In my previous post, I let you know that we have been working with Lavender wood from a shrub that I planted and have tended to for almost 3 decades. If you missed it, you can catch up with that post here:
Today I wanted to show you the pieces we have created and let you know when they will be in store…
Lavender is a soothing herb that has been called upon for thousands of years to soothe, cleanse and relax. It helps calm and restore tired minds and overworked nervous systems.
It can be deeply restorative, and after long periods of worry and tension, helps us to return to our centre, to come home to ourselves.
Our Lavender Collection will be in store on Sunday 2nd August at 6pm
Wild Fen Updates
Alongside our Lavender collection, we have working on a new selection of Moon and Slice pendants AND they are currently included in our little sale for Lammas with 10% off until Sunday!
As July comes to a close, we reach the festival of Lammas, celebrated at the beginning of August. This is the time of the year when the seeds are ripening and the first harvests of grain take place.
It is now high Summer, the golden time of the year, where combine harvesters work late into the evening gathering in the year’s bounty.
The light still stretches out long into the evenings, but this is no longer a time of active green growth, it is one of ripening, of gathering in the harvest and sensing the edges of Autumn on the horizon. Can you feel its call?
Last week over on Instagram we shared a photo of some wood that we have been working with over the past couple of weeks.
We had some very good guesses as to what it might be, from Heather to Rosemary to Buddleia.
I will be telling you all about it in today’s post. Let’s dive in…
What is home?
Since leaving the land last month, I have been thinking about what ‘home’ means to me. How it varies from person to person but also how it has varied in the different phases of my own life too.
Our van home
I have had chapters of rooting down in a physical place, interspersed with chapters of exploring, of expanding outwards again. I have noticed how quickly I can feel ‘at home’ these days too. Most often in the wild places, with trees, plants and wildlife that feel so familiar to me.
At home with my old Maple friend
‘Home’ for me, has been less about a physical place, and more about connection to the things that hold memory, story and meaning. (And yes, this is bringing me on to what that wood is, I promise!)
At home walking the hedgerowsAt home, growing Lavender
Lavender, a legacy
Many years, ago, I planted a Lavender in the front garden of my parents home. I was around 6 or 7 at the time. I remember talking to my Dad about all of the insects that it would attract. We watched it grow and enjoyed seeing all the butterflies that visited.
In those early Summers, I would make ‘perfume’ by picking some fresh Lavender heads and mixing them with water.
Over the years, the Lavender plant grew and grew. Some years it was well tended. Others it was left to fend for itself, missing its annual pruning and becoming a little more woody. It was always a constant in my life.
On the mornings before sitting my GCSEs, I would pick some Lavender and smell it all the way to school. I gathered little bunches for friends, and learned about different ways to dry it, adding it to my baths or hanging it beside my bed when I struggled to sleep.
For almost 3 decades, that same Lavender plant grew in my parents front garden and it undoubtably shaped my life and journey.
Whenever I would return ‘home’ from wherever I had been, it was still there. Drawing in insects from far and wide.
Over the years, I found new ways to enjoy the harvest. One year, I combined it with other herbs from the garden to make smoulder sticks that I gifted to family for Christmas.
With a few left over, I decided to list them on Etsy to see if anyone would like one. They sold quickly, and became the beginnings of our Wild Fen shop!
The plant has travelled with me too, from cuttings grown and nurtured in my own gardens and shared with loved ones, to plant in theirs.
Last year, after almost 3 decades, the now very woody stems of the Lavender that I had planted as a kid split.
I knew then and there that we would gather and dry the wood, to see if we could turn them into pendants.
And so, this week we have been on a journey, experimenting with a plant so well known to us and yet a wood unfamiliar to many and I can’t wait to share the results with you very soon!
A lot has been shifting for us since I sent my last newsletter. We are currently getting ready to leave the land which we have been tending to over the past 4 years.
Whilst this wasn’t part of our immediate life plan, the universe seemed to have other ideas and gave us a pretty big nudge to reconsider our life.
At this time of the year especially, it is a hive of activity here, with Swallows, Robins, Dunnocks and Pied Wagtails all raising their young. Goldfinches visit daily to feed on all the seedheads that we leave in their honour, and bees are busy foraging in the clover rich meadow area.
It feels extremely sad to say goodbye to them, but it does bring us some comfort knowing that the land here will remain wild, and that the plants and trees we have nurtured will continue to grow and support the wildlife here.
As for us, we will be moving back into the unknown, for a while at least, but we are excited to see where where we land next. I will keep you updated…
Oak, the tree of Strength and Stability
Whenever life feels unsettled or uncertain such as this, Oak is the tree that I reach to. Often called the king of the forest, Oaks have one of the strongest woods in the world. It is easy to see why they have become a symbol of strength and stability the world over.
Oak trees can live for around 900 – 1000 years and during that time bring stability to the surrounding environment. They provide habitats that support over 2000 different species that nest, shelter and feed within their branches.
It is said, that over the typical lifespan of an Oak tree they spend around 300 years growing, 300 years living/thriving and 300 years dying. And even once an Oak tree has died, their dead wood continues to support life, sometimes even more biodiversity than when they were alive!
Oak and the Summer Solstice
As the heat intensifies at this time of the year, the shade of an Oak tree becomes a very welcomed sight. Sitting beneath an Oak at Midsummer is an enriching experience. You can feel them in their element, buzzing with life, vivid green and growing their acorns, a symbol of fertility and abundance.
Oak Wild Jewellery Collection
As the tree most closely associated with the Summer Solstice, it may come as no surprise, that we have felt called to work with Oak this past couple of weeks.
Here is a sneak peak of some of the stunning patterns to be found in bone Oak, the hard as bone inner heartwood of a windfallen Oak branch we were lucky to discover.
This piece is yet to have its final sand and be oiled so expect the colours to really pop in the finished piece…
We will have 5 bone Oak pendants in store on Saturday 20th June at 10am. I will send out a reminder on Saturday morning, with a first glimpse the finished pieces too….
Solstice Shop Updates
To celebrate the Solstice, we have had our BIGGEST shop update of the year. You will find a seasonal selection of moon pendants and woodland slices that are now in store!
As subscribers, you will receive20% off any of these pieces now in store. Click on the link below to add the discount to your basket or apply the discount code LITHA20 at the checkout.
Wishing you all a little Solstice magic this week, Nic x
I have created a discount code for you too, as a little Beltane treat, so don’t forget to scroll on down to receive it.
As April gives way to May, the hedgerows come alive with the creamy blossoms of the Hawthorn tree. It is estimated that Hawthorn makes up around 70% of our hedgerows in the UK, spreading across the land, nourishing the wild world from the ground up.
This is a tree steeped in folklore and ancient tradition, particularly at this time of the year where it is a symbol of Summer’s arrival and the fertility of the land.
Wearing Hawthorn, is to follow in the footsteps of our ancestors, who wore Hawthorn as a way of pledging their allegiance to the earth. Talismans of luck and protection, of wisdom and connection.
These pieces will be in store at 7pm this evening, and as a thank you for being here with us and supporting our work we have created a 20% discount code that can be used on any of our Wild Jewellery pieces until Tuesday.
Simply enter the code NEWSLETTER20 at the checkout orfollow the link here to add the discount to your basket.
As we reach this month’s New Moon, I have been thinking a lot about journeys.
For the last 3 years, we have enjoyed watching a pair of swallows return to the farm where we live. Their arrival, around the end of April has come to mark the peak of spring for me. We watch as the pair rekindle their bond after their long journey before they set about building their nest from clay and grass. They raise 2 or 3 broods throughout the summer months, before they get ready to embark on their big journey back to Africa as the summer wanes.
Thinking of the journey ahead of them and their little ones is awe-inspiring, to say the least, and I treasure the months that they make themselves at home here.
The Swallow pair, preparing for their second brood of the summerA majestic Beech tree
One of the things I have come to love most about trees are the journeys they can take us on as we walk beside them. As a kid, I was fascinated by tracing tree rings with my finger, imagining the years each ring represented.
Now, as we work with trees more deeply, each stage of the process feels like part of a journey. Walking the land, being drawn to different trees, spending time getting to know them, visiting often, being guided to a piece of wood, giving thanks, drying it, sensing when it is ready to work with, cutting, shaping, sanding, oiling. Throughout this beautiful, often slow process, a connection is formed and deepened, and much is exchanged along the way.
New Moon Collection
As the moon has waned this month, we have been drawn to working with woods with beautiful spalting patterns. I have once again, found myself tracing my finger across their marks and am reminded of maps, rivers, and pathways in these pieces. I would love to know what you see?
Spalted Beech pendants
This collection is a celebration of journeys. Journeys of connection; to the earth, to ourselves, and to forming networks that inspire and nurture ourselves and others.
Apple energy can support us when we are feeling tired, depleted, and unenthused to bring a vibrancy back to our days and remind us of the abundance within.
Energetic qualities of Apple include; Abundance, Nourishment, Magic, Earth Connection, Health
Ash trees have strong associations to the Sun, growing strong and tall. They are one of the first trees to let go of their leaves come autumn, often while the leaves are still green, guiding us in the art of moving forward and transformation.
Energetic qualities of Ash include; Direction, Strength, Protection, Transformation
We hope you love these pieces as much as we did crafting them. Perhaps the next part of their journey will be with you?
Wishing you some grounded moments of connection this New Moon,
I hope you have had a chance to soak in some of the delicious sunshine that has shone down on us so far this month. It has certainly put a spring in my step! I have felt the urge for some spring clearing, garden pottering, and a little planning for the year ahead. Have you noticed any changes in your energy yet?
As soon as the sun shines, I have an overwhelming urge to visit the coast, which I did last week. Whilst there, coastal loving Gorse seemed to be in its element, blooming vibrantly against the blue sky.
And so it is Gorse that has inspired our first Wild Jewellery collection of this year. In today’s post, I will be sharing more about this fascinating shrub, I will introduce you to our Gorse collection and let you know exactly when it will be in store, so let’s dive in…
Gorse is a resourceful, evergreen shrub that has developed many adaptations to help it to thrive. It produces nitrogen that enriches the soil around its own roots, so that it can grow in the places that other plants may struggle. Strong spikes protect Gorse so that it can bloom without restraint.
Gorse energy can guide us in learning how to nourish and protect our energy so that we may flourish. To me, Gorse is an advocate for an untamed life, and finding creative ways to thrive. What a wonderful wild guide as we move into spring.
Introducing our Gorse Collection
The overwhelming feeling we experienced from working with Gorse wood was ‘wild’ and ‘untamed’. It felt as though we were working with the wood to retain its own wild character, patterns and markings which shine through these unique pieces. We really hope you love them as much as we enjoyed creating them!
These pieces will be in store on Monday 17th March at 6pm alongside some other spring pieces. The link below will take you to our Etsy shop where you can add us to your favourite shops for updates.
We have really enjoyed hearing about your connections with Gorse over on Instagram this week. If you haven’t already, we would love you to come and join us there too. Let’s share and celebrate the beauty and magic of nature together. You can find us there by clicking the link below…
Further reading
As we approach the Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere you may wish to catch up with some of our previous posts: ‘Ostara, Air and Smoke Cleansing‘ and Awakening with Ostara which includes my favourite journal prompt to work with at this time of year. You may also enjoy our Mindful Spring Practices too, especially helpful if you notice yourself becoming overwhelmed at this time of year.
In my next post, I will be sharing some of my favourite tree guides for the spring season, but until then…
Wishing you all a little spring sunshine this weekend,
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 ourWild Beads of the Hedgerownecklace plus sharing a discount code with you as a thank you for your support, so lets dive in!
With the Solstice almost upon us we have been finding ourselves inspired by the legend of the Oak and Holly kings. In today’s post we shall be sharing a little more about this legend, reflecting on the energy of Oak and Holly, let’s dive in!
I think of May engulfing the land in a vibrant cloak of green and blossoms. One of my favourite things to do this month is stand beneath the canopies of newly opened Beech, Oak or Horse Chestnut leaves and feel the light find its way down to me, filtered through their green pigments. My other joy of the month is of course the Hawthorn or May tree that fills our hedgerows and trackways with its creamy white blossom.
In today’s post we will be introducing you to our 9 Hawthorn pendants, a new Smoke Cleansing Incense blend and giving you first access to both…
Apple trees hold such rich symbolism in our culture and have inspired artwork, poetry, fairy tale and song throughout the ages. They are often associated with the season of Samhain when their branches hang heavy with beautiful, nourishing fruits. They are also celebrated widely in Spring too when they are filled with fragrant blossom.
Wild Fen 