As we move through May, I can’t help but marvel at how fast the wild world seems to expand and change on an almost daily basis.
The Hawthorn blossoms that just a few days ago felt in their prime, are now shedding their petals all over the track below. Meanwhile the Elderflowers are opening daily providing pollinators with a new flavour to enjoy.
Frothy Hawthorns Magical Elder
I love the fullness at this time of the year. It feels like an invitation that asks me to pause regularly and notice the land around me. Medicine, at what can so often feel like a busy time of the year for us too.
The longer days, provide more opportunities to get out. Early morning walks, or evening visits to favourite spots to enjoy this abundant time of the year.
An evening walk to the Birches
Noticing Nature
A tree that always grabs my attention at this time of the year is the Horse Chestnut. Covered in tall, upright clusters of flowers known as ‘candles’ they can be spotted at great distances.
This expansive tree has developed a fascinating way of communicating with insects. Each individual flower starts off with a yellow patch on them that turns red once the flower has been pollinated, letting pollinators know, which flowers are worth visiting.
Fascinating Horse Chestnut flowers communicating with insects
A tree that is often overlooked at this time of the year is the Holly tree which is often associated with Winter. Its glossy green leaves and bright red berries bring colour and life at a time of the year when most of the colour has retreated. And yet, if you happen to see them in the Spring time, their delicate, 4 petalled flowers are a joy to see.
Typically a Holly tree will produce either male or female flowers. The male flowers have 4 long stamens that are coated with yellow pollen. The female flowers have a raised green centre, which is actually the ovary, and if pollinated grows into the red berries we shall be celebrating later on in the year.
Female flowers of the Holly tree
And as the bluebells have now faded in the woodland here, other woodland plants like Bugle and Yellow Archangel are providing new colours to enjoy.
Upcoming Events
This Saturday we return to Newark for Ye Olde Wytches Market, a magical event that includes talks, workshops and artisan craft stalls too.
We will be returning to the Witch & Fairy festival over the late May bank holiday. This magical event held in Northamptonshire has discounted tickets currently available too.
I wanted to let you know that this week is National Tree Week (22nd – 30th November) which marks the beginning of the annual tree planting season here in the UK. I don’t know about you, but it brings me joy on this drizzly, grey day, just thinking about all the little trees that are being planted up and down the country, over the coming weeks and months.
This year, the focus of National Tree Week is ‘a future filled with trees‘ and if you know me even slightly, you will know I need no excuse to celebrate our tree kin!
Last year, I shared my ‘Tree Guides for Embracing Change‘ post where I outline some of my favourite ways to begin connecting with trees. If you aren’t sure how to identify a particular tree but are curious about deepening your connection, I recommend catching up with this post.
In today’s post, I wanted to share some of the magnificent trees that have inspired us this year. We would LOVE to hear about any trees that have been special to you too, so do leave us a comment if you feel called to.
I will also be revealing some new woods that we have been co-creating with this month and sharing a discount code with you, so let’s dive in!
Field Maple, the unsung hero
In early Summer, I came across this beautiful, old field maple in a woodland near where I live. It is funny, I visit this woodland often and yet had never noticed this tree before.
The Field Maple is our only Maple native to the UK and they are such a staple of the British landscape that they are often overlooked. This is exactly what I had done, all the years that I had walked by on my track through the woods.
On one particular day however, I did notice this glorious tree, its branches extending so wide, that I felt as if they scooped me underneath this beautiful canopy. Over Summer, I visited often, spotting so much wildlife as I sat with my back against the trunk. It became my go to place, anytime I craved space, connection, perspective or comfort.
In Autumn, the Field Maple leads the transformation, as its leaves turn a brilliant yellow, reminding us, that they are there, nestled throughout the hedgerows and woodlands. They can also be found across our towns and cities, where they are very successful at tolerating pollution and providing vital homes, food and refuge to wildlife.
I think of them as steady, hardworking and humble trees that help us to find the beauty and magic in the mundane.
Our first time working with this beautiful Maple wood, revealed these glorious markings
Sycamore, and feeling a tree’s energy…
We sometimes get asked how we decide what ‘energy’ represents a particular tree, so I hope this post shares a little insight into how we connect with and learn from trees…
During an oppressively hot day around midsummer (yes, I know it might be hard to imagine that just now…) we headed for the woods in search of some shade. After some time strolling, we approached a mound, somewhere towards the middle of the woodland. On top of the mound stood a circle of 5 big sycamore trees. Their dense canopies united as one, blocking most of the sunlight from reaching the ground beneath them. The top of the mound was covered by a thick, (shade loving) mossy green carpet.
It felt as though we had hit the jackpot, as we climbed up and set our rucksacks down, taking shelter from the sun beneath these towering trees. We spent the afternoon, reading, snoozing and chatting away in what felt like our very own sanctuary. As I gazed up at the 5 pointed leaves above my head, I was reminded of a sycamore tree that I used to pass on my way to school. On several occasions, me and my mum took shelter from heavy rain showers underneath its branches.
When I got home that evening, I read a little more about Sycamore trees, and how they were often the chosen tree planted to shade or shelter farmhouses. Their fast growing nature, dense canopy and ability to withstand exposure to cold, wind, salt spray and air pollution makes them ideal trees to plant for shade or shelter.
And so, when we consider the life history and nature of how Sycamore trees grow and interact with the land around them and combine that with how we feel when we spend time with them, we felt the word ‘Sanctuary’ represented their energy well. For all those that have taken shelter from the elements, beneath their branches.
Beech, the Queen of the Woods
Earlier in the month we spent a lovely week exploring the woodlands of Cannock Chase, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Staffordshire.
It was the perfect time to enjoy the colours of Autumn, the golden tones of the Larch, Birch and Sycamores to the rusty bronzes of the Beech trees.
Golden LarchesButtery BirchesBronze Beech trees
During one of our walks, we noticed ‘the 6 crones’ marked on the map and couldn’t resist taking a look. The map guided us to 6 very old Beech trees, that looked as though they have been planted in a circle at least a few hundred years ago.
They were quite the sight, with missing limbs, fungi creeping up their old trunks, and thinning canopies, they certainly felt the Queens of this forest!
Connecting and learning from trees, is an ever expanding journey that brings awe, perspective and connection to me regularly.
Spending time with them often helps remind me of the bigger picture, as I consider all they have stood through until this point, from changes to the landscape around them, to harsh winters and dry summers, on and on they grow.
And this is why we feel inspired to contribute to National Tree Week and to a ‘future filled with trees.’ By gathering and planting seeds from many of the amazing trees we have met this year it feels like the right way for us to honour them, and we can’t wait to see what grows next Spring!
Wild Fen Updates
We have been so inspired by all of the wonderful trees we have met this year, and have some beautiful new pieces to share with you over the coming weeks, in fact there are some in store already….here is a sneak peak of what is available right now!
To say thank you for your support again this year, we would like to offer you 20% off any Wild Jewellery pieces for the rest of this year! Simply enter the code YULE20 at the checkout.
Upcoming events
We still have some brilliant events to come before the year is out. Here is where you can find us next:
As we prepare to welcome December, I hope you find space for some moments to pause, and slow down during this notoriously busy month. Here is to making the space to step outside when the sun is shining, snuggle up with a good book after the sun sets and breathe when (or ideally before) it all feels a little too much!
Me again! Just a reminder that it is almost time for our Autumn Collection to go live. They will be in store at 6pm this evening.
We have been inspired by some beautiful trees for this collection, including:
Hawthorn
Hawthorns have long been associated with magic, healing and protection. They are believed to aid connection to our intuition and the wisdom of the natural world. A medicine for the heart and the nervous system. Hawthorn can guide us to reconnect to ourselves and our magic, dispel fear, and live from the heart.
Oak
Oak trees support more life than any other native tree. They live long lives, bringing stability to the environment around them. Human evolution has been shaped by these magnificent trees, and we have an intrinsic connection to them.
Their roots delve as deep as their branches open wide, giving them balance and a deep rootedness that supports their vast presence.
Blackthorn
Blackthorns are small but powerful trees that grow in dense thickets, providing a safe home for many species of wildlife. Their sharp thorns create boundaries and working with their energy can help us strengthen our own boundaries to create a safe space to connect with our inner worlds.
Yew
Yew trees were deeply revered by our ancestors as the ‘tree of immortality’ due to their amazing abilities to survive, regenerate and live for thousands of years. Humans have most probably evolved and lived alongside Yew trees since the beginning.
Yew trees can provide the gift of perspective, inner strength and ingenuity as well as help us to feel connected to our ancestors and their wisdom.
Horse Chestnut
Horse Chestnut trees were introduced to Britain in the late 16th century and have since become a symbol of the Autumn season. Its leaves are one of the first to change colour and fall as we crunch them underfoot in our search for their plump, shiny conkers.
In Spring, their large, sticky buds open up like vivid green palms, welcoming us to a new season of growth. Their large, conic flowers decorate the trees in early Summer as if to announce the potential of the year ahead.
Woodland slices
We have also included some new pieces to our Woodland slice collection too.
Smoulder Sticks
Prints & cards
To celebrate the Equinox, there is also 20% off all of our prints and our Wheel of the Year card set until tomorrow.
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 blackboardFence 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 OrchidI 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.
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!
Hazel trees (Corylus avellana) along with Willow and Elder are associated with the festival of Imbolc, celebrated as the first signs of Spring appear at the beginning of February. If you have been lucky enough to spot a Hazel tree at this time, you will understand why. Their bright yellow catkins are one of the first dashes of colour to return to our woodlands after the muted colours of Winter. At the end of Summer, the Hazel trees become a busy place to be, as their nuts are feasted on by squirrels, dormice and birds aplenty.
Both Hazel and Willow have similar properties that we can embrace as we transition out of the Winter season. Their branches are particularly flexible, and they grow quickly and with ease before other trees begin to stir, making them wonderful trees to work with to support new beginnings and when we need to connect with courage to overcome challenges.
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.
Wild Fen 