Author: Wild Fen

Products, Wheel of the Year

Harvest Moon, Mabon & Lunar Calendars!

Wild Fen

Hello Wild Soul,

Did you catch sight of the beautiful harvest moon over the past few days? We have enjoyed watching it rise, lighting up the fields adjacent to us as the farmer gathers late into the evening, just as humans have done throughout history.

This big, beautiful moon feels like the perfect time to introduce you to our Lunar Calendars for 2025. There are 3 sizes available; a double sided A6 card or medium (8×10″) and large (11×14″) prints. Our design is printed onto a premium, recycled card and packaged in a compostable plant based sleeve. Find them in store now!

shop now

The Harvest Moon, also lets us know that Mabon, the celebration of the Autumn Equinox is almost upon us, here in the Northern Hemisphere.

Mabon

This year, Mabon fall on Sunday 22nd September. This marks the beginning of the Autumn season. At the equinox, night and day become equal in length once again, after which we step over the threshold to the darker half of the year.

As the light is noticeably retreating now, we may find ourselves beginning to crave more rest. Earlier nights, warming foods and cosiness are my tell tale signs the season is changing. One of my favourite practices for this time of year is to create or tend to a space so that it feels cosy and welcoming for self care practices for the darker months to come. Other practices I love at this time of year are:

  • Lighting incense and candles in the evenings.
  • Watching the sunrise & sunset.
  • Noticing signs of Autumn as the leaves begin to change colour.
  • Cooking some warming dishes with earthy fruits and vegetables.
  • Sitting in front of a fire.

I would love to know what helps you feel connected to the season.

Grounding practice

Some seasons may feel easier to transition into than others. As I move into Autumn, I feel the need to ground myself regularly in nature and I wanted to share one of my favourite ways to do this with you:

Find a tree and stand nearby, if possible with your back against the trunk. If this is not possible it also works just by visualising yourself doing so. Take a few moments to slow down and notice your surroundings; the textures and temperatures. The colours that you can see and any noises that you can hear.

Take some deeper breaths, and bring your attention to your feet on the ground. Gently press each one into the earth a little. Notice how supported you are, by the earth, held and welcome. Breathe in this feeling of support throughout your body.

Wild Fen updates

We had a brilliant time at the Wonder of Wood Fair near Cambridge last weekend! Thank you to anyone who came to say hello!

Our next stall is on Saturday 28th, 10.30am-4pm for the Thetford Autumn Pagan & Alternative Fayre, Charles Burrell Centre, The Charles Burrell Centre, Staniforth Road, Thetford IP24 3LH

You can find out where will be in the coming months here, with a couple more dates to be added soon!

I am very excited to be attending the Wild Sister Gathering this weekend, hosted by two hugely creative beings; Sonia Bicker and Jo of Under the Rowan tree. I shall be bringing a few Wild Fen creations with me too, and if you are going, I look forward to seeing you there!

Wishing you a nourishing Mabon,

Nic x

Trees, Wellbeing

Tree Guides for Embracing Change

Wild Fen

Hello Wild Soul,

In my last post, I shared how observing changes in the natural world has helped me to embrace change a little easier in my own life. In today’s post, I wanted to share some of my favourite trees for supporting us during times of change or uncertainty.

What if I don’t know the species of tree?

I would like to start by saying, if you are not sure how to differentiate a Beech from a Birch tree, please do not worry! You do not need to be an expert to connect with the supportive energy of a tree. There are some brilliant resources out there to help you begin to tell different species apart including this free guide from the Woodland Trust. They also have a brilliant A-Z of trees that is well worth a browse.

Remember, learning about something is a wonderful way to connect with it. Begin with trees you have noticed before. Approach them with the willingness to get to know more about them. Greet them. See what stands out to you about them. What colour and texture is their bark? What shape and size are their leaves? Do you notice anything else growing on them – cones, fruit, nuts or flowers? Are there any feelings or words that come to mind as you spend time near this tree?

Greeting a huge beech tree

Tree Guides for Embracing Change

Here are some of my favourite trees to connect with during times of change and uncertainty. You can read more about each tree by clicking on its name:

  • Beech – A nurturing tree often thought of as the ‘Mother of the Woods.’ Beech trees go through a vivid transformation each year and can show us how to embrace change whilst nurturing ourselves and others.
  • Birch – Birch trees are often the first to move into land that has been cleared and can transform a piece of open land into a woodland. They are wonderful guides when we are beginning something new, especially when courage is required!
  • Blackthorn – These small but determined trees can guide us in strengthening our boundaries or when we are facing a challenging situation.
  • Elder – These trees grow fast and are one of the first to reawaken at the end of the Winter. They are wonderful guides for times when we may be desiring change but are feeling stuck or unmotivated.
  • Hawthorn – Hawthorn offers us medicine for the heart space. Connect with them when the fear of change takes over or when we are feeling lost or defeated after a life change that didn’t go our way.
  • Hazel – A flexible, energetic tree that can guide us in thinking creatively to overcome challenges.
  • Oak – A symbol of strength and stability. These vast, slow growing trees can be very supportive if we are feeling ungrounded or like things are moving too fast.
  • Rowan – If we are unsure of our direction, Rowan energy can help us connect with our intuition and inner guidance.
  • Willow – The energy of Willow trees is one of flow. Associated with water, they offer us space beneath their sprawling branches to rest and release the old.
  • Yew – Yew trees are our oldest living trees in the UK, with some thought to be around 3000 years old! They are a symbol of rebirth, regeneration and adaptability. Yew trees are wonderful during times of uncertainty or where we may be lacking perspective on a situation.

How to connect with a tree

  • The most simple way to connect with any tree is to spend time with them. See what you notice in their company, what you notice about them and also what arises within you.
  • Visit some known trees at different times of the year and notice how they change. Do they feel any different as you greet them in different seasons?
  • Gather fallen leaves, sticks or cones to display in your sacred space.
  • Some of the trees listed above have some wonderful medicinal properties that you may wish to learn more about. At this time of year, elderberries are ripe and make delicious syrups. Hawthorn and sloe berries from the Blackthorn tree are also wonderful to explore.*
  • We craft tree energy pendants from the windfallen wood of many trees. For the times we can’t be in the woodland, the woodland could still be with us.
Beech tree in late Summer
Beech tree in late Winter

I would love to hear how you found this post, and whether you would like to see more like this in the future. Stay tuned for my next post where I shall be sharing some grounding tools with you.

Wishing you a bright week,

Nic x

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* A note in regards to foraging, please do ensure you are able to identify anything you gather with 100% certainty. If you have any doubt, always cross check the identification. The Yew tree is one example of a tree that is toxic to us. Plant medicine can be potent so it is well worth having a look at any known contraindications for the plant that you are foraging.

I encourage everyone to forage with a deep respect to the tree/plant and the ecosystem it is part of. The Autumn berries in particular are a precious food source for many species of wildlife who depend on them so gather with care from areas of abundance.

Wellbeing

Embracing change naturally

Wild Fen

Hello wild soul,

I am enjoying seeing trees that just a few months ago were full of blossom, now hang heavy with fruit. And I think of them, in a few months from now, standing bare in the midst of Winter’s depth.

It has got me thinking about how present change is in the natural world, and yet, how often the fear and avoidance of change shows up in our human lives over and over.

The abundant apple tree, blossom & fruit

See, our brains like certainty. Did you know that just the thought of uncertainty in the future has been shown to trigger a threat response in us? The brain often prefers a negative yet predictable outcome to an uncertain one. So it is easy to see how we may come to fear change and learn to avoid uncertainty in an attempt keep ourselves safe.

Whilst from an evolutionary perspective, certainty can be linked with safety, avoiding the unknown can limit situations and opportunities that may bring us great joy, growth, and success in our lives too.

The good news is that whilst our minds tend to prefer certainty, they are also flexible and can learn to embrace change too.

If uncertainty is unacceptable to you, it turns into fear. If it is perfectly acceptable, it turns into increased aliveness, alertness, and creativity.” – Eckhart Tolle

I have found that observing the changes that occur in the natural world is a wonderful guide in embracing and navigating change and uncertainty in my own life.

In today’s post, I wanted to share some of my favourite ways to connect with the natural world and feel more aligned with the cyclic nature of the Earth, so let’s dive in!

  • Be in nature often. Take in your surroundings, noticing any ways they may be changing. Notice colours, textures, sounds, temperature & light.
  • Gather some natural treasure (cones, leaves, acorns, feathers, flowers etc.) and make a space to display them. Update them often as the seasons change.
  • Plant some seeds or bulbs and enjoy seeing them sprout, grow, bloom, seed and wither through the year.
  • Take a few moments at sunrise and sunset to look out on the day.
  • Keep a journal, and notice how outer changes impact on you. Your energy, mood, habits and rituals may all shift with the day, season or moon cycle. Choose a ‘key word’ to describe how the Earth’s energy feels to you in this moment. Now pick one to describe your own energy.
Being in nature in all seasons

Further reading

If you enjoyed this post, you may like to check out our ‘Cycles of the Moon’ post and ‘The Wheel of the Year‘ post for more on cyclic living. And if you are feeling Autumn approaching, check out one of my favourite rituals for this time of year; ‘Creating a Space’.

Keep your eye out for my next post too, where I shall be sharing my favourite trees to connect with to support us during times of change.

Wishing you all some bank holiday magic,

Nic x

Wheel of the Year

Late Summer & the smell of Autumn

Wild Fen

Hello wild soul

How are you as we move through August?

At this time of year, the Earth’s energy has been shifting from active growth to ripening as the harvest season arrives. Fields are turning golden and nuts and berries are fattening in the hedgerows. We stand in late Summer as the smell of Autumn wafts in on the breeze.

Late Summer days on the land

I have come to really love these transitionary times of the year. As one season nears its completion, the next ebbs in. Both intertwine and overlap. Dancing they invite us to savour the process of transition and to embrace the ‘in-between‘.

We may naturally find ourselves feeling more aligned to different points along this process. Some of us may feel ready to embrace the magic of Autumn while others are basking in the late days of Summer. What is your experience this year?

Savouring the Moonrise

I find myself using the word ‘savouring’ a lot this month. Savouring the golden sunrises, savouring the peace at dusk, savouring the vivid colours of my garden, savouring the flavours of ripe blackberries and eating outdoors. I wonder, what are you savouring this month?

Juicy blackberries
Garden tea

Trees in transition

Trees are wonderful markers of change. I love to revisit trees that I watched burst back into life in early Spring and see them now as their fruit, berries, nuts and seeds are ripening.

Blackthorn blossom in late Feb
Blackthorn (sloe) berries in August

Are there any trees that you have enjoyed watching evolve throughout this year?

There are many trees to enjoy at this time of year; Rowan, heavy with their vibrant orange berries. Apple trees growing their delicious fruits. Hazel, Beech and Oak are all growing their nuts & acorns.

Elder

One of my very favourite tree guides for supporting us during times of transition in our own lives is the Elder tree. A wonderful symbol of the cycle of life and transformation. During those cold days of January, the Elder tree can been witnessed bursting into leaf, an early signal that change is near.  The creamy mass of elderflowers are the perfume of long summer days. And once again, Elder announces that change is near as its green berries begin to fatten, turning the most deep hues of purple.

Elder leaves are one of the first to unfurl in January
Creamy Summer elderflowers
Elderberries ripening

Just a few months ago, we were celebrating the hedgerows for their abundance of blossom and fresh leaves and now, the leaves are drying as the berries and nuts are ripening. Heralding our journey into the waning half of the year.

Wild Fen Offerings

As always, we have been deeply inspired by the trees of this season. Working with Elder to create some special, bark-on pieces that are in store now.

Trio of hedgerow moons

Find us next

We had a wonderful time at ‘Ye olde wytches market‘ in Newark on Trent this month. If you are local then do keep your eyes peeled for the next one to be announced!

In September we will be at:

Further reading

You may like to check out my ‘transitioning to Autumn’ post from a few years ago and if you are interested in foraging and haven’t yet gathered any nettle seeds, you may enjoy this article here.

I hope you savour some beauty this week,

Nic

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Updates

July update, new tree pendants & more

Wild Fen

Hello Wild Soul,

We have finally dried out after a rather soggy weekend in the woods trading at the fabulous Folk in a Field festival in Norfolk. It was the first time we have taken our creations to a festival and despite the weekend being extremely wet (with the odd storm thrown in for good measure) we met so many lovely people and listened to some great music.

Today’s post is a recap of July so far. I also wanted to let you know about some new trees that we have begun working with and share what is new in store this week, so let’s dive in!

July

The month began creatively, making some new stands and signs to upgrade our stall. We love to reuse materials wherever possible. For our new signs we sanded down some broken fence panels, and turned 2 cupboard doors into a makeshift blackboard and a jewellery display!

Makeshift blackboard
Fence panel signs..
Jumper, wool hat, socks and coat in July!

July still feels far from ‘typical’ weather wise. I was in full Winter mode for part of the festival and I have found myself craving some rather Autumnal foods… not to mention the extra blankets and jumpers.

But I am really appreciating those bright, dry days when they arrive. Making the most of gathering some of our herbs and flowers that are in abundance, putting my bare feet on the earth and feeling the sun on my face. We had a lovely evening walk at a nearby wildflower meadow and saw some butterflies, which I have been missing so much this year!

Marbled White & Pyramidal Orchid
I love wildflowers!
Drying homegrown herbs & flowers for a tea blend

Wild Fen Offerings

After collecting a piece of windfallen wood, we leave it to dry for many months before we begin working with it. We are very excited to introduce you to the newest additions to our tree energy pendant collection, handcrafted from Rowan and Alder wood! You can find them In store now.

Rowan trees are known as ‘Mountain Ash’ or ‘Lady of the Mountains’ due to their ability to grow higher up the mountainside than any of our other native trees. They symbolise protection, resilience, adaptability and facing challenges. They can also guide us in connecting with our intuition & meditative states.

Alder trees thrive beside the water’s edge. They are experts at transforming watery landscapes, making them more hospitable for other trees and wildlife. Along with their deep connection with water, they are often associated with the fire element too, and can teach us about balancing opposites and becoming more comfortable exploring our emotional landscapes.

At Midsummer, I gathered some herbs and flowers that are abundant here on the land. I crafted a batch of Herb and Flora Smoulder sticks that are in store now. They combine a magical mix of Sage, Rosemary, Bay, Lavender, Yarrow, Feverfew and Rose and embody the energy of those bright, warm days.

Upcoming dates

Our next event will be Ye Olde Wytches Market in Newark on Saturday 10th August alongside some magical traders and readers! We always love to connect with any of you that are able to make it, and if you know anybody that lives nearby and may want to come, please share it with them.

Wishing you all some more warmth this month,

Nic x

Wheel of the Year

Slow Rituals & Reflections at the Summer Solstice

Wild Fen

Hello wild soul,

It seems hard to believe that we are approaching the longest day of the year on Thursday. I began writing this post to you as I have all of my wheel of the year posts this year, wrapped in a blanket, looking out onto a cold and rainy day. Today, however, is quite the contrast. I am sat with the sun on my face, surrounded by 5 noisy young swallows, who bravely left their nest yesterday and are out ‘finding their wings’, such a joy to witness!

In today’s post I wanted to share some simple rituals that I’ve been enjoying as we move towards the solstice, some reflections and a few exciting announcements so let’s dive in!

Continue reading “Slow Rituals & Reflections at the Summer Solstice” →
Wild Jewellery

Our Wild Beads of the Hedgerow are here!

Wild Fen

Hello Wild Soul,

I hope the sunny start to May has brought you an opportunity to enjoy some time outdoors. It is my favourite time of year when the leaves are such vibrant shades of green and paths are lined with wild flowers.

Last week was National Hedgerow Week, a time to raise awareness and celebrate a precious habitat, iconic to the British landscape. It coincided completely by accident with a project we have been dreaming of for a while…

In today’s post I shall be introducing you to our Wild Beads of the Hedgerow necklace plus sharing a discount code with you as a thank you for your support, so lets dive in!

Continue reading “Our Wild Beads of the Hedgerow are here!” →
Trees, Wheel of the Year

Beltane Blessings & Spring Wild Pendants

Wild Fen

Hello wild soul,

How are you as we approach Beltane this year?

I am writing this to you as I listen to two swallows chatter away busily outside the window. They returned yesterday from their Winter in west Africa and have reclaimed part of the stables here on the land. If we are lucky, they will raise 1 perhaps even 2 broods here before they head back to Africa in the Autumn. Their arrival is one of the cues that tells me that Beltane is close by. The other is the profusion of beautifully scented blossoms everywhere; Lilacs, Apple, Cherry, Hawthorn and Rowan. I am curious: What are your Spring cues?

Beltane is celebrated around the 30th April and 1st May and marks the peak of Spring’s energy. This is the time of year where the land is fertile, growth is increasing rapidly and flowers are beginning to bloom.

In today’s post, I shall be sharing some of my favourite ways to celebrate Beltane, introducing some of the trees that are calling out to connect with us at this time and have some very special wild pendants to show you so let’s dive in….

Continue reading “Beltane Blessings & Spring Wild Pendants” →
Products, Trees

Blackthorn pendants in store now!

Wild Fen

Hello lovely soul,

Whether you have a long weekend ahead of you or not, we hope you get to experience some Spring joy in the coming days! I have noticed my heart lift whenever the Sun shines recently, as I feel Winter’s grip beginning to loosen.

We have been feeling the call of Blackthorn continue this week. Have you noticed its white blossom lining the roads, hedgerows or woodland edges lately? Every year, certain plants or trees really seem to flourish, and this year is the turn of the Blackthorn, whose blossom is amazingly abundant right now! This small, yet strong tree has been calling us all month long and we felt inspired to craft a few more Blackthorn wood pendants that have gone into our store this morning. We are offering our treasured subscribers 10% off this weekend! You can find your discount code later in this post.

Continue reading “Blackthorn pendants in store now!” →
Wheel of the Year

Awakening with Ostara

Wild Fen

My emergence into Spring is feeling rather slow this year. As my dear friend, Theresa put it, ‘it’s like waking up, but I’m not quite ready to jump out of bed yet!’ Some years, I am desperate to jump out of bed, and begin planting seeds and foraging those fresh Spring greens. But this year, as I sit in front of the fire and look out onto yet another wet day, my body whispers, ‘not yet’ and I remain in my late Winter cocoon a little longer.

In today’s post, I wanted to share with you my favourite question to return to at this time of year. I am celebrating a tree with deep associations to the season and sharing our first Wild Jewellery release of the year…

Continue reading “Awakening with Ostara” →