Hello Wild Soul,
It has been a few months since my last newsletter, so I wanted to fill you in on what we have been getting up to, in and amongst a good dose of Wintering!
We also have a small collection of tree pendants to share with you, inspired by the magic of early spring, so let’s dive in!
For those of you who don’t know, we moved to a small patch of land in the Northamptonshire countryside a few years ago where we have slowly been converting an old stables into a useable workshop space.
When we first arrived, the wooden building had no floor, windows or anything in the way of insulation and was very damp. So with a tiny budget, we have slowly been gathering materials and working on it whenever we get the opportunity.
Over the past couple of months we have been busy insulating the space and fitting windows for more light. We have built a functional packing space, with plenty of storage and a mini kitchen too!
After what has felt like very slow progress at times, it brings me joy to report that I am sat writing today’s post from a dry room at my new (well, repurposed) desk that looks out of a window, to the hedgerow beyond.
It is amazing, how this little space, has become so sacred to me already. After 6 years of living life predominantly from our van, I have relished the chance to arrange treasure long packed away and display some beautiful artwork that I have been collecting. ‘Earth Mother’ in the bottom right corner is by Rosalie Kohler of Spiral Shores, whose work I am deeply drawn to. This particular print inspires me to reconnect to my purpose whenever I find myself lost in doubt or worry. Above this, is a beautiful piece of artwork by Emmalene Maguire that I couldn’t help but bring home with me from the most recent Suffolk Witchcraft Market.
It is safe to say that I can’t wait to sit and write from here as I watch the seasons change outside my window.
A few spring days
Amidst the very wet days of February, came a gem of a day, which just so happened to be my 39th birthday! It was clear, mild and bright and offered us the chance to venture outdoors for the day. We headed to some of our favourite local spots for a wander and to soak in some much welcomed spring energy…
We spotted our first Brimstone butterfly of the year and plenty of bees enjoying the fragrant Cherry Plum blossoms. Daffodils, Snowdrops and Crocus’ were growing with vigour in the grounds of an old hall that we passed by so we couldn’t help but stop and enjoy the view.
I have found myself beginning to venture back out onto the land this past week too. Little bursts of energy focused on some long awaited jobs, interspersed with plenty of distraction over visiting bumble bees and very vocal dunnocks!
Land Updates – growing Willow & baby trees
At the end of last Winter, we planted 150 Willow cuttings here on the land and almost all of them grew, some reaching 8 feet tall by the end of the year!
Willow has some wonderful benefits for the land; sequestering carbon, improving soil structure and composition and acting as a windbreak. It provides a great habitat for wildlife and is an important early food source for many pollinators. It also provides us with a renewable resource that can be used for building, crafting and of course planting even more trees!
We are learning lots as we go along. This year, we decided to leave a few of the trees to continue growing and flowering for the insects, whilst coppicing others, so they produce even more stems this Summer. The stems that we cut, are now being planted in a different space and will hopefully grow into another few hundred Willow trees, so watch this space!
The Elder trees that grew from seeds we planted a few Autumns back are already filled with new leaves. The Oaks, Rowans and Ash trees remain dormant however, their leaf buds still tucked up tight for a while longer yet. I wonder whether are you feeling more Elder or Oak this year?
Tree Guides of Early Spring
As Spring arrives, we have found ourselves drawn to the beautiful blossoms that have begun bursting forth in hedgerows and verges. Blackthorn, Cherry and Plum all cheering up any journey with their abundance.
We have loved working with Cherry wood again. These pieces have the most beautiful pink/red hues that catch the light beautifully. In fact you can see a video of them in all their glory in the listing by clicking on the photo above.
The beautiful silvery catkins of the Willow trees have also being calling for attention and felt especially potent beneath the recent Full Moon. As one of the first trees to grow in the springtime, Willows grow with speed and ease. They are a wonderful guide when we are struggling to ‘get going’ or move in the direction of our dreams.
The pale Willow wood is almost pearlescent in the light, embodying a lightness and brightness reminiscent of the Moon.
I love seeing newly opened Hawthorn leaves, unfurling like a rosette. They bring vivid green back to the landscape once again. Their vital energy is so inspiring after a long winter and reminds us of possibility and life force stirring beneath the surface.
As we move ever closer to the Spring Equinox on the 20th of March, we have been enjoying celebrating the beauty and diversity of these woods with simple yet strong and tactile forms and we hope you love them too!
We will be returning to Ely this Sunday, 15th for the Spring Pagan and Alternative Fayre. We have some wonderful markets and fairs booked in for the year ahead, check out where you can find us here.
Wishing you all a little Spring Magic for the weeks ahead,
Nic x
P.s you can find more notes on Spring, journal prompts and practices below:
Wild Fen 