Blog
Taking Time to Live Well
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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Photography: Jonathan Cherry
Only in Britain could posters go up all over the countryside for cheese-rolling contests, scarecrow competitions and lawnmower races, and no one turn a single hair. As a nation, we’ve proudly kept many of our stranger folk traditions, and added a few new ones along the way.
If you’re looking for a day out with a difference this summer (or even some that comply with social distancing or that you could recreate at home), we’ve gathered a few ideas here. If you thought well-dressing and morris dancing was niche, prepare to be folking astounded.
Toe Wrestling
The World Toe Wrestling Championships is held in Derbyshire every July. It began in 1976 when a few friends down the pub were lamenting Britain’s lack of athletics success. Forty-four years later, it’s going strong and is held in the Bentley Brook Inn in Fenny Bentley most years. Bare-footed participants lock big toes over a tiny wrestling arena and compete to wrangle the other’s foot to the side first. The rules are similar to arm wrestling and you start with right feet, then swap to left, then back again. Be warned - toe wrestling has regularly ended in injury and even broken toes, so go easy if you’re holding your own championships at home. Or perhaps try Thumb Wars instead.
Bog Snorkelling
What better way to spend August Bank Holiday than snorkelling in a peat bog? Don’t answer that, but in case you were wondering, bog snorkelling is an event during which participants compete to do two lengths (60 yards each) of a water-filled trench cut through a peat bog, wearing snorkels and flippers. Swimming strokes may not be used - you may travel by means of flipper power alone. The Waen Rhydd peat bog near Llanwrtyd Wells in mid Wales has hosted the annual World Bog Snorkelling Championship since 1985. If you can’t make it there, perhaps get the paddling pool out at home.
The Burryman’s Parade
At a loose end on the second Friday of August? Fancy seeing a grown man covered head to toe in sticky burrs paraded around for nine hours, his arms supported on poles decorated with flowers? Then head to South Queensferry on the south bank of the Firth of Forth, where the Burryman (a human covered in sticky flower and seed heads from the burdock plant is guided through town, stopping at inns and alehouses and given drinks of whisky (through a straw to avoid the burrs) at each. Folklore tells that bad luck will befall the town if the Burryman is not given whisky and money each year, in a tradition that’s thought to be thousands of years old. We’ll give the whisky a go and leave the burrs on the plant, we think - they’re a devil to get out of wool.
Hallaton Hare Pie Scramble and Bottle-Kicking
Once described as ‘the bloodiest event in England’ this contest between the villages of Medbourne and Hallaton in Leicestershire is not for the faint-hearted. The competition, on Easter Monday, opens with a parade and large hare pie being blessed by a vicar, then cut up and thrown into the assembled crowd. There follows a race to get one of the barrels of beer (a bottle) over the other village’s boundary by any means, including kicking, throwing and rolling. It’s a terrifying free-for-all that makes a game of rugby look like a crochet circle in a nunnery. We aren’t sure this is one you’d want to try at home but there’s nothing to stop you making a rabbit pie and playing skittles with some beer bottles in the garden.
Burning of Bartle
If Guy Fawkes’ Night is not enough dangerous drunken revelry close to open flames for you in one calendar year, you might like to mark Burning Bartle weekend, held on the Saturday closest to St Bartholomew’s Day (24th August) in West Witton, North Yorkshire. Bartle is thought to have been a sheep stealer who was caught some centuries back (us British do enjoy a grudge as well as a weird festival, don’t we?). Today the village marks it by creating a huge effigy of Bartle, much like a ‘Guy’, complete with mask, sheep’s wool hair and beard and glowing eyes (just to terrify any tourists not in the know, we suppose), which is then propped against a dry stone wall and set on fire to much singing and shouting, before everyone decamps to the pub. It’s certainly a niche celebration but we all have a Bartle in our lives, somewhere. Make your own effigy, have a bonfire and sit and enjoy your grudge over a beer or two in the comfort of your own garden. Glowing eyes optional.
In our July issue you’ll find the first in our new series, Modern Eccentrics, in which we celebrate people who are passionate about their pastimes and happily doing things a bit differently. This month, Julian Owen meets some thoroughly modern morris dancers.
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Jessica lives in the middle of a wood in Kent with her husband, Paul, an oak framer, and her daughter. Previously a graphic designer, Jessica now chronicles her outdoor life spent living slowly with her family, and in tune with nature and the seasons, on her blog, thewoodlandwife.co.uk.
Turn to page 106 of the March issue for more about the joys and the hard work of life beneath the boughs.
What it’s really like to live in the woods
Buying woodland is a dream held by many, with numbers of private owners growing year by year. According to the Forestry Commission, there are more than 40,000 small woods of less than ten hectares in England, and these make up 17% of England’s woodlands.
Once you have decided on the area and what acreage you can afford, it is relatively easy to buy woodland as there is no chain and most are freehold.
Run by small woodland ownership evangelist Angus Hanton, woodlands.co.uk is a good place to find one.
Managing woodland is less simple, as Jessica points out. The Forestry Commission’s Land Information Search (forestry.gov.uk) produces a useful free booklet, ‘So You Own a Woodland’, which has advice.
Small Woods Association (smallwoods.org.uk) offers courses on managing a woodland and is a generally useful resource.
Image: Getty
In this months The Simple Things, come with us through the winding streets, sunny squares and cool canals of Venice
There’s no better way to get to the heart of a city than through the people who live there. Every month, we ask someone, clearly in love with their city, to take us on a personal tour and tell us what makes it so special. You may feel inspired to visit one day or to rediscover the charms of a city closer to you, but for now just sit back, relax and enjoy some armchair travel.
This month, Iris Loredana takes us on a tour of her city, Venice.
How long have you lived in the city?
I grew up in Venice and went to university here. I’m passionate about my city, I did my thesis on ecology and the urbanisation of the Venetian Lagoon. I currently live and work in both Venice and Vienna.
Tell us what makes your city unique.
One thing is the light, which you can’t help noticing even on a rainy day. It’s a kind of translucent light that changes rapidly, as does its shimmering reflection on the water, making Venice look like she’s wearing a different dress several times a day. In late summer the sun’s rays immerse the buildings in brilliant sparkles.
What’s it like in September?
Warm and calm. Venice sits in the midst of a vast lagoon and this large water basin stores warmth. This means that summer lasts a little bit longer here. In late summer (we call September ‘summer with a bonus’), the colours become sharper. Early autumn is called ‘Canaletto season’ because the Venetian painters used to benefit from this mesmerising light and clear skies. It’s a great time of the year to go for long walks. The scent of the summer flowers is strong because the heat has abated. On a bright September morning you’ll notice the scents of wisteria, blossoming for the third time and oleander growing in the campi (squares) with its irresistible vanilla-lemon balm fragrance.
Tell us about the light and colours of your city.
In September, the early morning light has a rose gold hue. This colour is accentuated by the red brick façades and many buildings in town that are painted in rosso Veneziano (Venetian red). Towards noon, the sky turns 2 cobalt blue, shifting to emerald by late afternoon. If you’re lucky, your September evening sky will glow rose, pink and dark gold intermingled with light blue.
Turn to page 54 of September’s The Simple Things for more of Iris’s Venice secrets or look out for My City in every issue (and search previous posts here).
Iris Loredana founded website and blog La Venessiana: The Fragrant World of Venice, along with her grandmother, Lina, in 2015. They write about life in the Lagoon, and the city’s private homes, kitchens and secret gardens. Find them at lavenessiana.com.
Dulcie, February 2015's star of Dogs in Blankets
They can eat into your time and money and test your patience, but loving your dog keeps you happy. If you're thinking about getting a dog, have a read through our list of things to consider first.
1. Can you put in the time?
Dogs bring with them many benefits, but you need to be able to put in the time to really get the most from your pet. Dogs can get distressed if left alone for too long, and require regular walks, but aside from this they need plenty of play time.
If you can't commit to daily interaction with your dog, perhaps consider less demanding pets such as fish, hamsters or guinea pigs.
2. Can you afford the cost?
Make sure you can afford the costs associated with keeping dogs. Not just food, leads, collars and toys, but also veterinary fees and pet insurance. It can be an expensive hobby.
3. Is your home dog-friendly?
A small flat without outdoor space may not be quite right for larger dogs, but you can usually get around most issues with a bit of clever thinking. Access to parks and large open spaces could be the answer to your dog's needs, but do consider the size of your home and how happy pets will be living there.
Also think about proximity to neighbours, who could become annoyed if your dog howls for you when you're at work.
4. Do you go on holiday frequently?
If you do, consider a dog that can travel with you, or that will be happy boarding at kennels in your absence or staying with friends. The best thing about a pet is the bond you have with your animal, so make sure your lifestyle doesn't impact on this relationship.
5. Do you suffer from allergies?
Double check which breeds are most likely to trigger allergies or asthma in anyone living in your house. Spend some time with friends and their dogs to see whether you react badly to fur or dander.
6. Have you thought about the commitment required?
Owning a dog is a lifetime commitment. Although you can't be sure what might be around the corner, it's important to enter into dog ownership giving it the full thought required, taking into consideration how your life might change in the future.
Crufts 2017 takes place from 9–12 March at The NEC Birmingham and you can watch it on Channel 4 and More 4.
More info at crufts.org.uk
This Friday is Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in the US that has become the biggest shopping day of the year.
But while many fight it out in the aisles, there are alternative ways to spend your day
Want to join them? Here are some ideas for alternatives to Black Friday:
Do you have alternative ideas for Black Friday? Join the conversation over on Twitter and Facebook.
Image: Lottie Storey
Do you live in a city with great Autumnal colours? Are you a photographer, blogger or keen snapper with a good selection (around 30-50) of high res images of your city in Autumn?
We're currently looking for new destinations for our My City feature. If you think your photographs would grab the attention of our readers and you’d be happy to answer a written q&a revealing the hidden gems of your city, please email becs@icebergpress.co.uk with details of your website or blog so we can take a look at your work.
No UK destinations at the moment please.
These pretty, light rolls are delicious with a piquant sauce
Makes 14
80g vermicelli rice noodles
14 edible rice papers
14 butterhead or other soft lettuce leaves
100g beansprouts
14 thin carrot batons, peeled
14 thin cucumber batons
2 handfuls fresh coriander leaves, roughly chopped
14 fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
1 red chilli, sliced
For the dipping sauce:
4 tbsp hoisin sauce
4 tbsp peanut butter
lime juice to taste
1 Prepare the dipping sauce by mixing together all the ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
2 Cook the vermicelli according to the instructions on the packet. Drain and set aside.
3 Soften the rice papers. Fill a large bowl with warm water. Carefully and slowly dip the rice papers in one by one. Leave each one for about 20 seconds until totally soft. Lay the rice papers out on a dry cloth as you finish.
4 On top of each rice paper, arrange a lettuce leaf (trimmed to size if needed) a small handful of vermicelli and a small handful of beansprouts. Add carrot, cucumber, herbs and chilli, always keeping about 5cm of wrapper uncovered on each side of the filling.
5 Fold the uncovered side inwards, then tightly roll the rice paper into a sausage shape around the filling. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
6 Serve the rolls chilled with the dipping sauce on the side.
Recipe from Modern Dim Sum by Loretta Liu. Photography: Louise Hagger (Ryland Peters & Small)
Erin Spens, Editor of Boat magazine
Whether exploring somewhere new or simply looking beyond your regular patch, wander a little to get to know a city
Getting under the skin of a city, old or new is one of the greatest experiences. Says Erin Spens, “I’ve found over the years the best way to get to know a city is to spend real time in it exploring, listening and following the locals. My strategy has always been to arrive in a city with as little foreknowledge as possible, apart from the necessities, which I’ll get to in a second. Don’t get me wrong, I am endlessly reading travel stories and good travel magazines but (unless I’m working on an issue of Boat magazine) I don’t research a place beforeI go.
"My reason for this is twofold. Firstly, my love for exploring cities grew out of my own time exploring New York City and reading the great travel writers, and neither involved smart phones preloaded with all the information in the world. Those were the days when getting lost really did mean getting lost and so I try to stay true to the way I found my first love: by exploring the streets and the far-flung neighbourhoods like a young, wide-eyed Midwestern girl who’s somehow landed in the city of her dreams.
"The second reason I don’t research the hell out of a place before I get there is because I’ve found that the only constant in a great city is change. Even if you go back to a city you’ve already visited multiple times, or to a neighbourhood in your own hometown that you don’t often frequent, it will be different. An open mind on every single trip helps you to see it fresh each time, noticing the new things rather than seeking out what you remember from last time, or what you’ve read about, or what you’ve seen getting hashtagged.”
THE LITTLE BOOKROOM BOOKS
If you need a bit more structure and you’ve got time to mosey around a city searching for a random vintage fabric shop or the perfect pain au chocolat, these books are ideal. I once built a whole trip to Paris around things I found in them. littlebookroom.com
GRAB A NOVEL that’s set in the city you’re headed to. At goodreads.com, you’ll find lists of travel books and you can search by location. The ‘Women Travelers’ series from Restless Books is fantastic, too.
BRING A PHRASE BOOK to refer to when talking to locals. I don’t find it easy to pick up new languages, but I find that locals respond to me making an effort and I’ve had great (if choppy) conversations that lead to secret spots I would never have stumbled upon myself. Penguin’s are very pretty: penguin.co.uk. Lonely Planet’s are a classic: shop.lonelyplanet.com
MY FAVOURITE TRAVEL MAGAZINES are Boat magazine (obviously!); The Travel Almanac; Motherland, and Delayed Gratification.
* If you prefer to be slightly more prepared when you go exploring, turn to page 76 of January’s The Simple Things to read about Herb Lester, which publishes city guides with a difference
Erin Spens is founder and editor of Boat magazine - an independent travel and culture publication that focuses on a different, inspiring city for each issue. From Sarajevo to Reykjavik to Lima, Boat Magazine shines a different kind of light on cities with big stories to tell.
For more of this feature, turn to page 74 of January’s The Simple Things.
‘Salad’. It’s a wimpy word for such a vivacious dish. But that is what this Thai street- food staple usually becomes in translation – green papaya salad. Its native name is far more appropriate to a dish that assaults the lips and tongue with its combo of sweet-sour zing and fiery heat: ‘som’ and ‘tam’ could be the percussive thwacks of a comic-book hero, punching you in the mouth.
The true translation of Som Tam isn’t a million miles away: tam means ‘to pound’ (while som is ‘sour’). Traditionally it is made using a pestle and mortar, the green (unripe) papaya – which is mildly savoury and slightly crunchy – grated or hand-sliced into matchsticks* before being gently crushed with garlic, bird’s-eye chillies, toasted peanuts, dried shrimps, cherry tomatoes and green beans. It’s then dressed with lime juice, fish sauce, tamarind water and palm sugar – preferably enough to leave a slurpable puddle at the bottom of the dish to be soaked up by the sticky rice that’s usually served in a bowl alongside it.
Wouldn’t we all love to be scoffing this at a beach café right now? It’s a gap year in a bowl. And if you’re inspired to shine some south-east Asian sun over your own midwinter table, you don’t need to scour the exotic produce aisles for a green papaya. Som Tam dressing is so pungent that it works with any crunchy salad or edible raw root: kohlrabi, cabbage, peeled and deseeded cucumber, courgette, carrot, celariac, beetroot – even that unloved swede that’s loitering in your veg box. As a sinus- busting (and soul-enriching) winter cold remedy, it beats anything you could get out of a lemon-flavoured sachet.
TUCK IN: Som Tam is one of the signature dishes at Sukhothai, which has four branches in Leeds and Harrogate (sukhothai.co.uk).
* It’s what your spiralizer has been waiting for
Inspired to make your own? Head to our Food from afar Pinterest board for recipe ideas:

Never mind all that mists and mellow fruitfulness malarkey, it’s autumn’s turning leaves that provide this season’s true high point, with the bonus of a science lesson on the side. Find out why they change and where to witness this magical scene.
The annual gold rush, when deciduous leaves change colour, is produced when the days get shorter, with cool, but not freezing, nights. This prompts trees to reduce green chlorophyll production, giving other pigments a chance to shine, albeit briefly.
Leaf shedding, called abscission, is all about preparing for winter; leaves are fragile things that could dessicate or freeze during the coldest months. To prevent damage they drop off, but not before withdrawing valuable pigments like chlorophyll and forming a thin band of dead cells at the base of the stem that separates leaf and stalk. When it dies and drops to the forest floor, any useful nutrients can be reabsorbed as the leaf decomposes.
Go down to the woods today… and you’ll catch one of nature’s finest displays. No matter how many times we’ve seen it before, the vivid hues of red, gold, yellow and orange that cloak the trees and carpet the ground this month never lose impact. A walk in the woods, park or simply down a tree-lined road provides an instant mood-lift.
Here are our top five spots:
Westonbirt, the National Arboretum in Gloucestershire, famous for its riot of autumnal colour and the UK’s largest collection of Japanese maples (acer), which are at their best right now.
Salcey Forest near Northampton, for a bird’s eye view of the forest in all its glory, from the Tree Top Way.
Crinan Wood, Argyll and Bute, Scotland – the warm, moist climate in this magical wood means it’s often described as Scotland’s rainforest. It’s home to a wide variety of ferns and lichens, too.
Brede High Woods, Cripps Corner, East Sussex. This is a large wood where you can spot many varieties of tree, as well as some of the UK’s most important creatures, including the great crested newt, badgers, fallow deer and the brook lamprey dormouse.
Bedgebury Pinetum, Kent – the largest collection of conifers in the world. Lots to keep kids entertained, too, from the Gruffalo trail to the Go Ape adventure park.
Five ways to use up your pumpkins
Win a canal boat holiday with The Simple Things and ABC Boat Hire
Do you fancy drifting quietly downriver playing skipper of your own barge? Enter our competition to win a boating break
When you board a canal boat for the week and set sail on the winding waterways, you get a chance to discover the countryside from a different perspective. Ducks and coots paddling beside you, butterflies alighting on waterlillies, woodland wildflowers creeping down to the water’s edge and pub gardens inviting you to moor up.
You’ll be captain of your own ship with no one to bother you. Full training is provided, along with buoyancy aids and a boat license. All the boats have small, fully-equipped kitchen areas, heating in case it gets chilly in the evenings and even waterproofs for the helmsman. You can choose from 14 start locations, from Falkirk in Scotland to Hilperton in Wiltshire. Dogs are welcome, too. Hop aboard and see the countryside at your own pace.
0330 3330 590
abcboathire.com
l The prize includes one seven-night, self-drive, self-catering canal boat holiday for four people, at the winners’ choice of departure location. There must be a minimum of two adults to operate the boat safely. Bed linen, towels, fuel and damage waiver are included. Worth £1500. l Prize must be taken between 15 March and 15 September 2016, starting on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday. Subject to availability.
l View full terms and conditions and enter by 30 September 2015. You can see Iceberg Press’ full terms and conditions on page 129 of the September 2015 issue (out 29 September) and at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules/
Enter all our current competitions
This is a super-simple way to cook. Local apples are everywhere now, and are an easy but delicious dessert for campers.
You’ll need a lidded barbecue to make this delicious apple dessert. Or it can be cooked in the embers of a campfire.
Serves 4
4 eating apples
1 large knob of butter
2 tbsp light brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
a handful each of sultanas and chopped nuts
2 tsp demerara sugar
a splash of booze if there’s some around (rum, brandy, cider but – NOT beer or wine!)
1Core the apples, leaving the bottom 2cm in if possible. If that’s too hard, take the whole core out, cut the bottom 2cm off the core and plug it back into the bottom of the apple. This is to stop all the melted butter flowing out later.
2Score a line around the centre of the apple.
3Put the butter, light brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Mix in the nuts and sultanas. Use your hands if it’s easier to blend it all up into a lumpy paste.
4Push some of the mixture into each apple until it’s all used up.
5Place each apple on the centre of a large double-thickness square of foil. Sprinkle a little demerara sugar and some rum or brandy (if using) over the top, then wrap each apple up tight in its own square of foil.
6Put the foil parcels on your barbecue away from the direct heat and close the lid. You’ll need to rotate the apples occasionally to enable them to cook evenly.
7They will take about 20 minutes to cook and go soft enough to eat (you don’t want them mushy), but this will depend on the size of apples and your heat source, so keep an eye on them. Serve with cream or plain yoghurt.
Recipe from Pitch Up, Eat Local by Ali Ray (AA Publishing with The Camping and Caravanning Club).
Turn to page 72 of September's The Simple Things for Under Canvas, highlighting secluded, riverside camping pitches. On sale 29 August 2015.
In each issue of The Simple Things we publish a local’s insider guide to some of the coolest, most interesting and simply favourite cities to visit. As the summer holiday begins, we’re releasing one online each week in association with our friends at Inntravel – The slow holiday people
Sadly, this is our last in the series but, hurrah, it's sunny, summery Palma! Download Dominique Afacan's guide for free here
This guide was first published in May 2014 - issue 23
Did you miss Berlin, Helsinki, Paris, Copenhagen, Florence, Amsterdam or Marrakech? They’re still available to download.
We hope you enjoyed our series of free city guides - to read them and a whole host of other stuff every month in The Simple Things magazine click to buy the latest issue, or you can subscribe.
MY CITY is supported by INNTRAVEL, the Slow Holiday people, who have spent the last three decades exploring Europe’s most beautiful corners along the lesser-trodden path. When it comes to cities, their self-guided walking tours have been carefully researched using their own expert knowledge and insider tips from locals. These specially created routes take in the best-known sights, but also those hidden gems that others miss. Find out more by visiting http://www.inntravel.co.uk
In each issue of The Simple Things we publish a local’s insider guide to some of the coolest, most interesting and simply favourite cities to visit. As the summer holiday season begins, we’re releasing one online each week in association with our friends at Inntravel – The slow holiday people
This week it’s Amsterdam. Download John Bezold’s guide for free here.
Did you miss Copenhagen or Florence?
This guide was first published in November 2012.
Coming soon!
4 June - Marrakech
11 June - Paris
18 June - Helsinki
25 June – Berlin
2 July – Palma
We'll post on our Twitter and Facebook when they are published.
MY CITY is supported by INNTRAVEL, the Slow Holiday people, who have spent the last three decades exploring Europe’s most beautiful corners along the lesser-trodden path. When it comes to cities, their self-guided walking tours have been carefully researched using their own expert knowledge and insider tips from locals. These specially created routes take in the best-known sights, but also those hidden gems that others miss. Find out more by visiting www.inntravel.co.uk
In each issue of The Simple Things we publish a local’s insider guide to some of the coolest, most interesting and simply favourite cities to visit. As the summer holiday season begins, we’re releasing one online each week in association with our friends at Inntravel – The slow holiday people
This week it’s Florence - download food blogger Giulia Scarpaleggia's guide for free here
This article was first published in October 2013 - issue 15.
If you missed Copenhagen you can get it here.
Coming soon!
28 May - Amsterdam
4 June - Marrakech
11 June - Paris
18 June - Helsinki
25 June – Berlin
2 July – Palma
We'll post on our Twitter and Facebook when they are published.
MY CITY is supported by INNTRAVEL, the Slow Holiday people, who have spent the last three decades exploring Europe’s most beautiful corners along the lesser-trodden path. When it comes to cities, their self-guided walking tours have been carefully researched using their own expert knowledge and insider tips from locals. These specially created routes take in the best-known sights, but also those hidden gems that others miss. Find out more by visiting www.inntravel.co.uk
In each issue of The Simple Things we publish a local’s insider guide to some of the coolest, most interesting and simply favourite cities to visit. As the summer holiday season begins, we’re releasing one online each week in association with our friends at Inntravel – The slow holiday people
First up is Copenhagen - a city where everyone cycles, even in heels. Download blogger Melanie Haynes' guide for free here.
This article was first published in October 2013 - issue 15.
Coming soon!
We'll post on our Twitter and Facebook when they are published.
MY CITY is supported by INNTRAVEL, the Slow Holiday people, who have spent the last three decades exploring Europe’s most beautiful corners along the lesser-trodden path. When it comes to cities, their self-guided walking tours have been carefully researched using their own expert knowledge and insider tips from locals. These specially created routes take in the best-known sights, but also those hidden gems that others miss. Find out more by visiting www.inntravel.co.uk
See the spring snow! Dutch elm trees create a blanket of petals in April, drawing visitors to Amsterdam
From clever ideas and amazing architecture to nature at its most beautiful, we’re loving all things Dutch right now (see My City on page 74 and our garden feature on page 110 of April's The Simple Things). Along with the famous tulip fields that are in full bloom this month, another wonderful spring display is the ‘spring snow’ in Amsterdam. From around 21 April the city’s 75,000 elm trees scatter their seeds, creating a shower of fragrant elm confetti.
There’s an 8km walking and cycling ‘Elm route’ through the city, from the elm arboretum to the city’s botanical garden and special art installations around the city inspired by the spring snow.
Want more seasonal blooms? Try the violet festival, taking place every March since 1952 in Tourettes-sur-loup in the south of France. After a violet procession, take part in the town's annual petal battle. The month before, mimosa is celebrated in Mandelieu-La Napoule, where 12 tonnes of flowers are used to decorate the town over eight days of festivities.
Japan celebrates its 'sakura' (blossom) season with picnics, parties, and a national blossom forecast. In this country, head to Batsford Arboretum, Gloucestershire, for a shower of cherry blossoms. From 11 April 2015.
And May sees the annual Rochester lilac festival, New York. Taking place in the Highland Park, over 1200 lilac bushes bloom alongside a festival of art, music and food.
Words: Lottie Storey
April's The Simple Things is out now - buy, download or subscribe today.
It was an exhilarating descent, from the foothills of the Picos Mountains to the beach of La Vega on Spain’s rugged north coast. Once there, we were greeted by miles of golden sand and a beach bar selling luscious grilled sardines. A paddle in the sea was the icing on the cake.
Moments that matter… brought to you by Inntravel, the Slow Holiday people.
Wandering through the souks of Marrakesh, I savoured unfamiliar sounds and scents. Crossing a quiet courtyard, my eye was caught by a shaft of light, illuminating a tranquil figure set in the shadows, ladling bowls of aromatic soup. Exchanging smiles and a little money, I was welcomed to this oasis, frequented by Moroccan artisans. Space was made at the wooden bench and we ate.
Moments that matter… brought to you by Inntravel, the Slow Holiday people.
We celebrate slowing down, enjoying what you have, making the most of where you live, enjoying the company of of friends and family, and feeding them well. We like to grow some of our own vegetables, visit local markets, rummage for vintage finds, and decorate our home with the plunder. We love being outdoors and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with a job well done.
