Winter Inspiration
Things to make and do this season...
Something to make…
Rowan Berry Garland
Legends abound about the mysterious rowan tree and its flaming red berries! Said to offer protection against ills and misfortunes, rowan berries have been crafted into garlands and charms for centuries. They herald the coming of autumn with their crimson shimmering light, and bring warmth and joy to the Yuletide hearth.
Remember to ask permission from the tree before taking the berries, then offer a gift of gratitude. When you clean and sort the berries, be sure to return to the land what you do not use. Once you have crafted the rowan berry garland, you may want to offer a blessing. Perhaps:
Berry, berry burning bright,
Bless this house on this dark night.
So mote it be.
You will need
approximately 140 fresh rowan berries (you can
also use dried if you are unable to find fresh)
1.5m of 1mm waxed cotton cord
wide-eyed needle
scissors
To make
Clean the berries with water, remove the stalks and dry them on kitchen paper.
Tie a loop at one end of the cord and thread a wide-eyed needle on to the other. Place the needle through the centre of the first berry – you will notice a little pentagram on one side of the berry: try to keep this on display.
Once you have threaded the berry on to the cord, tie a knot right next to it. Repeat, threading and knotting, until you have about 15cm of cord left.
Complete the garland by tying a hanging loop at the other end.
A note of caution:
Raw rowan berries are toxic, so keep away from children and animals, and wash your hands after handling them.
You can make the garland any size you like, but bear in mind that the length of cord you start with will be half the length once complete. Here, our 1.5m of cord gives a 75cm finished garland.
Claire Gelder loves all things handmade, hand-woven and hand-crafted. In 2015, she left her career as an NHS director to launch her new business, Wool Couture, which specialises in knitting, crocheting, weaving and macrame. Claire lives in Wakefield and is proud to be continuing Yorkshire’s textile tradition. woolcouturecompany.com
Deb Bowen writes creative non-fiction and poetry focused on living in harmony with the environment, and her work has been published in literary journals in the United States. She is also co-author of A Good Friend for Bad Times: Helping Others through Grief, and co-host of Psychic Teachers podcast. debbowen.com
Edited extract from Crafting the Wheel of the Year: 17 Magical Projects to Honour Nature’s Seasons by Claire Gelder and Deb Bowen, published by Search Press.
Something to do…
Hibernate with Mother Nurture and Wild
You know that moment in the depths of winter when your animal instinct tugs at you to slow down, tuck yourself away from the world and stay warm, but there’s still all the holding to do? Lisa Mabberley of Mother Nurture and Wild has something that might help.
Hibernate is a low-demand, week-long (virtual) retreat for mums who need a nourishing pause in the quiet heart of winter.
When disappearing to a cabin in the woods isn’t an option, Hibernate is slow medicine woven quietly into your ordinary days – a gentle journey of bite-size audios, arriving throughout the week, guiding you through supportive reflections, restful meditations and mindfulness practices.
A softly empowering reset in the quiet hush of January, honouring winter’s natural call to slow down and beckoning you home to yourself.
Begins 23 January
£9
mothernurtureandwild.co.uk/hibernate
Free family fun days at NWT Cley Marshes
Explore the exciting wildlife of NWT Cley Marshes, for free! Each child and their accompanying adult can enjoy the visitor centre and beautiful nature reserve all day, with no admission cost. While you’re there, pay a visit to the Simon Aspinall Wildlife Education Centre, where free hands-on wildlife activities will be offered.
4 January, 1 February, 1 March, 5 April
Activities running from 10.30am until 12.30pm and 1.30pm until 3.30pm
Cley Marshes visitor centre
Free. Car parking charges apply for non-members
norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk
Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular
Come Alive is a circus spectacular inspired by the world of The Greatest Showman, featuring incredible West End talent and awe-inspiring international circus acts. The show includes performances of all the hit songs from the film including ‘This Is Me’, ‘Rewrite the Stars’ and ‘A Million Dreams’. Ticket holders are invited to explore the world of the Empress Museum in Earls Court for a unique pre-show experience before taking to their seats for the main event in the big top.
The show recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. It opened in October 2024 and has been extended four times to meet audience demand. It is currently booking until September 2026 and stars West End sensation Simon Bailey in the lead role of a modern-day Showman alongside Urdang graduate Anoushka Tandon-Sangar making her professional debut in the lead role of Max, a shy young circus enthusiast who is yet to discover her true potential.
Shows run until September 2026
Empress Museum, London
Tickets from £35
comealiveshow.com
Someone to follow
I’m Charlotte, the mum behind No Crap Parties and the Kids’ Party Pact.
It all clicked for me at a 4th birthday party last year.
As I watched a mountain of plastic presents pile up and the party bag toys break before bedtime, my heart sank. My concern for the environment had been bubbling away since becoming a mum, but that day, it boiled over.
Talking with other parents (and through a survey), I realised most of us feel the same way: overwhelmed by the cost, clutter and plastic at children’s parties. But it feels hard to rock the boat and do things differently when you wonder if you’re the only one thinking this way.
I started @no.crap.parties to address the elephant in the room and share practical ways to make children’s parties planet and pocket friendly.
What began as a few honest posts has grown into a global campaign. The Kids’ Party Pact is backed by the National Lottery Community fund and has been featured by The Times, the BBC and Positive News.
Our community of over 10,000 parents are giving each other the confidence to rethink the way we gift. We’re calling out the excess plastic, normalising second-hand gifts and giving gift guidance on invites. And, we are raising our children to value joyful experiences over consumption. This is a gift they’ll thank us for in the future.
Will you sign the pact and spread the word? Go to kidspartypact.org to sign, and follow @no.crap.parties.