May Bank Holiday, Beltane & Bluebells

The long weekend is upon us, and I don’t know about you, but I find it easy to get swept up in the effervescence of Springtime and forget to slow down, leaving me feeling depleted rather than energised. I am more than ready for a little pause.

Life feels very full at the moment. There is the constant noise of the news, the juggling of work and family, the never-ending list of things that need doing. So I intend to calm the noise this weekend by savouring the simple things in life.

Whilst I often tend to fill free time to the max with hiking or kayaking adventures, I’ve been reminded of the importance of taking time to rest and reset. This weekend will be all about slow walks, seeing friends, sharing food, immersing myself in nature and actually practising some good old-fashioned self-care.

This is the time of Beltane, which celebrates growth, fertility and the beginning of Summer. Here in Devon, I’ve been revelling in the burgeoning hedgerows and woodland. If there is one symbol of growth for me at this time of year, it has to be bluebells. If you haven't yet had your bluebell fix, I can highly recommend getting out amongst them and breathing in their heady, bewitching scent. Although some of them are beginning to go over in the lower, warmer areas, they are still in perfect condition up on higher ground.  If you are in Devon, head up to Whiddon Deer Park or Holwell Lawn on Dartmoor. For those in Somerset, the bluebells are just coming out on Blackdown.

These moments of ‘drinking in’ nature as a way to reconnect and calm my nervous system are without a doubt the inspiration for the scents in the products I make. I adore getting messages from you explaining how the smell and feel of the plant ingredients give you a daily moment of calm. From rosemary-lined orange groves to wild rose hedgerows mingled with frankincense, they all send a message to the nervous system to slow down, take a moment and savour.

My favourite at the moment is still the Multivitamin: This is the oil I reach for when my skin looks tired, lacklustre or like it needs a bit of glow and bounce. It’s lightweight, silky and packed full of beautiful plant oils including Rosehip, Sea Buckthorn, Blackcurrant and Camellia, alongside Eco Marine Algae. No filler oils, no heaviness, just real multi-vitamins for your face. 

The scent is of sweet orange, rosemary and frankincense. Definitely one to savour.

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  Multivitamin Facial Oil

  Plants are healers on so many levels. They feed us, calm us, support our skin and bring us back into rhythm with the world around us. Whether they are growing wild on a walk, infused into a cup, or pressed into a bottle of facial oil, they have such immense power.

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  On that note, I will also be picking lots of young nettles this weekend to dry and use in various recipes.  There will be more on that if you follow me on Instagram in the coming days… think nettle salt and nettle, mushroom and artichoke soup.

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In the meantime, I hope you have a nourishing bank holiday full of small moments to savour.

If the weather cheers up, I will be down on the beach cooking something over the fire; if not, I’ll be cosying up in the van and watching the rains feed the land.

With warmth,

Polly