small bunch flat leaf parsley, chopped

100g goat’s cheese

For the dressing:

2 tsp wholegrain mustard

Juice of half a lemon

4 tbsp olive oil

1 garlic clove, crushed

To make

1 Soak the dried beans in plenty of water for at least 12 hours.

2 When ready, drain and rinse the beans, then add the thyme and bay leaves and simmer in unsalted water for 40-60 mins, or until cooked to your preferred bite. Drain and discard the thyme and bay leaves.

3 Cut the green beans into smaller pieces if you like, then rinse and cook for 5-7 mins, or until just tender. Set aside a small amount of parsley, then mix all the veg, including the remaining parsley, in a large bowl.

4 Whisk the dressing ingredients together and toss with the veg. Crumble the goat’s cheese over the top, sprinkle with the reserved parsley, and drizzle with a little more olive oil and a good grind of black pepper.

Cook’s note: For a quicker version, tinned beans, such as kidney, borlotti or white beans, work just as well.

This recipe was taken from our July issue feature, ‘Summer Means Beans’, a collection of recipes for dealing with a glut of beans or courgettes. Find ideas there for Courgette, Ricotta, Lemon & Basil Tart, Green Beans, Grilled Peaches & Burrata, Courgette Parmigiana, Green Bean, New Potato & Chicken Curry and Quick Courgettes with Mint, Lemon & Chilli.

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How to | Write a Postcard Like a Pro

Photography by Getty

Wish they were here? Let them know with a postcard home. Try not to show off too much…

1 Keep your writing small (but not microscopic) to fit more in.

2 Use a ballpoint pen to prevent smudging during wet transit.

3 Describe an anecdotal episode; these are more memorable than generalities.

4 Refer to the cover, why did you choose this card in particular for the recipient?

5 Mention the weather. For Brits, this is near-mandatory.

Read more about the history of the postcard in our July issue, in shops now.

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More correspondence to cheer…

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Wellbeing | How to Stay Calm in Uncertainty

Image by iStock

When the news, and the world, seem to be full of big problems you can do nothing about, it can feel overwhelming. Here are a few ways you can help yourself remain calm

l Channel your concern constructively Sign up to a cause, volunteer, spread awareness or fundraise.

2 Lean into your wellbeing habits Seek out joy, give yourself permission for escapism, perhaps through a novel, a film or time in nature.

3 Restrict your news sources Limit checking in to certain times in the day (avoid bedtime and when you first wake up).

4 Focus on the aspects of your life that are within your control Take on a new project, make a change at work.

5 Seek support Talk about your concerns with loved-ones and take GP advice if your thoughts and emotions feel unmanageable.

The above advice is taken from our feature What To Do When You Can’t Do Anything, in our July issue. You can read the rest of the article from page 58.

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Recipe | Croissant Bread & Butter Pudding

Photography by Will Heap

Is it a pudding? Is it a cake? Is it breakfast? When it tastes as good as this, who cares!

Serves 8

4 eggs
150g caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp almond extract
550ml whole milk
6 stale croissants
75g flaked almonds
1 tsp demerara sugar
Handful raspberries
Icing sugar, for dusting
Cream, to serve

1 Preheat the oven to 180C/Fan 160C/ Gas 4. Meanwhile, whisk the eggs, sugar, vanilla and almond extract together, then slowly add the milk.

2 Grease a 23cm round dish with butter. Slice each croissant into four and arrange in the dish.

3 Pour the custard mix over slowly, allowing it time to soak into the croissants.

4 Sprinkle the flaked almonds and demerara sugar evenly over the top then bake for 30 mins (or longer if the custard is still very wobbly).

5 To serve, scatter with raspberries and dust with icing sugar. Delicious served with cream.

This recipe is taken from our July issue’s feature, Messing About in Boats, a menu for a riverbank picnic. It also includes recipes for Roast Cauliflower, Turmeric Yogurt & Pickled Shallots; Beetroot Houmous; Nutty Seeded Malty Loaf Thins; Sausage Rolls; Cheese Straws Two Ways; Pea & Mint
and Sweet Potato Falafels and Orange & Pomegranate Water. The recipes and photography are by Will Heap.

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Sponsored Post | Feather Your Nest with Blackdown

 Find out how your dreams for a breakout space could become reality with a Blackdown shepherd hut

Have you ever dreamed of creating your very own space? A space that’s been made with your every need in mind. For those moments when you need to escape the everyday, to work or to simply gather your thoughts.

Blackdown Shepherd Huts built its first model in 2011. Inspired by the Victorian origins of the shepherd hut, it was captivated by the heritage and the flexibility that it could bring to peoples’
lives. There are mentions of these dwellings as far back as the 16th century, and they were originally constructed from common farming materials to act as a mobile shelter while the shepherds tended their flocks lambing in the fields.

While we may no longer need a moveable shelter to watch over birthing sheep, we can all appreciate having a cosy and comforting space to retreat to. That inspiration goes into every hut that comes out of Blackdown’s workshop, whether it goes on to be a home office, overspill accommodation, a glamping business, relaxation retreat or a garden room.

Over the years, Blackdown has grown to be one of the leading shepherd hut makers, well known for the quality and craftsmanship that goes into translating its customers’ dreams into reality. Recently, the company was delighted to be asked to create a writing space for award-winning entrepreneur
and author, Beth Kempton, who wrote Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom For A Perfectly Imperfect Life
and Kokoro: Japanese Wisdom For A Life Well Lived. Beth also hosts a private writing community called SoulCircle on Substack. Having spent many years solo retreating to write her books, she wanted to create a writing haven in her garden.

Working with the Blackdown team, Beth created the ideal writing space and added her unique layout requirements and additional touches. This is what she had to say about her hut on her Substack: ‘It’s 4am and the rain is pouring down. The fire is crackling,
a candle is flickering, and I am here in my cosy slippers, notebook on my lap, searching for the moon through the stargazing window in the roof. As writing spaces go, this one is better than I could have imagined. I have named her Feathers.’

It takes heart to create spaces that can accommodate the needs and desires of our lives. When customers visit the Blackdown Display Garden and Workshop in Ilminster, Somerset, it’s an opportunity to see that heart and passion in abundance. There’s a collective sense of awareness that the Blackdown team are creating shepherd huts to stand the test of time and be the heirlooms of someone’s future.

It often all starts over a cuppa, so for a chat about what your Blackdown journey could look like, email info@blackdownshepherdhuts.co.uk or call 01460 929774 to make an appointment.

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

Outing | Spend a Day at a Flower Farm

If a trip to a flower farm is on your summer bucket list, here’s some inspiration on things to do when you get there. 

1. Pick your own posy. Lots of flower farms encourage people to pop in to PYO. Take a good walk around the blooms first to get a feel for what’s there and make a mental plan in your head of which types of flowers you want to use together, then go back to choose your flowers. Start with a few ‘showstoppers’ first and then pair them with neutral colours and greenery to set them off. Some flower farms also run workshops on how to arrange posies so you can make the most of your finds.

2. Pick and paint. At some flower farms you can sign up to pick and paint days, where you pick a posy, arrange them, and then paint the arrangement over tea and cake or a glass of wine, perhaps. If you don’t have a flower farm that offers this nearby, you could always take a gang of friends to pick the flowers, then pick up drinks and snacks and some art supplies and head home to paint there. 

3. Photograph friends. A popular group activity is to pose with flowers and take lots of photographs of each other, or maybe do a mini photo shoot for someone celebrating a big birthday or another life-milestone. It’s lots of fun to do and you’ll end up with some wonderful mementos of your day. 

4. Prepare dinner (or another tasty treat). Lots of flowers are edible and you can buy produce in flower farm shops such as lavender shortbread or rose petal jam to take home. Alternatively, talk to the growers about recipes you can make yourself using edible flowers. Infused products like gin or vinegar are quite easy to do, as are infused sugars. 

5. Ponder growing yourself. Use your day to do a bit of research into flowers that might be easy to grow in your own cutting garden. The growers are often full of useful information. Annuals that are easy to grow and pack a punch include sunflowers, cosmos and zinnias.

For a look round a flower farm, join us in our June issue, where we meet flower farmer, Victoria Uff, for a look round her Suffolk flower farm.

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Playlist | Your summer favourites

DJ: Frances Ambler and The Simple Things readers
Image: Adobe Stock

In our July AMBLE issue, we find out how music can evoke powerful memories and why that’s good for our wellbeing. And we asked you to share the songs that reminded you most of summer – here’s our edit of the tunes suggested via Facebook and Instagram. Have a listen on Spotify.

You can also have a listen to The Simple Things’ team picks here.

We compile a playlist for every issue of the magazine, you can browse them all here.

Competition | Win Tickets to My Neighbour Totoro and an overnight London Stay

Discover the magic of My Neighbour Totoro with an overnight stay and tickets to see this
West End hit

Winner of six Olivier awards, My Neighbour Totoro has been mesmerising audiences in the West End for over a year and now The Simple Things is offering one lucky reader and a guest the chance to experience the magic with a pair of tickets to see this awe-inspiring adaptation at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre, plus a stay at The Cumberland Hotel with breakfast.

Moved from the city to the countryside while their mother recuperates, My Neighbour Totoro follows two sisters, Satsuki and Mei, as they explore their new surroundings and the magical creatures that inhabit them – including Totoro, the ancient protector of the forest. Soon, the girls are caught up in the creatures’ adventures, and are subsequently transported to a long-forgotten world of spirits, sprites and magic.

With jaw-dropping puppetry, this stage adaptation of the Studio Ghibli classic animation is brought to you by the Royal Shakespeare Company and Executive Producer Joe Hisaishi in collaboration with Nippon TV and Improbable.

For your chance to win a pair of tickets* with an overnight stay at London’s The Cumberland Hotel, we’re asking you to write a haiku inspired by the spirit of Totoro, whether that’s friendship, woodland walks, rainstorms, childhood wonder, trees, gardens or the quiet magic of nature. So get creative and you and a guest could soon be enjoying the wonder of Totoro.

For more about the show and to book, visit: totoroshow.com or follow at: @totoroshow

About haikus

A haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry made up of three lines with a 5-7-5 syllable structure. Often inspired by nature, the seasons or everyday moments, haikus are thoughtful and evocative.

Line one: 5 syllables

Line two: 7 syllables

Line three: 5 syllables

How to enter 

For your chance to win two tickets to see My Neighbour Totoro, plus an overnight stay, enter your haiku into the competition by clicking the button below by the closing date of 15 August 2026.

Terms and conditions

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 15 August 2026. One winner will be selected on 01.09.26 and contacted by Bicycle Partnerships Ltd via email. The winner has one week to claim their prize, which must be redeemed by 01.12.26. *The prize is two tickets to see My Neighbour Totoro, subject to availability, and excluding Bank Holidays and school holiday periods. At least one person must be over 18. The prize also includes a one-night stay for two in a double room at The Cumberland Hotel, including breakfast. No other expenses are included and the winner is responsible for transport to and from the venue. The winner cannot transfer the prize or swap it for cash. Maximum one entry per person. All haikus must be original and not created by AI. Entries will be judged by representatives from the production team of My Neighbour Totoro at the Royal Shakespeare Company based on creativity, originality and relevance to the theme. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The promoter reserves the right to amend or close the giveaway at any time, without notice. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 of the magazine and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules. 

Competition | Win a Soap Bundle from the Little Soap Company

Sustainable soap brand, Little Soap Company, is celebrating two new scent additions to indulge the senses

Should you be in a lather about soap, Little Soap Company’s award-winning range offers a cleansing experience that’s kind to your skin, your home and the planet. British-made, sustainable and fully recyclable, the range has products for sensitive skin, hair, face and baby, while the brand continues to champion natural, ethical products without compromising on quality or luxury.

This year, Little Soap Company proudly received the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainability, recognising its commitment to environmentally conscious innovation. From Carbon Neutral certification to the use of RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil, sustainability remains at the heart of every product. Each soap is cruelty-free, vegan certified and free from detergents, SLS, sulphates and parabens, delivering a gentle yet effective cleanse for all skin types.

Its latest launch, the new Naturals Signature Scent Edit, brings fine fragrance inspiration into an everyday soap bar using only essential oils and trusted natural recipes. The luxurious collection features two indulgent blends: Lime, Basil & Mandarin, which combines bright citrus notes with fresh herbs and finely ground thyme leaves for a crisp, revitalising cleanse, while Pink Pepper & Lychee blends soft sweetness with delicate spice and pink clay for an indulgent ritual.

If this is prompting you to sniff out your nearest bar of Little Soap Company soap, then our competition should be right up your street. We have 12 soap bundles to give away, each worth £22.75. They contain a Lime, Basil & Mandarin Naturals Signature Scent soap, A Pink Pepper & Lychee Naturals Signature Scent soap, a Little Soap Company tin and an Artisan Bamboo Shower Mitt. So enter today and you could clean up.

For more, visit littlesoapcompany.co.uk or follow on Instagram at: @little_soap_co

For more information, visit littlesoapcompany.co.uk or follow on Instagram at: @little_soap_co

How to enter

For your chance to win one of 12 soap bundles, worth £22.75 each, enter our competition by clicking the button below and answering the following question by the closing date of 7 August 2026. 

Q: Which royal award did The Little Soap Company win this year?

Terms and conditions

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 7 August 2026. Twelve winners will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. Subject to availability. The winners cannot transfer their prize or swap it for cash. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 of the magazine and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

Why we Love | An Otter

Illustration by Zuza Misko

Five ways these water-going mammals have captured everyone’s hearts

1 They hold hands. Sea otter families hold hands while they sleep so that they don’t float away from each other. This is known as a ‘raft’ of otters.

2 They juggle rocks in their paws. Scientists don’t know precisely why, but think it’s probably to do with boredom or play. 

3 They balance their babies on their tummies. Female sea otters carry their young on their furry bellies for at least the first month of life. As well as keeping them warm and safe from predators, it’s thought to also strengthen the bond between mother and baby.

4 They build playgrounds to play in. River otters will build slides on the muddy riverbanks, just for the pleasure of whizzing down them. 

5 They have pockets. Ever laughed at the phrase ‘damper than an otter’s pocket’? They really do have pockets! What’s more, they keep very important things in there. Otters are among the few animals that use tools (usually rocks to use as hammers to open shellfish) and they keep their tools in a loose patch of skin under their armpits.

If you’re lucky to live near somewhere otters appear, the best time to watch them is at dawn or dusk. The Wildlife Trust suggests looking out for pawprints or slipways in muddy or sandy banks as well as droppings under rocks and bridges, and keeping an eye out in reed beds where otters often hunt. A trail of bubbles in the water may indicate that an otter has spotted you first and dived to remain hidden. Another telltale sign is a group of ducks suddenly changing direction or looking nervously behind them!

If you’d like to find out more about otters, you’re in luck! They are our June issue’s ‘Magical Creature’! Read more on page 17.

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Tipple | Peach Iced Tea

We can’t think of many things more refreshing than an iced tea on a warm day. We’ve used earl grey here, but you can try different types of tea, such as jasmine for a floral variation.

Makes syrup for 2 ltr of tea

3 ripe peaches, stoned and quartered with the skin on

100ml maple syrup

2 earl grey teabags

To serve:

1 ripe peach, stoned and sliced

Fresh mint

Ice cubes

To make:

1 Add the peaches to a pan over a medium heat, along with the maple syrup and 250ml of water. Simmer gently for 15 mins, giving the peaches a mash with a potato masher every so often to break them down.

2 Remove from the heat and strain the liquid through a fine sieve into a jug, discarding the pulp. Leave to cool.

3 Place the teabags into a jug and pour over 1 ltr of freshly boiled water. Allow the tea to steep for 2-3 mins, then remove the teabags and allow the tea to cool completely.

4 In a large serving pitcher, add half the peach syrup together with the cooled tea and stir until combined. Add plenty of ice to get it lovely and cold. Pour into glasses filled with more ice and garnish with peach slices and fresh mint before serving.

Cook’s note: The syrup can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for up to five days.

This recipe is taken from our June issue’s ‘A Good Life’ pages in which Michelle Tansley shows us around her Derbyshire garden and shows us what she’s cooking and growing this month. The feature also includes recipes for Grilled Chicken Thighs with Romesco Sauce, Roasted Beetroots and Carrots with Whipped Feta, Herb and Edible Flower Salad and Frozen Kefir with Fresh Cherry Compote.

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Wonder | The Lost Giants

Meet some of the characters created by artists collective The Lost Giants…

Giants Wotholga and Tregona, inspired by Stephen Polglase’s book The Last Giants Of Kernow, appearing as part of a Lantern Parade in Godolphin, Cornwall. Tregona was created with local primary school pupils, while the parade was accompanied by tin punch lanterns, reflecting the area’s mining heritage and folklore. “Giants don’t exist without collective effort,” says Lost Giants founder Amy Webb. “They require many hands to build, carry and care for them, but they also rely on shared belief. A giant only really comes to life when people gather around it, whether that’s in the making or out in the streets during a procession.”

Wotholga and Tregona were both made by the project The Lost Giants. Formed in 2023 after over a decade of making together, The Lost Giants was founded by Amy and Ruth Webb as a collective of artists from diverse creative backgrounds, united by a passion for giants, procession, and the living traditions of folk. Meet more of the Lost Giants in our June issue or visit thelostgiants.co.uk.

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Make | Botanical Bug Repellent

Create a simple spray using essential oils known to deter bugs and make any unwanted flying friends buzz off. It smells really good, too.

You will need:
60ml distilled water
60ml witch hazel
12 drops rosemary essential oil
12 drops citronella essential oil
6 drops peppermint essential oil
6 drops eucalyptus essential oil
6 drops lemongrass essential oil 6 drops lavender essential oil
Jug
Small funnel
Spray bottle (ideally amber glass)

To make:

1 In a jug, combine the distilled water and witch hazel, then add the essential oils one at a time.

2 Pour the mix into the spray bottle using the funnel. Seal and shake well.

Maker’s note: Shake well before every use. Stored in a cool, dark place, it’ll keep for up to a year.

This weekend project was featured in our May issue along with a project to make an Aftersun Balm. Both recipes are taken from Cooking Mindfully: Make Food Your Ally with Sustainable Low Waste Recipes for Every Season by Kait Welch (Page Street Publishing)

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How to | work a canal lock

Learn a niche skill that looks ever so impressive

It’s always a joy to be able to step up at moments of group panic and confidently and smugly say ‘I’ll take care of that’. Should you find yourself navigating a narrow boat unexpectedly (it could happen) you’ll need to be able to work the canal’s locks in order to pilot the boat up or down the water. While all about you spill their Pimms and flap their hands in despair at the paddles, here’s how to calmly and collectedly navigate a lock. Ahoy!

1. Put down your beer, like a hero.

2. For the purposes of these instructions we’re going to assume you are travelling upstream. You need one person at the tiller (the steering pole) and one person operating the lock (that’s you). Check the lock. It should be clear with no boat approaching the other way. The water in the lock has to be at the same level as you are before you can open the gates and enter it. As we’re assuming you’re travelling up the canal, if the lock is not empty when you arrive, empty it by opening the paddles on the bottom gate. Once the water is at the same level as you, you can open the gates. 

3. Open the gate nearest the boat and ask the person at the tiller to take the boat (carefully) into the lock. It is traditional to shout ‘left a bit, left a bit, NO! YOU PUSH IT RIGHT TO GO TO THE LEFT!. That’s right… No TOO FAR NOW. Lawks! You nearly had the front off it then!’ as they steadily pilot the boat into the lock. Close the bottom gate behind the boat.

4. Open the paddles in the top gate and let the water into the lock. The paddles are the big Victorian iron cog shenanigans either side of the lock. Take your special key (called a windlass), place the hole in your windlass over the sticky-outy bit on the paddle and turn it to open. Stand to the side and keep your knees out of the way. If you accidentally let go of a windlass while the paddle is raised it can drop fast and the windlass can fly off and the paddles drop suddenly, causing horrible damage to the lock or you. It is permissible to swear colourfully if this happens. As the paddles open, the boat will rise slowly in the lock like well-proved loaf.

5. When the lock is full and the levels inside the lock and in front of you are level you will be able to open the top gate. Do so by putting your back against it and slowly leaning back to push it open, rather than bending over and pushing with your hands. This ‘pushing with your back’ manoeuvre prevents injury but more importantly will help mark you out as a canal know-it-all and impress any passers-by. 

6. Let your tiller person know to bring the boat out of the gate. If you want to sound smug and irritate the person at the tiller, shout casual and unhelpful commands like ‘take it to starboard a little’. No-one mortal can remember which way starboard is when under stress and in charge of a 60ft boat. Call them over to the bank with a louche wave of the hand, then step casually back on board and resume your position at your beer.

7. Graciously bask in the admiration of your crew and never tell them that it’s actually much easier to work a lock than it is to pilot the boat through one. Ahem.

This blog was first published in July 2019. If you’re inspired to try a canal-based holiday but are unsure about your boating skills, you might enjoy our weekend away from our June issue, in which Karen Dunn stays in a lock keeper’s cottage.
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Wellbeing : Weights for Beginners

Weight training is having a moment and it seems everyone is talking about their age, body type or starting point. Here are five things to know if you’re getting started with building both inner and outer strength…

l Start slow “I would always encourage a gradual, ‘slower is faster’ long game mentality,” says Elizabeth Davies, personal trainer and author of Training For Your Old Lady Body (Leap). “If it feels too easy and pointless, it isn’t.” She likens it to computer games where “the first few levels are super easy and smashing them feels good. It makes you want to keep going and do more.”

2 Try different types of weights Weights machines target specific muscles and can offer more control and stability in a gym. Free weights (dumbbells, kettlebells and barbells) offer a more comprehensive workout with moves like squats and deadlifts also helping with balance and mimicking real-life movement.

3 Don’t overspend on kit If you’re working out at home, dumbbells are inexpensive and easy. Sports therapist and strength coach Sam Charlwood recommends buying two light (2-3kg) weights and one heavier one (8-10kg) to start. You can also use exercise bands or even start with household objects like food tins or a backpack filled with books.

4 Don’t be too ambitious The greatest gains come when you go from no resistance training to a modest amount, so there’s no need to go in all guns blazing. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that adults and older adults strengthen major muscle groups at least twice a week. Around 30-60 minutes per week is associated with a meaningful reduction in your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Keep it realistic and allow yourself time to do some form of stretching, too.

5 Find a trusted trainer Try a local gym or fitness studio or, for home workouts, an online trainer. There are many trainers offering online coaching and beginners’ courses. Check out Sam Charlwood (@samantha_charlwood) and Elizabeth Davies (@thiswomanlifts) on Instagram.

The above blog is extracted from our feature, ‘Why Weight?’ in our May issue by Rebecca Frank. Find out more from page 84. Buy this month's The Simple Things -buy, download or subscribe

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