Wild Fen

How we Burn our Loose Incense Blends

April 16, 2021April 16, 2025 Wild Fen

Burning incense is an ancient art that has been practiced across the world for many thousands of years. Long before our ability to extract the essential oils from plants, burning the whole dried plant would have been the earliest form of aromatherapy.

Incense burning was common place in hospitals, places of worship and the home to promote health, clear the air, enhance meditation and spiritual practices, in celebration or remembrance or to cultivate a sense of protection and grounding.

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Trees

The Magic of Birch

April 15, 2021April 25, 2025 Wild Fen

Within a life span similar to our own (which is relatively short in the tree world), Birch trees can completely transform their environments. A pioneer species, they have the ability to move into a piece of open ground, and transform it into woodland. Their deep roots can draw a vast amount of nutrients up through the earth which they return to the soil in the Autumn when they lose their leaves. This creates favourable conditions for other tree species to move in. For this reason, Birch trees symbolise new beginnings, growth and rebirth.

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Trees

The Magic of Yew

March 21, 2021April 10, 2025 Wild Fen

A tree I really enjoy journeying with is the Yew tree, Taxus baccata. Typically associated with the Samhain season, I find myself really connecting with this tree in Spring too.

Like Willows, Yews are dioecious meaning that trees are either male or female. In the Spring the male trees produce an array of flowers covered with golden pollen. This pollen is carried by the wind to the smaller flowers of the female trees that will go on to produce the red berries in the Autumn.

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Wheel of the Year

A Guide to Ostara – the Spring Equinox

March 20, 2021September 30, 2025 Wild Fen

In astronomical terms, the Spring Equinox (also known as Ostara) marks the beginning of the Spring season in the Northern hemisphere and falls between the 20th – 23rd March each year.

The word ‘equinox’ comes from the Latin word meaning ‘equal night’ and twice a year, on both the Spring and Autumn equinoxes, night and day length reach a point of balance. The light has slowly but surely been increasing from it’s lowest point at the Winter Solstice (Yule) in December. It will now continue to expand, overtaking the hours of darkness, until it reaches its peak on our longest day at the Summer Solstice (Litha) in June.

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Foraging

Spring Greens!

March 17, 2021March 6, 2024 Wild Fen

Eating seasonally is one of my favourite ways of feeling more aligned with earth’s cycles and come Spring I really start craving fresher, zingier and lighter meals with lots and lots of greens. And just as if Nature intended, our gardens and woodlands are bursting full of Spring greens, that nourish and cleanse our bodies after a heavy winter.

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Trees

The Magic of Willow

March 17, 2021April 10, 2025 Wild Fen

I feel very lucky to have received some wonderful books for my birthday this year including ‘Walking with Trees’ by Glennie Kindred (one of my favourite authors and nature connectors).

It has inspired me to form an even deeper connection with some of our lovely trees in Britain and I thought it might be nice to share some of my journeying here, starting with Willow a beloved tree all year round, but particularly special in Spring.

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Plants

Bay

February 6, 2021February 2, 2022 Wild Fen

Just like the other aromatic herbs that we have covered in our herb explorations so far, Bay (Laurus nobilis) not only enhances the flavour of our dishes but helps us to digest them. Culinary herbs, such as Sage, Rosemary, Thyme and Bay all have properties that help stimulate our digestion and helps calm the stomach, easing gas and cramps. These herbs, including Bay also help to ease symptoms of coughs and colds.

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Wheel of the Year

A Guide to Imbolc

January 31, 2021September 28, 2025 Wild Fen

Traditionally celebrated at the beginning of February in the Northern Hemisphere, Imbolc marks late Winter, as the very first signs of Spring emerge. It falls midway between the Winter Solstice (Yule) and the Spring Equinox (Ostara).

At this time of year, the land is beginning to awaken from Winter’s slumber. Light is increasing, encouraging changes in the behaviour of our animal friends and we may notice our own energy changing too. Most growth is still occurring underground, but some little pioneer plants bloom first, signalling the quickening of the year.