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WIN THE 2013 GREAT MOVEABLE FEAST : DAY 4 & 5 AT...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:53:48 +0100

WIN THE 2013 GREAT MOVEABLE FEAST : DAY 4 & 5 AT DRYBECK FARM

The 2013 Great Moveable Feast is our biggest competition of the year. For 11 days, you and a friend could win a huge banquet of incredible and edible experiences including everything from tractor driving to cooking courses! In this series of posts we’ll be laying the excitement of each place before you like a platter of possibilities!

DAY 4: 13th September. After filling yourself with more Mhor produce than you thought possible, you decide it’s time to head on to your next destination, Drybeck Farm, and leave the many restaurants behind. Pausing only for a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel, you skim your Caledonian Classic Car back to Dunblane and make your way to the station to catch the train down to Carlisle. On arrival, linger for a while to soak up the history of the much-contested border town, treading in the footsteps of Brigantian tribes, Cromwellian troops, Romans and Jacobite rebels. Soon you feel like moving on and an eco car is waiting and you’re off to Drybeck Farm where a lunch hamper is waiting. It has, after all, been several hours since breakfast by now. At the farm pick up the historic thread of the day by learning some of the oldest crafts around. On this family-run smallholding, fire your own charcoal and learn turn a pole lathe, working the wood the way it has been done for centuries. Then reward your hard work with a well-earned soak in the wood-fired hot tub, which you enjoy languidly before retiring to Arwen, your Gypsy wagon and getting some sleep ready for the next day of farming fun.

DAY 5: You awake early (but not as early as real farmers would have to, don’t panic!) and launch yourselves into life on the land. Over the course of a day you learn a little about livestock, meeting and greeting all the animals and getting a feel for the rural lifestyle. You decide to trade in your car for something with a bit more power and take to the fields behind the wheel of a tractor. That evening, reap the rewards of your charcoal-making endeavours (and possibly the livestock course too!) with a bbq of the farm’s produce, before slumping back into the hot tub to rest your tired labourer’s muscles. Tomorrow you head south again and over the border to Wales for more foodie frivolities!

Entry to The 2013 Great Moveable Feast closes on 22nd July - ENTER NOW!

WIN THE 2013 GREAT MOVEABLE FEAST : DAY ONE, TWO &...

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:14:38 +0100

WIN THE 2013 GREAT MOVEABLE FEAST : DAY ONE, TWO & THREE AT PILOT PANTHER

The 2013 Great Moveable Feast is our biggest competition of the year. You and a friend could win a huge banquet of incredible and edible experiences including everything from tractor driving to cooking courses! In this series of posts we’ll be laying the excitement of each place before you like a platter of possibilities!

DAY 1: 10th September. The trip opens in Euston station, London. A warm breeze (actual weather conditions may vary) blows your hair as you wave goodbye to your new friend from Canopy & Stars, who stands tearfully on the platform after handing over your winner’s champagne and flowers. You settle in and get ready for the next 10 days of amazing adventure.

DAY 2: In the morning, as you step into the crisp Scottish air (that weather will definitely vary), you’re greeted by a little something from our friends at Caledonian Classic Cars. Find a pack of road maps (and a GPS, don’t worry), leap into the driver’s seat and go gliding through the highlands to your first destination, the Pilot Panther at Monachyle Mhor Hotel, The wonderfully refitted showman’s wagon sits at the loch’s edge pointing out over the water and taking in the sweeping hills.

Then prepare to get seriously fed.

For lunch you drop into Callender with the classic car to sample Scotland’s finest fish & chips, with fish from Mhor’s own smokery and home-grown produce throughout. This, however, is just the beginning. The Mhor Hotel is waiting to take your taste buds dancing through Tom’s six-course tasting menu for dinner. Take an appetite-inducing stroll round the loch, loosen your belts and head for the restaurant.

DAY 3: After returning to the hotel for breakfast, (you can call it the seventh course of dinner if you like) you’re greeted by the guys from Hidden Glen Safaris. They have come to help you work off some of the food (although, have also brought you lunch). Be prepared for an off-road across the highlands in a 4X4 to a clay-shooting range where you try your hand at wielding a shotgun like a country laird. You return home, linger for the afternoon, take in the scenery and the fresh air lulls you into a nap. When evening calls, you roll down in the classic car to Mhor 84, the latest of the Lewis eateries. Dinner is served and you wind your way back to the Pilot Panther, ready to head south on Day four of The 2013 Great Moveable Feast.

Entry to The 2013 Great Moveable Feast closes on 22nd July - ENTER NOW

SPEND A WOODY WEEKEND AT GLOTTENHAM

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:42:00 +0100

Meet the dream team, poised to initiate you into the wonders of the woods for a whole weekend (12-15 July & 26-29 Sept). Emma Salmon, Forest School leader and owner of Glottenham Castle, explains in this guest post…

”Down at Glottenham we just love being in the woods! Our woodland is a magical and special place that seems to call to us from our ancestral past. Some time ago, the idea grew up of getting the Glottenham gang together to create a unique weekend of woodiness for Glottenham guests. So you can imagine how excited we are that it’s going ahead and all parties have said a resounding ‘Yes!’

We have developed a weekend where you will be able to try your hand at everything. All courses and materials are included, so no need to pick and choose. You can even bring the small ones, with Forest School activities allowing you to concentrate on your own crafts, and really relax. Prepare to learn the secrets of the woodland, including:

Charcoal making
Wood carving
Pole lathe
Basket weaving
Nature and wildlife spotting
Foraging
Bushcraft

You will come away with new skills, some handcrafted pieces, and a great sense of achievement and well-being, the kind only possible after a few days spent peacefully whittling away in a beautiful environment.

You’ll sleep soundly and comfortably in the woods, too, in your own gorgeous geodome, yurt or vintage tent - with proper bed and hot shower - and join in a grand BBQ / pizza fest on Sunday with the rest of us.

Introducing…

Richard Ely is a traditional greenwood craftsman with a background in organic farming and horticulture. He has spent the last 8 years working and managing coppiced woodland, alongside the likes of Ben Law, and developing his skills with traditional tools and methods. Richard was our first choice to build the roundwood kitchens at Glottenham, and we covet his gorgeous chairs in the de Glottyngham dome enviously. He also makes the charcoal that we supply for our guests, or helps us to make our own. Three times silver medalist in the International Log to Leg competition, he can fashion a beautiful item from a branch in moments, and he plays a mean banjo to boot!

William Del Tufo of WolfCoat Woodcraft has been carving since 1979, and spent many years travelling from castle to castle demonstrating Dark Age methods of wood and leatherworking, and teaching Nordic runes and ancient firelighting techniques.

We love his individual style and we are obviously not alone – Boris Johnson just ordered a whole bundle of medieval style trenchers for the Lord Mayor’s Supper exactly the same as we have in our yurt and domes, and not many people can claim that Prince Charles has played their stegosaurus xylophone and blown their ferret digeridoo!

With support from…

Your hosts Emma and Robert! Between us we can introduce you to woodland management, medical herbalism, wild food foraging and cooking, and entertain your children with fun and games to bring them closer to nature.

See you in the woods!

Emma”

How to book

Courses are exclusively for guests staying in one of the 4 spaces at Glottenham Castle, allowing everyone quality one to one time on each course. Children are welcome to join in most activities, or to participate in their own mini course depending on age range and numbers.

We are only running 2 courses this year, Fri 12^th July – Mon 15^th July and Fri 27^th Sept - Mon 30^th Sept.

Weekend prices for two adults include all courses, materials, accommodation and BBQ / pizza dinner on Sunday, when you book Bodichon, Rossetti, de Etchyngham or de Glottyngham online, from £475-£625 for 3 nights. Add children to your booking for £75pp.

Extra adults £125pp; for groups of more than 2 adults, please call to enquire on 01275 395 447.

EVERYBODY YURTS... SOMETIMES

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:02:00 +0100

The past years have seen yurts popping up in fields across the UK and France, like fairy rings of mushrooms after a rain shower. They’re now a big part of the accommodation market and it’s fair to say they’re no longer a novelty. Numbers of people who’ve stayed in a yurt are growing: yurts aren’t just for outdoorsy types looking for a change from the classic tent-and-rollmat. They’re equally popular with those who love the fresh air, but aren’t quite sure about waking up with knots in their back.

We know staying a yurt is a magical experience: gazing at the stars through the crown, that feeling of being in a little round world that’s all your own, and the amount of space inside means they’re great for family trips. At a time when yurts have been well and truly domesticated, the ones we choose for Canopy & Stars are the yurts that make us excited about yurts again. The ones that take the now-mainstream concept of ‘yurting’ and make it extraordinary. Here are just a few of them…

Stuc a’Chroin, Trossachs Yurts, Stirling (pictured above)

West Moss-Side Nature Reserve is home to native Shetland cattle which play a vital role in preserving the rare mossy environment, as well as three yurts filled with rich, warm fabrics and a toasty stove each. (Each yurt sleeps four.)

Poppet, Crafty Camping, Dorset

Poppet and Coracle at Crafty Camping, Dorset were built on site and each have a hand-carved wooden bedstead made by the owner. Guy used to be a cabinet maker before the pull of the woods turned him to green woodworking - pick up some skills yourself on a ‘have a go’ course. (Each yurt sleeps two.)

The Yurt at Harptree Court, Somerset

The Yurt at Harptree Court sometimes plays second fiddle to the Treehouse at Harptree Court, but for those with no head for heights, it more than holds its own: three linked pods with a roll top bath and a chess set make this the grandest yurt in Britain. (Sleeps two.)

La Source, South of France

Kiet and his family built this yurt themselves and lived in it over winter, high in the hills in southern France. Packed with trinkets, books, plants and other homely bits and bobs, it has some of the best views we’ve seen anywhere. (Sleeps four.)

Yarlington Yurt, Somerset

Yarlington Yurt has shabby chic décor all its own: a lilac-lined travelling trunk, Persian rugs, a hidden library of vintage Penguins…make sure you find the light switch that fills the main dome with twinkling fairy lights.
(Sleeps four.)

Inshriach Yurt, Inverness-shire, Scotland

Wild and windswept, Inshriach is no place for the faint-hearted! Luckily this yurt for two has a Victorian double bedstead, rugs, a stove, and plenty of local distilleries if you’re in search of added warmth…

A FAMILY WITH MHOR TO GIVE A FESTIVAL THAN MOST!

Thu, 09 May 2013 15:38:00 +0100

The Lewis family have always had a lot going on. They run the Monachyle Mhor Hotel and cater for its restaurants and the new Mhor 84 eatery with their own bakery, smokery, herd of cattle and farm produce. So they’re pretty well placed to bring it all together for The Mhor Festival taking place on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th of May, 2013.

This year’s highlights for the feast of fun and, of course, food include:

- THE MAIN EVENT: A five-way bake off with top chefs including Tom Lewis of Mhor defending his home turf. Plus Andrew Fairlie (Scotland’s only 2 Michelin star chef), Roy Brett, Michael Smith and Neil Forbes. Each of them must cook a course for the Festival Feast!

- A Ceilidh kicked off by Trad Music Award winning Session A9

- An opening Raft Race on Loch Voil to kick off DJs and live music; food and market stalls; afternoon tea; beer, wine, champagne and Pimms; oysters, a barbeque and a hog roast

- Tonnes of traditional kids activities from a coconut shy to plant potting

To get involved or just to turn up and taste some fabulous cooking, take a look at The Mhor Festival.

You can also stay on site in the quirky and brilliant Pilot Panther, a showman’s wagon for 4 in the hotel grounds with stunning loch views from £125/night.

SPRING/SUMMER 2013 - OUR ESSENTIAL CHECKLIST Spring/Summer...

Wed, 01 May 2013 12:17:00 +0100

SPRING/SUMMER 2013 - OUR ESSENTIAL CHECKLIST

Spring/Summer Edition live and in living colour and now at the bottom of every booking email to help with questions you may not even have.

What to pack? Done. How to use a compost loo? Done. And some interesting (or uninteresting, you decide) bits from the Canopy & Stars team.

Sound like fun? Use it as an excuse to browse the collection here.

ELINA’S SUMMER BLEND 50g sugar 25ml water 250g fresh or...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:09:00 +0100

ELINA’S SUMMER BLEND

50g sugar
25ml water
250g fresh or frozen raspberries
1/2 lemon
1 bunch of mint
Tonic water, ice
Gin (optional, but why not?)

Slowly simmer sugar and water for about 2-3 minutes until the sugar has dissolved and a thick syrup has formed.

Fold in the berries, simmer for 3-4 minutes. Squeeze in the juice of 1 lemon and add a bunch of finely chopped mint.

Serve with ice and tonic water. Can add a shot or two of gin, if desired. Makes 6 litres of a diluted drink.

Courtesy of Jamie Mould, Chef Manager at The Bishops Table, Wells

10 TIPS FOR OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY THIS SUMMER

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:08:00 +0100

Crouching in the grass as the sun melts lovingly over everything, you take a deep breath and listen to the low hum of a bee, the breeze in the leaves. You adjust the lens, waiting for the bird to settle. Its wings beat and you snap your finger down to capture the momentary play of light on bright feathers. Or so you thought…

When you get home, it’s a smeared bird-ish blob. Creative? Yes. What you were going for? No.

Find out how not to take bad photos outdoors! Here are Photography Monthly’s top ten tips for summer lovin’ photography.

OUR WINNER!! Canopy & Stars 2012 Annual Photo Competition: taken by Phil Maclean at The Yurt Retreat

1. BE PREPARED

Just because it’s the summer, as we all know by now, it doesn’t mean the weather will be glorious. To prepare yourself for a freak rain shower make sure you pack your kit in a durable all weather bag, preferably with a rain cover that unfolds. You could also get a rain cover for your lens, particularly handy if you’re keen on getting some wildlife photography as you don’t want your telephoto to get a showering!

RUNNER UP - Canopy & Stars 2012 Annual Photo Competition: taken by Sam Luntley at Inshriach Estate

2. THINK LENSES

If you can, try and take a number of lenses out on a shoot with you. You may want a wide angle lens for some stunning landscape and coastal shots and a standard size lens for family portraits out and about. A telephoto is also an essential for wildlife enthusiasts but will limit you when you want to do shots of closer objects like flowers. Think about what images you are looking to take on the day you’re heading out and kit out your bag appropriately.

SHORLISTED - Canopy & Stars 2012 Annual Photo Competition: taken by Laura Draper at The Mollycroft

3. BACK UP

Getting carried away with snapping outside is all too easily done, so taking extra SD cards is essential. Try not to delete images in camera to save space, as you can find some hidden gems when it comes to putting them on your computer. Others can be easily saved with a little post production magic. For the tech savvy, check out those fancy portable hard drives that are a whizz at storing on the go.

4. POD UP

A light tripod is another essential tool for photographing outside this summer; they’re brilliant for landscape shots, family portraits for when you need to set the self timer and dive in, and mini tripods can be great for macro photography. There are a huge range of lightweight pods out there, including monopods for when you’re really on the go and don’t have the time to stand still for long.

RUNNER UP - Canopy & Stars 2012 Annual Photo Competition: taken by Martyn Hoyer at The 76er

5. LIGHT LEVELS

The days are longer during the summer months and this gives you some great outdoor shooting opportunities. Why not try setting up a tripod and capturing some amazing sunsets and sunrises? Overcast days are great for shooting flowers, so all is not lost if the sun is being shy. Check your exposure and ISO levels on particularly dark or sunny days – having a histogram show on the screen is the best way to avoid any over or under exposure. Shooting at dusk can also produce some lovely atmospheric images, giving your subject a gentle glow

SHORLISTED - Canopy & Stars 2012 Annual Photo Competition: taken by Chris Lown at Hideaway Hut

6. GO MACRO

When you think summer you think flowers. The best way to shoot flowers is with a good macro lens or using the macro function. Get low, lie on the ground if possible, and it’s summer so it should be dry enough with any luck! Shooting from the flower’s level will capture interesting light patterns on the petals that your shadow could otherwise block out, and will give an insect’s eye-view. Heck, capture the insects too, again from it’s own level. Dragonflies and butterflies make great subjects, though judging the distance of how close you can get to them is an art best perfected with practice! A super-telephoto can be an option for particularly flitty bugs.

7. USE FILTERS

Neutral Density filters are great accessories to use when photographing outdoors in the summer, and some modern compacts actually come with this function. Handy! These magical little filter wizards mean that you can reduce the amount of light entering your camera, increasing the exposure time but not affecting the colour or hue of your image. What does that mean? It means that with one of these fellas you can have colour rich images without the bright sun blanking out most of your shot.

SHORLISTED - Canopy & Stars 2012 Annual Photo Competition: taken by Eleanor Sillence at Midland Farm

8. BE CREATIVE

It’s that age old saying, think outside the box, but these sayings are long-lasting for a reason; they work. Don’t just take shots of the kids building sandcastles outside this summer, why not get down to sand-level and take a shot of the castle with the kids just out of focus behind it, playing with the depth-of-field? Or if you’re feeling adventurous, and you own an action camera, then why not try putting it on timelapse and attaching it to a kite? Experiment with angles high and low and try making the everyday outdoor shot extraordinary. This can be done before shooting, with depth-of-field, composition or in post production.

SHORLISTED - Canopy & Stars 2012 Annual Photo Competition: taken by Kelly Last at The Chapel

9. BE SAFE!

It may sound obvious but taking care of yourself as well your camera is essential. You don’t want to forget the sun cream and spend all summer hidden away because you’re lobster pink! Just as you don’t want to burn, make sure you don’t leave your kit in the sun, cameras aren’t fond of blistering heats either. It’s always a good idea to get your kit insured, who knows when that sneaky wave will creep up on you or your kit bag gets left on a park bench when you’re caught up in the sunny fun.

10. PHOTO BOOK IT

Lastly, don’t let your images just sit on a hard drive or your computer or even your phone. Make something of your summer memories and get them printed in a photobook from one of the easy-to-use sites like blurb.com or Folio Albums. Photos are made to be shared and harking back to another age old feeling of nostalgia, there’s something simply magical about holding your images in your hand and passing them round amongst friends and family.

SHORLISTED - Canopy & Stars 2012 Annual Photo Competition: taken by Tracy Green at Puckshipton

Feeling inspired? Check out the Canopy & Stars Annual Photo Competition, and have a peak at some of the amazing shots our guests captured on their 2012 holidays.

Visit Photography Monthly (or even better, subscribe to their monthly magazine!) for more tips and techniques for amateurs and pros alike.

ARTIST OF THE MONTH - ALABAMA SHAKES A band from Athens...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:01:00 +0100

ARTIST OF THE MONTH - ALABAMA SHAKES

A band from Athens in…..wow, Alabama, who bring together a bit of rootsy folk, some Bowie/prog rock influences and the edginess of their punk drummer to make a sound all their own. One of our team has their album Boys & Girls, their debut, on constant repeat at the moment. We’re just hoping she doesn’t try and grow that beard.

They’re going to be at Glastonbury and then backing up Bruce Springsteen on 30th June in London. Find out more here: http://www.alabamashakes.com

CANOPY & STARS GLASTONBURY SPECIALS...

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:51:00 +0100

Photo credit: Venetia Dearden

Glastonbury 13 is fast approaching and if you haven’t yet finalised your sleeping arrangements, and would rather avoid the tedium of tent pegs, fear not! Sawday’s Canopy & Stars have three uber options to choose from. With the line up being announced and all this lovely dry weather (!?) we’ve been having, it’s set to be a vintage year… Make sure you enjoy Glastonbury at its fullest, where sunshine and good sleep come guaranteed!*

*Ok so it’s not guaranteed, sunshine that it is. But we do have a very good feeling.

The Lovestruck – fall in love with Glastonbury

An eclectic mixture of showman’s wagon and country cottage, The Lovestruck can accommodate up to 4 people and is available for exclusive use during Glastonbury Festival weekend. With a gas cooker, wood burning stove and a custom made compost loo and gas-powered shower, The Lovestruck offers the perfect option for the discerning festival goer looking to give the traditional festival camping a miss.

The Lovestruck is located in a sheltered part of the beautiful Victorian walled gardens at Pennard House in East Pennard. The setting is beautifully private and will feel a million miles from the hustle and bustle of the festival site. Yet The Lovestruck is just a 20 minute walk from the Pennard Hill Gate to the Glastonbury Festival. The Pennard Gate takes you straight into the top of the festival near The Park Stage and Stone Circle.

On the way to and from the festival you will also pass by the Pennard Orchard tipi village. Your complimentary wristbands will provide access to the Pennard Orchard Bar & Kitchen, servers of hearty and healthy breakfasts. So if you don’t feel like cooking for yourself in the morning, then head here where there will be daybeds to lounge on, tunes to listen to and newspapers to read as you devour breakfast and set yourself up for another day in the festival.

Photo: Pennard Orchard Bar

The Pennard Orchard Bar will be open all day and into the night, serving everything from cocktails to smoothies and of course the local cider.

THE LOVESTRUCK PLEASURE PACKAGE:

Sleeps up to 4 adults
£440 for 4 nights (Thursday 27 June to Monday 1 July)
Wristbands to the Pennard Orchard Bar & Kitchen
Private shower and bathroom
Festival within walking distance – map provided
Private massages are possible by arrangement for an additional fee
Pick up and drop off at Castle Cary train station is possible by arrangement for an additional fee

* Please note that Glastonbury Festival tickets are not included.

To book or to find out more please call the Canopy & Stars Festival Hotdesk on 01275 395 447 or email enquiries@canopyandstars.co.uk

Harptree Court - a rather refined festival escape

Treetop and yurty festival decadence at The Harptree Court Treehouse and Yurt. Set within the grounds of a beautiful Georgian Grade II listed manor house, the Treehouse and Yurt are a truly unique and thoroughly civilised way to enjoy Glastonbury Festival. Enjoy the merry chaos, and then retreat to your own private oasis of calm. Before doing it all again the next day!

The Yurt:

As far as we know the finest yurt in the world. A three pod palace with en-suite bathroom complete with roll-top bath. Living pod and big bedroom all just for one lucky couple.

The Treehouse:

A luxury hotel suite in the canopy, with copper bath-tub and one huge comfy kingsize bed. The perfect off-site escape from festival shenanigans.

(SORRY - NO LONGER AVAILABLE!) THE HARPTREE COURT FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE:

The Harptree Court Treehouse sleeps 2 adults
The Harptree Court Yurt sleeps 2 adults
£3,200 for the Yurt and £4,000 for the Treehouse (can be booked together or separately) for 4 nights (Thurs 27 June to check out Mon 1 July)
Breakfast baskets every morning. Fresh fruit salad, local yoghurt, hot bacon roll (or vegetarian option) orange Juice, croissant and fresh muffin
Festival picnic of tasty snacks to take everyday
Midnight snacks of crisps and cheesy biscuits for post festival nibbling
Champagne cream tea on arrival with croquet
Hunter Original Tall wellies with daily welly cleaning service (yours to keep)
Treehouse and Yurt serviced each day
Ensuite bathroom with shower and bathtub in both Yurt and Treehouse
Laundry service
Massage per couple (one per couple per stay), extra massages and treatments are possible by arrangement for an additional fee Transport to and from the festival is possible by arrangement for an additional fee
Harptree Court is 30 minutes drive from festival site

* Please note that Glastonbury Festival tickets are not included.

To book or to find out more please call the Canopy & Stars Festival Hotdesk on 01275 395 447 or email enquiries@canopyandstars.co.uk

Want to see what all the fuss is about? Book a stay at The Lovestruck or Harptree Court Treehouse and Yurt when there’s not a festival happening…

WE LOVE SPRING

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:02:00 +0000

BUILD YOUR OWN TREEHOUSE, LLAMA TREKKING IN KENT, COUPLE’S FORAGING IN PEMBROKESHIRE AND LAMBS, CHICKS AND BLUEBELLS GALORE

It must be spring! Why else would a string of ideas madder than a march hare have come our way? There are shepherd’s huts where you can go llama trekking, couple’s foraging in Pembrokeshire, an architect-designed bothy where you can name a lamb or a ‘build your own treehouse’ course. Take a peek at the full effect of the changing of the seasons.

1. Our very own Rebecca models this season’s must-have llama accessories at Gabriel & Bathsheba in Kent

Wake to the sight of a field full of furry llamas. You can help feed them and take them on a llama walk through the bluebell wood and in return they will bleat at you and peer curiously from the fence just down from the shepherd’s hut! The hut is cosy, cute and only an hour from London, decorated with floral prints, pretty bone china and a wood burner to keep you snug. The bathroom hut has a luxurious slipper bath to relax in after a hard day’s llama trekking.

From £90 per night (sleeps 2) – www.canopyandstars.co.uk/gabriel Free 40 minute bluebell llama walk with every midweek stay from 15 Apr - 16 May

2. Build your own treehouse in Gloucestershire

West Lexham, the incredible, sustainable event venue has teamed up with High Life Treehouses to bring you the chance to learn how to build a treehouse from start to finish. Henry and his team of experienced treehouse builders will be showing you how to build a brand new treehouse (based on a Viking mead hall!). You’ll learn how to finish the interior of an existing treehouse with smart tongue and groove boarding, as well as the secrets of rope bridge and tree deck building. The build will be split over two weekends and included in the price is 2 (or 4) nights’ accommodation at The Grange; delicious, locally sourced meals; a DVD of the full build, a certificate and the chance to learn a broad range of skills and techniques to build your own treetop dream.

Courses run on 22 – 24 March & 5– 7 April, £415 for one weekend or £750 for both – To book: bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk

3. Springwatch in a converted truck in Pembrokeshire

A converted truck might not seem the most bucolic of settings to see in the season, but this one is in a tranquil woodland spot. The cosy glade has a picnic table, a spacious outdoor bathroom and resident chickens, ducks and pigs that wander around freely. Activities-a-plenty on the farm from pet renting, egg collecting, river wading, cycling, fishing, chicks start hatching and the Welsh mountain ewes start lambing in March, it really will feel like Springwatch. The truck has a rustic, floral interior and homely touches. There’s a comfy double and a bell tent if you decide to bring the kids.

From £79 per night (sleeps 2 in truck, up to 4 in bell tent) - www.canopyandstars.co.uk/matilda

4. Shepherd training at Scales Plantation in Cumbria

Play shepherd in handcrafted shepherd’s hut camps on a working sheep farm high in the wilds of the North Lakes. Each is a world of its own set within a private clearing. Double bed and bunks have feather down duvets, blankets and the sheepskin rugs and woodburner keep things snuggly (far cosier than shepherd’s ever had it!). Simple wooden furniture gives the hut a traditional rustic feel, to help you get into shepherd character, whilst the fridge and running hot water in the bathroom and kitchen will keep you comfortable after a day of hard work - lend a hand with the lambing or help feeding the ever so cute ones that have already been born.

From £70 per night (sleeps 4) - www.canopyandstars.oc.uk/scalesplantation

5. Name a lamb at Brockloch Bothy in Dumfries & Galloway

On a small, family-run farm in the Galloway hills: up the farm track, through the bluebell wood, and in a field grazed by their Scottish Blackface sheep sits this magnificent architect-designed bothy. It has all the luxuries of a boutique cottage - a swish kitchen, a crackling fire, goose-down duvets and home-baked welcome treats – with the space and light of the contemporary design and floor to ceiling windows. There’s no TV or wifi so head out with the kids. On the farm there’s plenty of animals to see and this spring you can meet the new lambs, watch them being bottle fed and maybe even name one and there are also going to be lovely fluffy Galloway calves. And if that isn’t enough entertainment you can go sailing on Loch Ken, visit Laggain outdoor centre which boasts the longest zip wire in the UK or Cream o Galloway, a dairy and adventure park.

From £86 per night (sleeps 4) - www.canopyandstars.co.uk/brockloch

6. Become a junior farmer at Swallowtail Hill in Sussex

Swallowtail Hill Farm is almost over-run with wildlife; butterflies, birds, bees, bats, barn owls and not to mention all the farm animals. Your home for the duration of your stay is a wooden creation that looks like something out of a fairytale with a comfy double, two singles, a dining table, indoor cooking range and a log burner. There’s plenty to occupy your little Hansels and Gretels this Spring – longbow archery, rowing on the pond, animal feeding, tractor driving lessons for the more ambitious and children can even become honorary ‘Swallowtail Hill Junior Farmers’.

From £100 per night (sleeps 4) – www.canopyandstars.co.uk/swallowtailhill

7. Couple’s foraging at Cariad in Pembrokeshire

A romantic, handcrafted timber pod in a woodland clearing among Pembrokeshire’s beautiful countryside where you can go on a spring foraging guided-walk, followed by a locally-sourced picnic. Inside are vintage woollen blankets, chunky brocante finds and a welcome hamper with local eggs, fresh bread and organic milk. As well as all the foraging Riverbank walks, a nature reserve and a boat trip to Skomer Island will keep you busy this spring.

From £56 per night (sleeps 2) – www.canopyandstars.co.uk/cariad

8. A romantic brush with nature at Rambling Rose in Cornwall

A very Cornish gypsy caravan, built in Penzance in the 1930’s, tucked away in the garden lover’s paradise of Delancey House. For that extra touch of the outdoors, why not book yourselves in for one of their 3-4 hour bushcraft and survival workshops. With panoramic views of the Fowey River Valley from your doorstep, beautiful gardens to explore and a snug double to cosy up in together this really is the most romantic place for a brush with nature this spring

From £75 per night (sleeps 2) www.canopyandstars.co.uk/ramblingrose - Bushcraft and survival workshops are £35pp for 3-4 hour course

NEW: ROCK CLIMBING AT THE OLD FORGE

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:21:00 +0000

Explore the fossil beaches and rugged cliffs of Dorset from the rock face, with a picnic waiting at the top…

The Old Forge is home to Rosie the Gypsy Caravan, Sam the Shepherd’s Hut, Scrumpy Jack the mischievous donkey and of course Tim and Lucy, your lovely hosts. Their daughter Sophie recently got married at The Old Forge, in a vintage, homespun, unique wedding of her own creation, to Alex, a qualified climbing instructor. So take someone intrepid along and the two of you can join Alex and Sophie to explore the world-famous Jurassic Coast…

Get expert tuition…

Climbing and abseiling is great fun and makes for a grand day out: whether you want to be daring and adventurous and develop your skills, or just relax in the sea breeze and take in the magnificent views. Either way, you’re in safe hands with Alex, a qualified climbing instructor, and you don’t have to have climbed before. It’s suitable for all, from ages 8+, and a day of climbing is just £45 per person. Gorgeous picnic hampers of food can be ordered too, accompanying you from The Old Forge to your climbing spot and full of treats prepared by Lucy.

Take only photographs

This part of the world is rich in fossils of ancient sea-creatures who once swum here, just like the friendly ammonite below. Give it a wave! The only souvenirs you should gather of course, are photos. Luckily, if you’re worried about dropping your iPhone down the cliff, Sophie’s an accomplished photographer and can take plenty of souvenir photos of your day. (You can choose to buy one afterwards - in much higher quality than that one of you on the log flume at Alton Towers…)

To book your stay at The Old Forge, check availability and book online here or call 01275 395 447. To book a day of climbing, contact Alex on 07531 560243 or alexfairchild90@yahoo.co.uk.

ONE BARN EVERY MINUTE - BUSY DAY AT FISHERTON FARM

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:09:00 +0000

Spring isn’t all snowdrops and sunshine! But the hard work certainly brings its rewards. This is a brief insight into life on the farm in this busy season, and what lambing season is really like!

From Jemma Doyle, owner of Fisherton Farm, Vintage Vardos in Devon:

6:00am - Up and making tea and milk for ravenous Alistair and now girlfriend Annabel, dog and cat out for a wee, cat in, feed cat.

6:10am - All baa-ing, woofing and meowing has stopped. Let the day begin…

6:15am - Up to the shed to see if any new calves or lambs . All A-ok.

7:00am - Back in for breakfast and feeding children…peace, all humans now fed.

8:00am - Mucking out, bedding up and feeding the cows and sheep. Put Alistair and Annabel out in the garden for a play…not interested in eating the daffodils YET…Another maternity round, help ewe lamb twins.

12:00pm - Feeding time again! Getting thru the 20kg sack of milk powder. Lamb triplets appreciate a milk tipple too.

12:20pm - A & A freezing outside so back in the kitchen in their pen.

1:00pm - Back on the rounds, cow calving, in for a coffee and back to calving cow to make sure all goes well.

2:30pm - Beautiful heifer calf born. Thinking of names beginning with ‘E’. Paperwork, registering new borns.

3:30pm - Sit down! Watch news, have a coffee and packet of jammy dodgers with children.

4.30pm - Feed sheep, bottle-feed lambs in need of a little extra, feed heifers, lamb another sheep…triplets…move strong lambs and mothers to green pastures.

5.30pm - Feed children, bath and bed for them (lucky things).

8:00pm - Another look at all the expectant mothers.

8:20pm - Dinner and lie on sofa…

10:00pm - Back out on the rounds , some expectant mothers showing early signs …

10:30pm - Bed. Aaahhh…

1:30am - Up doing the rounds, help deliver a calf…no lambs yet.

3:00am - Back to bed.

6:00am - 2 sets of twins on the way…

And off it goes again!

ARTIST OF THE MONTH - SARAH MASON Sarah is a specialist portrait...

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:03:00 +0000

ARTIST OF THE MONTH - SARAH MASON

Sarah is a specialist portrait and wedding photographer based in the Calder Valley between Manchester and Leeds. She prefers to use the stunning scenery around her as a backdrop for her personal work and occasion shoots. We first came across her after she stayed at Scales Plantation and also when she sent us a lovely photo of a boy named Jacob looking a bit surprised! We took a little time to get to know her better.

Which living person do you most admire and why?

My uncle Jim for his joie de vivre and for alll his sporting achievements to raise money for breast cancer awareness and care.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

Abseiling and having a wardrobe malfunction at about 100ft from the ground.

What would your super power be?

To persuade Kate Bush to play live…just one more gig. I would LOVE that to happen!

What is your most unappealing habit?

I have a habit of sneezing very loudly and making everyone jump. I did it in the cinema once and the person in front if me chucked their popcorn up in the air.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Cheese slice toasties. They remind me of being ay my Grandma’s house. You have to watch that molten cheese on the roof of your mouth though.

What is the worst job you’ve ever done?

Working on an onion farm when I went travelling. Cutting the tops and bottoms off the onions all day, every day. Tears for the first hour and then stinging eyes for the rest of the day! Ouch.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Setting up my own business. Doing something I am passionate about and love every day.

What was your best holiday?

After leaving college, a friend and I went on a round the world adventure for a year and a half. 20 years on and those experiences are still with me.

What was your worst holiday?

A misjudged trip to the South of France with a bunch of school friends when we were teenagers. To top it off, I had tonsillitis.

Where next?

Rurall Suffolk. I’m doing a pre-wedding shoot and then I’ll have a couple of days to explore.

What’s your best piece of travel advice?

Don’t plan too much in advance. See how the mood takes you when you arrive.

How would you like to be remembered?

That lass that was pretty nifty with a camera

Have someone you think would be perfect for our Artist of the Month spotlight? Email your suggestions to: peoplewelove@canopyandstars.co.uk

To see more of Sarah’s skills, visit her website!

HOW WE LEARNED TO STOP WORKING AND LOVE PIE As many of you have...

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:12:00 +0000

HOW WE LEARNED TO STOP WORKING AND LOVE PIE

As many of you have hopefully noticed and are now celebrating, the week of March 4^th - 10^th is British Pie Week! Our own grand plans for a special message on the office whiteboard, a 100 piece marching band and a pie-shaped hot air balloon proved too hard to organise as someone had lost the whiteboard pen.

Fortunately, we were interrupted in our frenzied cooking up of some half-baked last minute plans by the amazing folks at pieminister. Our long-standing and mutually beneficial friendship (they’d be knee deep in pies if we didn’t eat them, think about it!) resulted in the sudden appearance on Tuesday of no fewer than 40(!) of their finest pies at our rural office. We quickly set to work whipping up some mash and salad, got the oven going and then engaged in a barely dignified free-for-all as we vied for various flavours, safe in the knowledge that recent scares about scurrilous sourcing in the food industry need not enter our heads.

Pieminister have been seeking out and encasing in pastry the best of British produce for 10 years now, growing from their base in suitably crusty Bristol to become a loved and trusted purveyor of baked goods across the land. In celebration of their first decade, apart from being overcome with generosity and sending us loads of pies, they’re running a competition to win a Great British Holiday for 10 people at our lovely Vintage Vardos. Not only could you win a stay at the delightful Devon camp, but they’ll fill you with pies and fit you with a t-shirt of your choice! So if, like us, you never quite got round to setting up your own pie extravaganza, then enter the competition and maybe the guys at pieminister will take care of it all for you!

It worked for us and taught us that occasionally it’s good to stop working, and eat pie.

CANOPY & STARS 2013 BUCKET LIST

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:44:00 +0000

Stay on a bus, live like a ‘lost boy’ and do Glastonbury from a tree house

Stay on a converted bus near Hay, record your own music from a cabin in Worcestershire, do Glastonbury like a rock star from a treehouse or make like a ‘lost boy’ in the Portuguese wilderness… If you only do one thing in 2013 make it from the Canopy & Stars Bucket List, thirteen of our most hotly tipped experiences for 2013.

1. Do Glastonbury like a rock star at Harptree Court

Don’t fancy roughing it in a tent this Glastonbury, then why not swap the muddy campsite for a little luxury, and stay at nearby Harptree Court. There’s a treehouse and yurt to choose from and both come with sumptuous doubles, beautiful antiques and hot running water for the free standing baths. Not only will you get chauffer driven to and from the festival but they’ll also provide you with a champagne reception, two pairs of your very own Original Tall Hunter wellies and a welly cleaning service, 24 hour laundry, massages, daily breakfast hampers and super picnics to take with you.

A four night festival stay costs from £3200 for the yurt and £4000 for the treehouse (sorry tickets not included) – www.canopyandstars.co.uk/harptreecourt

2. Sleep on a bus - Majestic Bus, near Hay-on-Wye, Herefordshire

Banish thoughts of Cliff Richards and ‘Summer Holiday’ this 60s bus has been converted into a comfy escape with a spectacular view. There’s a wood-burner to keep you warm of an evening, and plenty of room for napping and cooking plus a nearby gas powered roll-top bath where you can soak with a view. You can even invite friends to camp in your bus garden.

From £103 per night (bus sleeps 2, site sleeps 8) - www.canopyandstars.co.uk/majesticbus

3. Lay down a track at The Hatch Cabin, Lindridge, Worcestershire

Make music at The Hatch with a studio fully equipped with all the gear you need, used by professional bands from all over the world. Guests also get free entry to intimate weekend concerts in the main house. The cabin itself is an eclectic delight with art, quirky objects, fabrics, rugs, big comfy bean bags and cushions for afternoon lounging, the odd musical instrument and fresh flowers from the garden.

From £90 per night (sleeps 6) – www.canopyandstars.co.uk/thehatchcabin

4. See autumn from an arboretum - The Chapel, Shropshire

For the most amazing autumnal escape head into the woods of Walcot Arboretum. Tucked into the English oaks and chestnuts you’ll find a converted chapel, complete with working organ you can tinkle on. This wild and wacky bolthole with natural wood décor has two double bedrooms, a cosy kitchen and beautiful bathroom. The gardens at Walcot Hall cover over 30 acres, including one of the finest Arboretums in Britain.

From £82 per night (sleeps 4) – www.canopyandstars.co.uk/chapel

5. Live like a lost boy at The River Lodge, Central Portugal, Alto Alentejo

Head to Portugal and this wooden deck and canvas cabin structure, worthy living quarters for any of Peter Pan’s lost boys. Set under a cork oak and overlooking the river, with nothing much apart from the hand-made stick style furniture, a tree-trunk bed, books and games; an off-grid experience. You won’t quite be roughing it though, as there’s an orthopaedic mattress, goose down duvet and complementary olive oil, wine and olive soap.

From £35 per night (sleeps 2) - www.canopyandstars.co.uk/riverlodge

6. Sleep with a lama at Gabriel & Bathsheba, Kent

Wake to the sight of a field full of furry lamas, not only are they your extremely friendly neighbours but you can help feed them and even take them trekking when you stay at this cosy and cute shepherd’s hut in rural Kent - only an hour from London. Inside find floral prints, pretty bone china and a wood burner to keep you snug and in the bathroom hut; a luxurious slipper bath to relax in after a day exploring.

From £90 per night (sleeps 2) - www.canopyandstars.co.uk/gabriel

7. Become a grown-up girl guide at Babes in the woods: Malverns, Gloucestershire

Discover your inner girl guide with a fully-catered weekend of bushcraft sessions, woodland walks, wild swimming, tea parties and yoga, but with the added bonus of fine food and champagne at the end of the day. You’ll stay in vintage inspired geodomes for up to twenty guides (sorry no boys allowed) and be surrounded by the gorgeous Bromesberrow Estate with a backdrop of the Malvern Hills. Also great for hen do’s!

Weekend breaks from £217 per person, includes all food and activities (sleeps 10-20) – www.canopyandstars.co.uk/babesinthewoodsmalverns

8. Make it about the journey not the destination with Wanderlusts, Cumbria

Slow travel has never been slower! While Charlie & Bob, the horses, clop along in front, you’ll be free to relax into the gentle rumble of life on the road. Barny, the driver, will guide the wagons through the Cumbrian lanes by day and leave you for the evening pitched up at one of three beautiful camps with the basics all ready (tripod cauldron included).

From £150 per night (sleeps 4) – www.canopyandstars.co.uk/wanderlusts

9. Bed down on a boat with a thatched roof - La Caloge, Brittany, Finistère

Resting in the country garden of a charming B&B in Brittany is this converted fishing boat, which now sports a thatched roof. Inside expect maritime touches; ropes, buoys and even a mast in the bedroom; there’s a separate kitchen and bathroom; and it’s guaranteed to not make you seasick.

From £85 per night (sleeps 2) – www.canopyandstars.co.uk/lacaloge

10. Make your own chair at Crafty Camping, Dorset

Become a carpenter for the day and make a your own chair from start to finish, with a course at Crafty Camping, also on offer for you to try your hand at is green woodworking, spoon carving and even axe throwing with Guy and his team then stay in one of the five little camps for two. There’s a yurt, a tipi, three bell tents and a shepherd’s hut and each comes with its own whittling kit with instructions, so you can continue your practical woodcraft once you’ve finished for the day.

From £70 per night (each space sleeps 2) – www.canopyandstars.co.uk/craftycamping

11. Pitch up on a private beach at 51 Beach View, Priory Bay, The Isle of Wight

Camping meets Claridges at this island idyll. Perched above the sands of a private beach this glorious yurt (one of only three, each decorated by a different designer) is hidden in the grounds of the luxurious Priory Bay Hotel. Be lulled to sleep in your kingsize bed by the sound of the surf, watch the sunrise from your private terrace and be the first to step in the sand each morning.

From £200 per night – www.canopyandstars.co.uk/51beachview

12. Start that novel at Balleswidden Cabin, near Penzance, Cornwall

Originally built as a writer’s lodge, there’s plenty to inspire - the sea views, wild moors, ancient wells, enchanting fishing villages and rough seas. Back at the cabin there’s a mezzanine bedroom, claw-foot bath with homemade soap, hot water on tap, a woodburner for heating, and a fire wok on the deck outside.

From £80 per night (sleeps 3) – www.canopyandstars.co.uk/balleswiddencabin

13. Crush a grape or two at La Palombière, Bordeaux, Gironde, France

Head south this September and October and spend some time at a magnificent treehouse near Bordeaux, in the woods of Chateau Lestange. The estate vineyard produces its own beautiful Malbec, Merlot and Verdot in the heart of wine country. Chivvied along by a glass or two, you can get stuck in and spend the weekend harvesting and working in the vineyards, retuning to your luxury perch by night.

From £135 per night (sleeps 2 adults & 3 children) – www.canopyandstars.co.uk/palombiere

BREAD AT THE BOTHY Warm, fresh, and fragrant sourdough loaves...

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:54:00 +0000

BREAD AT THE BOTHY

Warm, fresh, and fragrant sourdough loaves are springing into existence at The Bothy, Inshriach House, Aviemore…

This week, bakers Anna and Sam Luntley are staying at the Bothy as part of The Bothy Project, baking magnificent loaves that, in their own words, “document the circumstance and environment of their creation in their crumb, crust and colour.”

Sourdough bread baking depends wholly on wild yeasts (rather than commercial quick yeast) and the diligence of the baker, who feeds and tends the ‘starter’ daily. Sam and Anna are working with fermented wild yeasts “spored by the idiosyncrasies of the highland air,” and are stoking their woodburning stove with timber from the Inshriach Estate. They’ll be inviting members of the local Cairngorm community (including lucky owner, Walter) to sample the results of their self-confessed “obsessive and incessant” baking.

The Bothy at Inshriach House, Aviemore leads a double life. In summer, it’s a wild Canopy & Stars retreat where you can be at one with the outdoors, splashing in the river and cooking over an open fire.

Off-season, when the weather encourages staying indoors and being creative instead, it’s one of several spaces taking part in The Bothy Project. Started by artist Robert Niven and architectural designer Iain MacLeod, the Bothy Project provides artists with small, diverse spaces in which to explore Scotland’s heritage, mythology and landscape through their work.

Keep an eye out for more Bothy residents getting creative in the snow. And read more about breadatthebothy here.

GET & GIVE KISSABLE LIPS WITH BABES IN THE WOODS BALM

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 09:57:00 +0000

Get your lips - and those of your friends and loved ones - ready for kissing with this homemade rose-and-plantain beeswax-based lip balm.

Hetti, the woodland fairy behind Babes in the Woods, has shared one of her secret recipes with us in time for Valentine’s Day. It’s made with natural ingredients and will soothe those chapped lips, enliven and perfume your skin, and even act as a first aid salve for stings and bites. These little pots make wonderful wedding favours, or thoughtful presents - for friends or for yourself.

Introducing PLANTAIN, a wonderful native and prolific plant that is an age old remedy for insect stings, cuts, sore throats and tired feet, from which it takes its name, vaguely translated as “weed of the soles of the feet”. Release your inner forager upon our wintry hedgerows and whip up a wild balm to ready your lips for , as follows…

INGREDIENTS for Plantain balm

For 10-ish pots of balm

10 little pots (recommend 15 ml glass or metal screw top pots)
130 ml cold pressed organic sunflower oil
Generous handful of plantain
Small pack of cosmetic grade beeswax pellets (amount used will vary)
Essential oil of choice to perfume

EQUIPMENT

Medium size stainless steel or ceramic bowl
Saucepan that bowl can rest in for bain-marie method of steaming
Tea towel or piece of muslin to cover bowl
Teaspoon and saucer
Wooden spoon
Measuring jug
Strainer
Pestle & mortar if you have

Time:

Start to finish, 24 hours due to overnight infusion
Foraging time: depends what you find!
Infusion time: overnight
Blending and pouring time: 15 mins

1. Identify your local patch of plantain. It’s a good looking plant and is most commonly found on grasslands and by the roadside. Pick either Ribwort Plantain or Greater Plantain – use a wild plant book, a friend in the know, or this link to help identify.

2. Pick a handful, not over-harvesting in an area of limited resource, and not picking where pollution may affect the plant, of either the vehicular or 4-legged type!

3. Return home and cut up plantain and bruise in pestle and mortar, spoon against bowl will work as well.

4. Pour oil into a bowl, preferably stainless steel then steep plantain in oil, ensuring that the oil covers the plant.

5. Place a clean tea towel or piece of muslin over the bowl of oil and leave over a very gentle heat (back of wood burner / airing cupboard / under a storage heater or radiator). You want the oil to get hot enough for the properties of the plantain to become infused, but not so hot that the oil simmers and changes the chemical composition of the medicinal properties of the plant. If you don’t have an overnight heat supply, you can heat very gently over a pan of steaming water (bain-marie) for a few hours.

6. Next day, filter the oil through a strainer, unless you’re using a very refined filter, you will notice that some of the plantain sediment is left in the oil – this is fine, if you’re fine with it! The oil should have taken on a really wonderful green hue.

7. Place the strained oil back in the stainless steel bowl and rest in a saucepan of hot water using the bain-marie culinary method that allows steam to heat but not boil the oil. Place the beeswax into the oil, starting with a smaller quantity to begin with. The rough ratio of oil to beeswax for a lip balm is 1 part beeswax to 7 parts oil – so just start with a few dessert spoons first.

8. Once the beeswax has melted, test the solidity of the oil by dipping in a cold teaspoon and pouring a tiny bit on a cold saucer. It will solidify quickly and if it’s too moist, add more wax to get a more solid balm.

9. When you’re happy with the consistency add about 20 drops of essential oil. Rose is really nice and soft if you’re going to use on lips. The more oil you add, the stronger the aroma and the more it will become like a solid perfume.

10. Finish by pouring the mix into the pots and allow to cool and solidify.

Making hedgerow-foraged lip balm is just one of the activities on the cards at Babes in the Woods, a hen do with a difference. It’s a woodland adventure for up to 20 with an enviable pamper-to-camper ratio. Groups can camp in rustic luxury, learn new skills and create unforgettable memories together. Now in a second location, Babes in the Woods: Malverns is just as swish as the original Babes in the Woods: Devon, and even has its own wild swimming spot.

GOT THE TREES, BUT NOT THE HOUSE?

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:41:00 +0000

Treehouse Building Course at West Lexham - Now Available to Book for 2013!

Many of us enjoyed making a treehouse built from wood ‘reclaimed’ from the garden as children. Now is your chance to take it to another level! West Lexham have once again teamed up with professional treehouse architects High Life Treehouses, and are offering you a fantastic chance to learn how to build a treehouse from start to finish.

Henry and his team of experienced treehouse builders will be showing you how to build a brand new treehouse (based on a Viking mead hall!), with a veranda looking out over the surrounding water meadows. There will be chance to learn how to finish the interior of an existing treehouse with smart tongue and groove boarding, as well as learn the secrets of rope bridge and tree deck building. The course will have something for people of all skill levels.

Places are limited, so please get in touch to reserve your space or forward any questions to bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk or 01275 395447.

Course location: Norfolk, PE32 2QN, UK

Date: 22 to 24 March, 2013 OR 5 to 7 April, 2013

Price: £415 for one weekend, £750 for both weekends

Includes:

2-nights accommodation in comfortable shared rooms at beautiful 18^th Century former vicarage The Grange – hosted by a local permaculturist and his lovely family
Freshly prepared, delicious locally sourced delicious meals throughout the weekend
A chance to learn a broad range of skills and techniques to build your own tree house
A certificate at the end of the course
A DVD of the full build as a reference and to share all the fun with friends and family.

ARTIST OF THE MONTH - CATRIN LEIGHTON Meet Catrin Leighton, a...

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:03:00 +0000

ARTIST OF THE MONTH - CATRIN LEIGHTON

Meet Catrin Leighton, a face you may recognise from our two-minute glamping holiday video (conveniently seen here). Catrin has the ideal combination of being high on talent but low on ego. She’ll do anything to get the audience laughing or crying and she’ll do it well. And although she didn’t get to dress up in 3D for our video, she happily agreed to be our Artist of the Month for February. Watch her space - she’s definitely an ‘up-and-comer’.

Where do you live now and what do you ‘do’?

Right now I live in Cardiff and I’m studying my 3^rd year of a BA hons Theatre and Drama through the medium of Welsh. I’m also working as a tour guide for the Millennium Stadium.

Which living person do you most admire and why?

I admire my tutor for my last course Paula, she has such an eye for theatre. Just a genius.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

I was working in a café in Newport Pembrokeshire when I was about 14/15 and some of the other girls who were working there were talking about the lead singer of Feeder and how he was having lunch in our café at the table by the window. Now, I wasn’t really into music and had no idea who this person was so I told them to just go and ask, and they wouldn’t, so I boldly strutted over and asked the man at the table “Are you the lead singer of Feeder?” and he said “No.” That was fine and I walked away, but as I was walking I heard the words “I am though!” but I was already walking away and was too mortified to turn round. I had actually asked the lead singer of Feeder’s brother if he was the lead singer of Feeder. Embarrassing but I still couldn’t pick him out of a crowd, and I still haven’t bothered to find out his actual name.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

I’d like to say Helena Bonham Carter…or Jennifer Saunders, but I’d probably be closer with Dawn French or Miranda Hart.

What would be your fancy dress costume of choice?

Well it would have to be a one-piece, I do like a good onesie, and tassels, tassels are good. BUT having said that I’ve always wanted to dress up as something 3D like an Airport of the Eiffel Tower.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Probably musicals, anything I can sing along to and I’m there.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

“Literally” and not even in its correct context, which is worse.

What is the worst job you’ve done?

Well I used to work in a burger van, I actually quite enjoyed myself but my friend Edward called me white trash once.

What album are you listening to now?

I’ve just discovered ‘The Asteroids Galaxy Tour’.

Best holiday?

I’ve been Skiing a few times and I always absolutely love it, but I went to Amsterdam last year and that was also really fun, oh and Scotland for the Fringe Festival, that was great and a kind of ‘fly off the seat of your pants’ type of holiday.

Where next?

Berlin! I’ve been before for a weekend with University but I’m going again in Easter time. Also I’m hoping to do a Ski season in Canada this winter.

Beach bum, culture vulture or adrenalin junkie?

All of those rolled into one, everything in moderation.

What’s your best piece of travel advice?

If your accommodation falls through, there are always people willing to put you up if you put an ad on Gumtree.

Which is your favourite country and why?

Well I haven’t been to many but Scotland is up there, and so is Amsterdam, and good old Cardiff has never let me down.

Have someone you think would be perfect for our Artist of the Month spotlight? Email your suggestions to: peoplewelove@canopyandstars.co.uk