By Kate Hodges
22nd September 2021
DO AND RECIPE SEASONS CHANGE
The Autumn Equinox or Mabon is today, and is a gentle opportunity to mark the transition of the seasons. Find some juicy ideas for you and your family here, including planning a harvest party, using Ayurveda to stay healthy, and how to survive and thrive with yoga and affirmations. Find more about how yoga can help you through the Equinox here and how to stay healthy during the shift into autumn here.
Pagan symbols of Mabon include the apple and the horn of plenty. Make an bounteous altar, or bake a buttermilk bread charm and join the fun. More here Find out more facts, traditions, folklore and more about the Autumn Equinox here; is it really true that you can only balance an egg on its end on this day? We’re going to try!
DO WHEELS ON FIRE
Bike To School week starts on Monday. Organised by Sustrans, it’s a celebration of cycling and the benefits of travelling actively for children. Cycling as a family is fun at any time, but especially suits autumn; the cooler days still have enough sun to keep things upbeat. Find how to choose a bike for your child here and our top ten family cycle routes here. Or crank up your gears and read how motherhood inspired Laura Cooke to get on her bike, discover how one family cycled 16,500 miles with their eight-year-old daughter, and marvel at the incredible Pasches who have biked around the world for over ten years, even giving birth to a child on the road.
EVENT BRANCHING OUT
Trees look beautiful, store carbon, improve our health and are fun to climb! Every year, The Tree Council celebrate Seed Gathering Season; a month-long festival for everyone – no matter how much or little they know about trees – to gather seeds, fruits and nuts ahead of the winter planting season. The idea is that seeds collected from local trees are adapted to local circumstances – local provenance – and are more likely to thrive. Both rural and urban spaces benefit from new trees; bringing energy, life and beauty to any area. A growing tree is a pretty exciting concept for a youngster too and watching a tree grow alongside the child can make it very special.
Give purpose to an early autumn walk, and find your own, or take part in an organised event near you. Find out more – including how to grow and nurture your own trees – here.
DO ART OUTSIDE
Experience cutting-edge sculpture for free in The Regent’s Park this month. Frieze Sculpture runs until October 31, and is curated by Claire Lilley, the director of programming at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. This lush green space is transformed into a gallery with huge, bright sculptures from artists from around the world, from well-known names such as Anthony Caro and Isamu Noguchi to upcomers such as Annie Morris and Vanessa da Silva. There’s enough food for thought for adults and older teens, but smaller kids will love the sensory experiences and the freedom of being outside. Find out more here
DO AND MAKE TREASURE CHESTNUTS
The first conkers have hit the streets (literally). This year, as well as playing with them, using them for crafts, or to scare off spiders (more on that here), you might also use them to make a gentle soap alternative. There’s a recipe here and another here.
WHAT WE’RE READING
‘Revolutionary in a quiet way’: the rise of community gardens in the UK “With wellbeing and nature connection becoming top priority during lockdown, we had this massive surge of interest in gardening and the community groups were there to help people learn how to garden, teach skills, share knowledge, plants, tools and all sorts as well as inspire people and cheer them up.”
Read this inspiring piece here
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
The Great British Bake Off We can’t resist it. Every autumn, The Great British Bake Off returns like a long-missed friend. It’s funny, warm, and gets us in the mood to make cakes; what’s not to like? This season, watch out for the programme’s first vegan baker, Freya. Watch here
