Whilst walking the country lanes today, I came across this resplendent Holly tree. In the folklore of Britain and Ireland, Holly is a symbol of protection, endurance and life in the darkness of winter. While other trees shed their leaves, Holly remains evergreen, its bright red berries shining like embers against the cold. In modern seasonal folklore, Holly is associated with the Holly King, a ruler of winter who represents the darker half of the year. Often paired with the O

In a rural hamlet, in a little barn kitchen surrounded by birdsong, the scent of springtime blossom and the sound of rustling meadow grasses here on the North Cornwall coastal, I formulate and produce a wide variety of salves, balms, tinctures, glycerites, infusions, decoctions and tea. Over the past few weeks I've prepared a variety of items which will replenish my herbal medicine clinic. Photograph: St John's Wort, Meadowsweet, Turmeric and Black Pepper Pain Relief Balm - s