April Almanac
In the pond...
In your
foraging bag...
Recipe
2
In the sky...
1 In the trees...
Cuckoos are traditionally first
heard from 14 April but they
often arrive in the UK earlier
now. Listen out for the
‘cuck-oo’ sound in the early
evenings, especially close to
woodlands, grasslands and
reed beds. Folklore says that
if you hear a cuckoo you can
make a wish. Write something
you want to wish for here
(whether you hear a cuckoo
or not) and work out what your
first step is to making it a reality.Newts are breeding in March and April. If you
have a pond, (without fish – they eat newts)
encourage them by clearing space and planting
watercress and flote grass for them to lay eggs
in. A nearby rockery, woodpile or compost heap
will catch their beady eyes, too. Read about why
we think newts are so magical on p75.P Wild garlic (also known
more poetically as bear leek).
See left for ideas.
P Bramble leaves (ideal fresh
or dried for making a wild tea,
packed with vitamin C)O Steep in oil for a garlic olive oil.
O Chop finely and beat into
butter then freeze in logs
(excellent on jacket potatoes
or garlic bread).
O Fold into an omelette.
O Blend with egg yolks and flour
to make wild garlic pasta dough.
O Dry the leaves in a low oven,
crumble and store in a jar
to sprinkle on salads, soups
and stews all year round.¹"% +%"
HABIT TRACKER
COMPILED BY IONA BOWER. IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCKFive of the best things to
do with foraged wild garlic
(that aren’t pesto)My April resolution...
The roots of April Fools’ Day are
uncertain but one story tells that
it began as it was once new year.
Ancient cultures celebrated new
year after the vernal equinox, around
1 April. An edict in late 15th-centruy
France changed the date to
1 January and anyone who forgot
was deemed ‘an April fool’. We
think spring is a much better time
to start new year resolutions. Who
wants to start new habits in dingy,
cold January? If you’d like another
go at your resolution, or have an idea
for one you wish you’d started, why
not give it a go this month? We also
believe resolutions should be fun, so
think of something you’d love to do
every day and commit to enjoying
it. Colour in the days as you go.3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10
11
12
13
14
17 16 1518
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Look out for the Full Pink Moon
on 7 April, also known as the
Egg Moon, the Fish Moon and
the Sprouting Grass Moon. Sadly
it’s not pink; it’s called the ‘pink
moon’ as it marks the arrival of
pink ground phlox, which start to
flower around now, but we think
you should colour our moon
in pink, just because it’s fun.April Almanac
In thepond...
In your
foraging bag...
Recipe
2
In thesky...
1 In thetrees...
Cuckoos are traditionally first
heard from 14 April but they
often arrive in the UK earlier
now. Listen out for the
‘cuck-oo’ sound in the early
evenings, especially close to
woodlands, grasslands and
reed beds. Folklore says that
if you hear a cuckoo you can
make a wish. Write something
you want to wish for here
(whether you hear a cuckoo
or not) and work out what your
first step is to making it a reality.Newts are breeding in March and April. If you
have a pond, (without fish – they eat newts)
encourage them by clearing space and planting
watercress and flote grass for them to lay eggs
in. A nearby rockery, woodpile or compost heap
will catch their beady eyes, too. Read about why
we think newts are so magical on p75.P Wild garlic (also known
more poetically as bear leek).
See left for ideas.
P Bramble leaves (ideal fresh
or dried for making a wild tea,
packed with vitamin C)O Steep in oil for a garlic olive oil.
O Chop finely and beat into
butter then freeze in logs
(excellent on jacket potatoes
or garlic bread).
O Fold into an omelette.
O Blend with egg yolks and flour
to make wild garlic pasta dough.
O Dry the leaves in a low oven,
crumble and store in a jar
to sprinkle on salads, soups
and stews all year round.
¹"% +%"
HABIT TRACKER
COMPILED BY IONA BOWER. IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCKFive of the best things to
do with foraged wild garlic
(that aren’t pesto)MyAprilresolution...
The roots of April Fools’ Day are
uncertain but one story tells that
it began as it was once new year.
Ancient cultures celebrated new
year after the vernal equinox, around
1 April. An edict in late 15th-centruy
France changed the date to
1 January and anyone who forgot
was deemed ‘an April fool’. We
think spring is a much better time
to start new year resolutions. Who
wants to start new habits in dingy,
cold January? If you’d like another
go at your resolution, or have an idea
for one you wish you’d started, why
not give it a go this month? We also
believe resolutions should be fun, so
think of something you’d love to do
every day and commit to enjoying
it. Colour in the days as you go.3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10
11
12
13
14
17 16 1518
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Look out for the Full Pink Moon
on 7 April, also known as the
Egg Moon, the Fish Moon and
the Sprouting Grass Moon. Sadly
it’s not pink; it’s called the ‘pink
moon’ as it marks the arrival of
pink ground phlox, which start to
flower around now, but we think
you should colour our moon
in pink, just because it’s fun.