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COUNTRYSIDE ▯ HISTORY & HERITAGE ▯ CRAFT ▯ COOKERY ▯ GARDENING ▯ TRAVEL
Life at nature’s pace
Ancient sentinel of marsh and fen
Dishes enhanced with malty smoothness
Miniature artworks in fabric and thread
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www.landscapemagazine.co.uk
GENTLE
beginnings

Contents
March 2018
64
92
18
In the garden
In the kitchen
Craft
10 Species tulips reveal their treasure
18 Tranquil plot comes to life
26 The garden in March
44 Woodland plants offer
46 Growing miniature greens
52 Fresh and tangy rhubarb
60 Treat for teatime
64 Dishes enhanced with silky stout
70 Regional & Seasonal:
The Cornish Seaweed Company
30 Displays of heady hyacinths
88 Cheery cushion knit
100 Weaving twigs with colour
4

112
100 72 104
Country matters
History and heritage
Regulars
72 Fences brought to life
104 A distinctive native breed
38 Hillside home for ferns
79 Cultivating a British brew
92 Buttons of exquisite intricacy
112 A tiny city’s Fenland triumph
6 Readers’ letters
8 Our LandScape
36 In the garden
50 In the kitchen
62 Subscription offer
86 In the home
122 UK events
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60
• Photography: Steve Lee

teatime pleasure
This firm fruity loaf is an ideal mid-afternoon
indulgence, together with a cup of tea
Speckled bread
Makes 10 slices
300ml boiling water
2 teabags
500g mixed dried fruit
2 rounded tbsp light muscovado sugar
4 tbsp fine-cut orange marmalade
2 rounded tsp mixed spice
250g white self-raising flour
200g wholemeal self-raising flour
butter, to serve
Pour the boiling water over the teabags and leave to
infuse for at least 5 mins. Pour the tea into a large
mixing bowl. Add the fruit, stir well and leave overnight
for the fruit to plump up and absorb the tea.
Preheat the oven to 170°C/gas mark 3. Grease a
900g loaf tin and put a strip of baking paper along the
base so that it comes up over the ends.
Using a wooden spoon, beat the sugar, 2 tbsp of
the marmalade and the spice into the soaked fruit. Mix
in the flours to make a firm, sticky dough. Add a little
water if the mixture is too dry.
Spoon into the tin and smooth the top. Bake for 1¼
hrs until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out
clean. If the top starts to brown too much, cover
loosely with baking paper or foil.
Take the loaf out of the oven and spread the
remaining 2 tbsp of marmalade over the top so that it
melts to make a sticky glaze. Leave to cool in the tin.
To serve, cut into generous slices and spread with
butter. The loaf will keep well for a week if wrapped in
greaseproof paper or cling film and foil.
Alternatives
Replace some of the mixed dried fruit with dried
cranberries, dried black cherries or dried blueberries.
Instead of marmalade, use apricot jam or glaze the
top with honey.
Recipe from
Cook it Slowly!
Dairy Cookbook
£8.75, available from
www.dairydiary.co.uk
61

Ely Cathedral rises from
the water-ribboned fens
like a ship in full sail.
majestic city of
marsh and FEN
Commanding a vast landscape dominated by water,
the tiny Isle of Ely has a rebellious past

In the home
Seasonal decorative touches to bring the outdoors in
Caring
for cloths
tradition
woven in wool
With their tough weave, cotton
cleaning rags are economical and
excellent for scrubbing and
cleaning surfaces. However, they
should be well cared for to
prolong life and prevent the
spread of germs. To clean, they
are boiled for 15 mins before
laundering as normal. Adding ½-1
cup of white vinegar to the boil
helps cut through grease. After
each use, a thorough rinse before
they are left to dry can prevent
unpleasant smells, keeping the
cloths fresh and hygienic.
From a workshop in Hay-on-Wye, near the Brecon Beacons, Julie
Leonard makes unique cushions, clothing and scarves, inspired by
traditional Welsh textiles. Her tapestry design is based on an old
Welsh pattern and double woven in pure new wool on a 1930s
Dobcross loom. She makes each item by hand together with
experienced local women, helping to create work in rural Wales. The
bolster cushions are 12in (30cm) long and 5in (13cm) wide. They
come in a variety of colour combinations which, once the short run
sells out, are never repeated, ensuring their individual appeal.
Bolster cushion from £48, thewelshgirl.com
secret locations
A worn table can be transformed into a unique piece of meaningful furniture with a
square of map paper showing a favourite place. Areas of the table to be covered are
sanded, then cleaned with a damp cloth to remove any dust. Applying a coat of primer
aids adhesion. A square of map slightly larger than the table is cut out and glued
carefully to the top, leaving 1in (2.5cm) spare at the edges. Bubbles and wrinkles are
smoothed out before the edges are trimmed with a sandpaper block, using soft
downward strokes to achieve an aged look. Finally, after the glue has dried, a layer of
the dead flat type of varnish is applied. The legs can be removed with care, then sanded
and primed. They can also be painted in a contrasting colour before being reattached.
86

a surprising cup
A row of different succulents arranged in unused soup and coffee mugs brings a touch of luscious greenery into the home.
Succulents store water in their leaves, which are usually thick and fleshy. They tend to thrive in dry climates and do not like a
humid atmosphere. They need water to survive, but can endure extended periods of drought, relying on the stored moisture
and nutrients in their leaves. Care needs to be taken not to overwater. They respond best if their roots are soaked and left to
dry out quickly. If their roots are sitting in water for too long, they will start to rot and die. Succulents need to be in a light
place to thrive, but ideally not near a south-facing window as they can get burned if the light becomes too hot.
longer life for
picked daffodils
Daffodils cut from the garden proclaim spring throughout the
home, and their brightness is maintained with simple care.
Daffodils release a sap-like substance that can be harmful to
other flowers. If they are destined for a mixed arrangement,
it is best to let them stand in cool, clean water on their own
overnight first. They prefer shallow water, filling no more than
half the vase and cutting stems on the diagonal will improve
water absorption. Adding a teaspoon of sugar and a few drops
of lemon juice helps keep the blooms in good condition.
Photography: living4media; plainpicture; Loupe Images
whirling colour
Made from cotton washing line, the simplicity of these
coasters highlights their design. A zigzag stitch in
coloured thread binds the spiral, its sharp lines
providing a striking contrast to the off-white curves.
Crafted by Steph Bennett in rural Northamptonshire
and available in four colours, they bring the brightness
of spring to a morning cup.
Cotton rope coasters £12 for four,
www.designSix5.etsy.com
87

woven wands
Scarlett and Louis collect branches from the garden to
practise simple weaves with colourful scraps of wool
100

Spring prunings foraged
from the garden can be used in a fun
and engaging project. After
collecting an armful of forked
branches, Louis and Scarlett set about
creating rainbow-coloured wands using
leftover lengths of wool.
Any damp branches are firstly left in a
warm place indoors to dry out. Lichen can
be cleaned off, but provides interesting
texture and helps to keep the wool in place.
The children are able to experiment
with a variety of patterns and colours in
their weaves. Afterwards, they can be used
for play or to make a cheerful display in the
home or among the flower beds.
Scarlett and Louis
gather up suitable
branches from
the lawn. These
will provide the
framework for the
weaves.
materials
• Small, dry wishbone branches
• Blunt needles
• Leftover wool in a variety of
colours
• Scissors
• Lengths of fabric cut into 1in
(2.5cm) wide strips
• A selection of large beads
A secure base
1. 2. 3.
A dry branch is chosen and any
knobbles or bits of twig snapped
off. Rough bark can prevent the
wool from slipping. One end of a
small ball of wool is held securely
at the base of the fork.
Wool is then looped two to three times
around the fork stem, covering the tail of
wool to trap it firmly in place.
The wool is looped around one prong and
drawn across from underneath to the other
prong. It is then wrapped around the second
prong and pulled taut over the top across
the gap. This is repeated so a tight loom is
formed, with the wool alternately passing
under and over the prongs. Once the wool
reaches the end of the branch, it is tied off
with a double knot.
101

Our LandScape
The best of the season to inspire and admire
secrets of the wildcat
A dark-ringed bushy tail,
tiger-like stripes and a muscular
build identify the Scottish
wildcat. Dr Christopher Clegg’s
revealing book covers all there
is to know about this impressive
predator. Unique to Britain and
now found only in Scotland, the
wildcat’s history and habits,
place in folklore and possible
future are revealed.
The Scottish Wildcat:
Britain’s Most Endangered
Mammal £20,
www.merlinunwin.co.uk
cornish celebration
first light
Hundreds of tiny white blossoms emerge in early spring on the
bare, thorny branches of blackthorn. These prolific flowers are
a common sight in hedgerows and along field edges, the spiky
branches often being used as a natural cattle-proof barrier.
As one of the earliest blossoms to appear, the multitudes of
flowers provide an important source of pollen for foraging spring
bees. Foliage arrives later and is itself a food source for many
caterpillars, including those of the Brimstone moth and Brown
Hairstreak butterfly. With its dark spiny wood and contrasting
bright flowers, blackthorn has a traditional association with the
cycles of life and death. Because of this, it is often used in the
Celtic celebration of Imbolc, welcoming the beginning of spring.
St Piran’s Day, or Gool Peran in Cornish, is the national day of Cornwall,
celebrated on 5 March every year. The day is named after, and celebrates,
St Piran, the patron saint of tin miners who is sometimes credited with
discovering the metal. The Cornish flag, with its white cross on a black
background, is said to represent the granite that rolled from his fire one
night, oozing white tin. Though a definitive history is uncertain, it is believed
that St Piran was born in Ireland in the 6th century. He was renowned for
his miraculous deeds and legend tells that a group of jealous kings put a
millstone around his neck and threw him into the sea. Instead of drowning,
St Piran floated to shore at Perranporth, which still bears his name. There,
he built an oratory to spread Christianity, his first disciples being a fox, a
bear and a badger. Today, hundreds of people make a pilgrimage to
Perranporth and the site of St Piran’s Oratory. Every year, the St Piran Play
is held at Perran Sands, usually on the nearest Sunday to 5 March.
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a loving
bond
The relationship between a lamb and its mother is
very close, and the first hours after birth are an
important bonding time for both. The ewe will first
lick and dry the newborn lamb and may ‘speak’ to it
as she does so. During this time, the animals
become familiar with each other’s scent and voice.
The lamb’s first meal is colostrum, a milk which
contains maternal antibodies and is rich in nutrients,
helping to ensure the best start in life. Experienced
mothers nudge newborns to the teat if they struggle
to find it. As the lamb grows, it develops confidence
and curiosity, venturing further afield to play and
explore. If it wanders too far, for too long, the dam
calls out. Mother and lamb recognise each other’s
voice and will bleat anxiously until they are reunited
and the bond restored.
golden trumpets
Daffodils cast in silver or 9-carat gold capture the arrival of
spring. They are designed by Lizzie Kershaw, who takes her
inspiration from the natural world, especially plants and
flowers. She uses traditional gold-smithing techniques to
saw, file and hammer the metal, recreating by hand the
particular textures of the season’s emblematic flower.
Daffodil earrings from £35, www.lizziekershaw.co.uk
Photography: Alamy; Shutterstock; Richard Faulks; Nature Picture Library
nature’s thermometer
Covering the woodland floor with gleaming yellow, lesser celandine,
Ficaria verna, is one of the first spring flowers to emerge after the
dormancy of winter. Its warm colour is a celebration of the returning
warmth and light. A perennial herb, lesser celandine’s glossy yellow
petals radiate from a slightly more orange centre, surrounded by dark
green, heart-shaped leaves. They tend to grow in abundance, rarely taller
than 2in (5cm), and forming carpets of star-shaped flowers. The flower
struck William Wordsworth so deeply that he wrote three poems about it.
One, To the Small Celandine, ends with the joyful declaration: ‘Spring is
coming. Thou are come!’
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