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Spring Back to the Fields
On March 20, 2012, at precisely 1:14 A.M. the Sun will cross directly over the Earth's equator. This moment of the vernal or Spring equinox begins our yearly
Floral Dance...
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Floral Dance © John Hocking
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Find Thyme This Year to Walk with Us
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2012 Herb Walk Dates: 22nd March17th May
12th July13th September
8th November
...if you want to see what we found on previous Walks, click to view our |
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To watch Ben in action, click on the video link below... |
Herb Walk, July 2010 
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Ben Fairlight Edwards:
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| Keeping it Local |  |
Madeleine's Cream and Ointments are now available at Stuff & Good Sense
29 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5TD
Visit the shop for an eco-vintage experience!
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Where in the World is Madeleine's Cream?
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We send Madeleine's Cream all over the world - using recycled packaging whenever possible. Last month we had orders via our newly-improved website that went to the USA (California, New York and Wyoming), Holland, Scotland, Ireland, and there is even some Madeleine's Cream and Ointment in a lovely village called Amari - in the mountains of Crete... |
Drink the Environment Clean - Nikken Sports Bottle
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If you are buying bottled water to drink on the go, Nikken has an economical and environmental alternative! This is unique because it includes Nikken's PiMag Water Technology, which adjusts the water's pH value and helps offset the oxidising effects of modern diet and environment.
Each replaceable filter lasts about 250 refills (approx. 3 months), giving you around 152 litres of clear, filtered water at a fraction of the cost of bottled water brands.
The cost is both financial and environmental. The average European throws away 168 plastic water bottles each year, with the combination of producing, filling, shipping and eventual transporting to disposal sites using over 5 million litres of oil.
In contrast, the PiMag Sport Bottle's LDPE resin shell is fully recyclable and biodegradable, and is also free of the hazardous chemicals that have been shown to leach from certain plastics. Buy Online HERE
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SWARM WANTED !
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As the weather warms up in the next month or two, if you see bees swarming in the Forest Row area, let me know...
Call me on 01342 825 649 or 07711 369 438 or send me an email
We have a beautiful Warré natural beekeeping hive (much like the one above) ready to host a homeless swarm. I am happy to collect the bees - all you have to do is tell me where they are... please remember that swarming bees are usually very docile, so don't be tempted to swat! Or if you spot a swarm anywhere, please contact the experts at the Natural Beekeeping Trust who will be able to help you.
Visit their website for inspiring workshops, courses and bee wisdom. Thank you! |
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First Herb Walk of the year with Ben Fairlight Edwards: discovering wild food and medicine in our fields and hedgerows Thursday, March 22nd 2012 | |
Wild Garlic, or Ramsons, are already lush and plentiful beside the stream along our path. Delicious new cleavers are under that south-facing hedge, juicy sweet new dandelion leaves (and the occasional flower) and feathery tender new Yarrow...
 YarrowThis herb of a thousand names is brilliant for the circulation - FRESHLY picked Yarrow / Millefoil / Old Man's Pepper helps balance blood pressure (DO NOT use medicinal amounts of Yarrow if you are already on Warfarin medication). It also helps the flow of blood and heals the blood vessel walls.
Dandelion
Try this: make 2 separate salads and/or sandwiches - one with TORN leaves, the other with CUT leaves. After about 3 minutes, your meal of torn leaves should taste better than the cut leaves. Why? Answers on a post-card to... OR come to our first Transition Herb Day on March 22nd 2012 (details below) to report your findings and learn the answer!  Cleavers Tough as it is, Cleavers (or Sticky Willy) is not that hardy a plant - and as Jack Frost may still visit, pick any (clean) Cleavers you can find whilst it's on offer(Pick One, Get One Free would be a good name as it is so sticky). If you're not looking forward to Spring because of the Hay Fever it may bring, then fresh Cleavers is especially good at raising your immune system resilience.
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Sunrise on the Spring Equinox at Stonehenge |
Herb Walk: Thursday, 22nd March 2012
Morning 9.30 - 1pm
Afternoon 2 - 5pm
£25 for the morning only
£38 for all day
Concessions available, contact Madeleine Bring your own lunch; drinks and bics provided Please bring the usual Barefoot essentials: 1 jar (small) 1 plastic bag (freezer/sandwich bag) 1 pair small scissors / penknife 1 small thermos flask (optional - for making a Field Infusion) We very much look forward to seeing you there! - Ben, The Barefoot Herbalist Call Madeleine on 01342 826 965 to book or email herestoyourhealth@hotmail.co.uk |
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|  TestMatch is run by Reuben Grove.
Since leaving the University of Oxford in 2006 with an MSc in Social Anthropology, Reuben has amassed extensive experience as a personal tutor. Over the past six years he has helped students in Maths, History, Philosophy, French, as well as both English and American literature, at various levels from GCSE to degree. This hands-on experience places Reuben in a unique position to manage his small team of consultants, each one dedicated to matching student and tutor for the success and satisfaction of all involved.
If you are interested in hiring a TestMatch tutor, call us on 0800 148 8570 or email us at info@testmatchtutors.co.uk .
There are few more satisfying experiences than watching a student respond positively in the focused environment of one-to-one tuition. Tutoring can provide lucrative, flexible part-time or full-time work which can also be extremely fulfilling. In a competitive job market tutoring can also be a valuable fall-back or bridge between jobs, which won't make you feel like you're wasting your degree.
If you are interested in becoming a TestMatch tutor, call us on 0800 148 8570 or email us at info@testmatchtutors.co.uk.
Speaking of stimulating the brain, instead of relying on coffee to keep you perked up, try chewing a few leaves of fresh rosemary instead - the resins contain a natural stimulant. |
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The Fractured Countryside - What on Earth is Happening Underground?
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MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER NEEDED FOR EACH FRACKING PROJECT... AND RESERVOIRS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW
Hydraulic Fracturing (fracking) company Cuadrilla has planning permission to drill just outside Balcombe in Sussex. The company admits that its fracking process has already caused earthquakes in Lancashire.
Fracking in the US, South Africa and Australia has caused serious concerns around water pollution - to the extent some US households are able to set their tap water on fire. Air pollution, aquifer depletion and increased lorry traffic are other issues.
France has already declared a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing and there are calls for the same in the UK. Planning has been denied in the Vale of Glamorgan (mainly because of local outrage) but many other sites are planned UK wide, including in the Mendips and in Kent. To view the map, click HERE. You can watch a documentary by the UK's Ecologist Film Unit on the risks of fracking HERE |
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Kiss Your Winter Lips and Cracked Fingertips Goodbye!
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"...I reach for a cream made with  calendula that soothes; nettles that promote healing and stellaria, the modest starflower that cools, in a wondrous potion for hard-working hands from madeleines-cream.com..." - Francine Raymond, The Sunday Telegraph
Madeleine's Cream is useful for softening, moisturising, cleansing and soothing all kinds of skin, but for severe cracks and chapping, try Madeleine's Lanolin Ointment - and in our handy smaller sizes (15g and 30g), it's perfect for handbag, man-bag or pocket.
Madeleine's Lanolin Ointment 15g size is only £3.50 when purchased online in March. Buy online HERE
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Thanks to Ben Fairlight Edwards for his enduring Herbal wisdom, to the Natural Beekeeping Trust for continuing their valiant effort to save our bees, to Heidi Herrmann for sharing the pic of her beautiful Warre hive, to Benno White (commercial photographer) for his excellent photos of Madeleine's products, and to everyone who stocks, buys, uses and then tells their friends, family and even complete strangers about Madeleine's Cream & Ointments. Thank you all! |
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