Author: Laura P
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Cleavers
Whether you know it as cleavers, clivers, goosegrass, sticky willy, organic sellotape, or the botanical name of Galium aparine, you will have come across this delicate yet robust plant scrambling through gardens and hedgerows. Magic appearance Seemingly from nowhere, yards and yards of cleavers stems, prettily decorated with whorls of leaves at neat intervals, appear…
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January herb walk
You probably wouldn’t expect to find many herbs braving the wild outdoors in January – especially given the freezing temperatures and snow we’ve had this weekend. But sometimes heading out with the lowest expectation can bring some of the happiest surprises. Fairy wood For our January herb walk we met at the base of Cam…
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Storing Herbs
Words by Angela Jones Let’s start at the very basic level and assume you have no garden, that you buy herbs from the supermarket as and when you need them, and you have a windowsill. Firstly, don’t store your dried herbs on your windowsill, especially if they are in glass jars. The sun will bleach…
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Bay
If you’re thinking of starting a herb garden, bay is a strong recommendation for inclusion. Although as a tree, with the potential to grow up to seven metres high in the UK (taller in Mediterranean climes), it will need careful placement. Year round sunshine As an evergreen, having a bay tree in your garden gives…
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Cosy chai
O the weather outside is frightful, but chai is quite delightful. When you’re looking to cosy up indoors, it’s worth taking a bit of time to brew yourself a warming, spicy chai. Not only will you be able to cosy up with a comforting, health-boosting mug; you’ll also be gently scenting your home with a…
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Feeling Pine
“Pines are to the evergreens what oaks are to the broadleaves: the most widespread, most varied and most valuable trees of their order.” Hugh Johnson It’s often been noted how nature provides just what you need, when you need it. In our coldest months, and coldest climates, pine trees come to the fore and their…
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Herby Gift Guide
As inherent mood-boosters, a gift of herbs is sure to bring a smile, and there are so many guises to gift them in. Here’s a selection of ideas for herby gifts available from local producers. Made in Cam & Dursley The Cam & Dursley Herb Calendar 2025 A perfect gift for those wanting to get…
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Herby bread sauce
Every Christmas I wonder why we don’t have bread sauce at other times of the year. If you’re a ‘forget-the-turkey-but-give-me-the-trimmings’ kind of person, then bread sauce should be in your top five, along with stuffing, chipolatas, bacon rolls and, of course, cranberry sauce. Freshly made bread sauce has to be one of the easiest ways…
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November Herb Walk
It was summer when we sat together in the garden discussing plans to start a monthly herb walk. ‘Should we continue through winter?’ someone asked, clearly aware that many of the medicinal plants and flowers are not so evident in the fields and hedgerows of winter. Quickly the consensus was ‘yes’. Yes, because it sets…
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The Frampton Flora
Nature journalling has become a popular trend, perhaps one of the positives to arise from time in lock down, or perhaps a response to our realisation of the need to have tangible memories, personal reflections and the benefit of being closer to nature. Wind back a couple of centuries and we see that the recording…