Late Summer Inspiration
Things to make and do this season...
Something to do…
Green Earth Awakening Camp
An intimate gathering to reconnect, reflect, resource yourself and take action for a better world.
At the turning of the summer season, Green Earth Awakening brings together those seeking a balance of inner transformation and outer action. In a time of ecological breakdown, it offers a space to explore spiritual growth, learn practical skills and cultivate resilience – personally, socially and ecologically.
For those on a path of spiritual development, it’s easy to overlook the urgency of social and ecological injustice. For activists, the focus on action can overshadow the need for inner reflection and renewal. Green Earth Awakening is an invitation to all – a place to gather, connect and cross-pollinate ideas.
Through meditation, yoga, workshops, panel talks and land-based skills – from green crafts to ecology-based practices – a safe, vibrant community is created where you can nourish yourself, ask difficult questions and forge new ways of being in the world.
In the face of climate breakdown, inequality, and the painful legacy of colonialism, there is power in compassion, connection and collective transformation. Inspired by the lens of Buddhism, we can embrace a worldview that shifts us from individualism, scarcity and separation, towards connection, abundance and solidarity.
10 until 14 September
Nr Taunton, Somerset
Tickets: £140 adults, 13–16 £70, 3–12 £50, babies go free
buddhafield.com/green-earth-awakening-2025
All Things Fungi Festival
All Things Fungi Festival celebrates creativity and explores the blurred boundaries where art meets science. The creative spirit of fungi is honoured, through artistic expression, innovative programming and imaginative installations. The festival invites participants to discover the boundless realms of both nature and human ingenuity.
Each day will start with wellness events, from yoga to gong baths, before a full programme of nature-based activities. In the evening, you can relax with live music and entertainment by the fire or at the secret woodland stage, or explore the fluorescent forest with UV torches. Look for bats, listen for owls or simply appreciate the dark skies. To celebrate all things fungi, some of the most influential mycologists, ecologists, citizen scientists and nature enthusiasts will share their passion and experience. Whether you’re new to fungi or an experienced mycologist, there will be something for everyone.
The event will take place on the beautiful Chiddinglye Estate, surrounded by meadows, forests and dark skies. The site plays host to many diverse species, and a section of it is listed as a Site of Scientific Interest.
Sunday is the designated family-friendly day, when visitors under 18 are invited to experience the festival, and there will be hands-on workshops, talks, forays and performances.
12 until 14 September
Chiddinglye Estate, Sussex
Tickets from £80, under-18s go free (Sunday only)
allthingsfungi.co.uk
Making Egypt
Making Egypt at Young V&A has been created specifically for children and families. The exhibition takes visitors on a fascinating journey through the ancient past to the modern day, exploring ancient Egypt’s creativity and how it continues to influence art, design and popular culture.
The exhibition features over 200 objects spanning 5,500 years, from the extraordinary fully painted inner sarcophagus of Princess Sopdet-em-haawt and ancient inscribed stelae to contemporary comics, games and film, including El3osba (The League) and Moon Knight, Minecraft, Lego and The Mummy (1999).
Hands-on activities, including drawing with scale, deciphering hieroglyphics and designing your own amulet, plus ‘touch’ objects, bring young visitors closer to the tools, materials and skills used by ancient Egypt’s makers. The exhibition is open to all ages. There’s content and activities to engage the whole family, with emphasis on children aged 8–12.
Runs until 2 November
Young V&A, London
Tickets £10 per person, giving unlimited visits to Making Egypt, concessions available, under-4s go free
vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/making-egypt
Someone to follow
On Instagram @thequeermama
Hello! I’m Freya – a queer mum of two donor-donceived girls, a donor conceived daughter of lesbian mums, and the face behind @thequeermama on Instagram and TikTok.
I first started sharing my experiences as a ‘dual citizen’ (someone who is both a donor-conceived person and a recipient parent) in 2020 when my wife and I had our first daughter. Before that, I didn’t think anyone would be that interested in my upbringing or family, but I wanted my daughter to have community and support so I started to look for where we could find this.
Quickly, I realised I had a foot in each boat. With one foot, I was part of the LGBTQ+ community, but, as someone who advocated for openness about donors, speaking about it from birth and not fearing it if the child wanted to reach out to the donor, I was met with a wall up. My other foot was in the donor-conceived boat, but the community I found there made me feel unwelcome when I first joined, with many people suggesting donor conception should never exist and so, as a recipient parent who used an open ID donor, I should not have access to those spaces or a voice.
And so, @thequeermama was born, from my lived experiences in both worlds, trying to make light when it felt dark, and silliness when it felt heavy. I speak on panels and podcasts, have been interviewed for books and quoted in articles, and we now have two girls, aged 4 and 2. They are fully aware of how they were conceived and I share those conversations and other snippets of our lives to bring hope, awareness and colour – the kind of colour I would have wanted when we first started our journey to be parents.
Something to make
This all-natural, homemade deodorant is so easy to make. There are just a few simple ingredients and minimal processes.
Bicarbonate of soda – often used to clean and remove odours from our homes – is used for its antibacterial properties. As bicarbonate of soda neutralises pH levels in the skin, it may cause a reaction for some people. If this occurs, stop using it, and you could try using less bicarb next time. Arrowroot is interchangeable with tapioca starch and even corn starch, so use whichever one you have in your cupboard, or can find easily in the shops. I’ve found most health food shops sell arrowroot and loose bicarb, and both are inexpensive.
I like to use rosemary and grapefruit essential oils for their deodorising properties. Rosemary is antimicrobial, anti-fungal, antiseptic, antioxidant and astringent. It works well at fighting the bacteria that causes underarm odour and it’s also gentle on the skin. Grapefruit essential oil is another great one to add to deodorant as it’s reviving, citrusy, fresh and invigorating. It’s also antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, which helps with skin conditions, itching and rashes, and soothes the underarm area.
You will need
40g shea butter
38g coconut oil
40g arrowroot (or tapioca starch or corn starch)
25g bicarbonate of soda
essential oils of your choice (optional)
To make
Gently melt the shea butter and coconut oil in a bain-marie or double boiler. Alternatively, you can use a heatproof bowl over a pan of water.
Mix in the powders until you get a smooth consistency.
Blend in a few drops of your chosen essential oils.
Allow to cool for several hours. You can place it in the fridge to speed up the process.
Charli Rees is the founder of Lore Botanicals. She has had a colourful, vibrant life – living abroad, completing an MA in printmaking, as a midwife in the NHS for over a decade, raising five children, and working as a holistic massage therapist. All this experience feeds into her skincare range, which is all-natural, kind and nourishing. The products are made in small batches (to preserve the plant botanical freshness) from her home in Dorset. lore-botanicals.com and on Instagram @lore.botanicals