Everything About Wood

Monday, 2 October 2017

Pick your own Forest food & drink experience

The warmer summer weather means more chances to eat outside in The National Forest. Here are our picks of the best places to eat al fresco.

Food and drink festivals

Cider connoisseurs should head to the Derbyshire Sausage and Cider Festival this summer (30th June – 3^rd July at Catton Hall. If you want to try a similar experience, head to the Real Ale & Jazz Festival on 14^th-16^th July. The hosting National Brewery Centre has its own on-site brewery which will be offering up its Charringtons IPA and Worthington White Shield to stand alongside summer ciders and ales coming from small, independent brewers from around the country.

Farmers’ Markets

There’s something hearty and wholesome about eating food from the farm! Ashby de la Zouch hosts its Farmers’ Market on the third Saturday of each month and Burton upon Trent also hosts its own Farmers’ Market on the second Thursday of the month. Here you can pick up locally reared meat, homemade cakes, a whole variety of rustic looking cheeses, and wine produced right here in The National Forest at Sealwood Farm Vineyard. If it’s been brewed, raised, made, pickled, bottled or baked within 35 miles of The National Forest, you’ll find it on one of those stalls!

Picnic in an English Country Garden

Pack up your strawberries, scones and flask of tea and find a spot for a summer picnic in the grounds of Elvaston Castle Country Park. The beautiful estate has been awarded the ‘Green Flag’ for the third year running for its quality green space, and the carefully curated gardens are designated for their heritage importance. Unroll your blanket at the top of the hill to look down on the impressive building, or surround yourself and lunchbox with colourful flowers in the Old English Walled Garden.

Hands on Food

Instead of just eating them, gather some hungry friends and make your own sausages at Betty’s Farm. It also has an army of 24,000 free range egg laying hens, which you can pick up in the Farm Shop, or on Thursdays –Saturdays munch down cakes and homemade specials in the new Coop Café. If you’re keen to support local businesses, then time your visit for a Tuesday afternoon when a fish van rocks up with a lovely selection of seafood.

If you want some fresh fruit with the satisfaction of harvesting them yourself, then go to Cattows Farm where you can pick strawberries and raspberries for your next Eton Mess – or select your own gooseberries and blackcurrants to make some delicious summer puddings.

Did someone say gin o’clock? You don’t often get the chance to create your own alcohol, but book on to the distillery tour at the 45 Gin School near Nanpantan and you’ll be walking out with your own botanical infused bottle of gin by the time you’ve learnt to choose your ingredients and distill your bespoke creation.

Tea and cake

Who doesn’t love tea and cake? It’s perfect whatever the weather might throw at us – equally great for getting out of the cold on a rainy day or for sitting outside in the sunshine. Stop by at Lakeside Bistro & Tearoom in Moira to eat on the patio in an idyllic setting – the tranquil venue overlooks a small lake with a wildlife island in the middle, and it’s known for its puddings and pies too.

If you fancy a long walk topped off by a well-earned slice of something, then Bradgate Park’s your destination. There’s a café right near to the ruins of 9-day Queen of England, Lady Jane Grey’s childhood house where you can sit and rest your feet, or take a break with your cuppa before heading for a second session around the country estate.

Take some sarnies and enjoy al fresco dining on your picnic rug in Saltersford Valley, a picturesque place en route from Donisthorpe to Oakthorpe. Its picnic area spans a hefty 6ha so you can choose between resting and refuelling open air in either woodland, meadow or marshland.

To take in some history on the Ashby Woulds Heritage Trail, start out for an easy walk from Conkers, passing along the canal to Moira Furnace. Eat your packed lunch by the water watching the boats and birds, or admiring the nineteenth century iron making furnace.

Take your pick from lush countryside locations on the Mease Lowlands walk in South Derbyshire. The 9 mile route takes in pleasant farmland and country grass paths giving you both lovely rural scenery, and a myriad of places to ponder and tuck in to your pork pie!

We’d love to see photos of your picnics, lunch stops or more elaborate romantic foodie escapes to The National Forest. Just use #forestlife to share the moment with us!

For further information log on website :
https://www.visitnationalforest.co.uk/foodie-picks-in-the-national-forest-beyond/

Make summer last a lifetime in the Forest

Summer is the perfect time to visit The National Forest, when the days are long and #forestlife offers a wide range of fun, games and new experiences for all ages. So, put down those digital devices, step away from the screens and start making some plans for an unforgettable summer in the great outdoors.

Big days out for little ones

Get out, get active

Get involved in the Out and Active Holiday Club at Rosliston Forestry Centre. Here your budding Bear Grylls, can spend all day learning traditional Bushcraft and practicing their sharpshooting skills with archery and laser combat. Monday 7 – Friday 11 August and Monday 21 – Friday 26 August. Booking essential. 8yrs+

Go wild at Calke Abbey

Enjoy playful summer days living #forestlife to the full at Calke Abbey. Enter the Garden of Imagination through the secret door and lose yourself in one of its many secret places. Outside the garden, brave adventurers can get active, climbing ropes and trees, balancing on logs and even orienteering as part of the Calke Explore experience.

Alternatively, curious kids can pick up a nature pack and seek out some of Calke’s wildlife or even go cloud-spotting! Calke Explore & The Garden of Imagination open 8 July to 3 September, 10:30am to 4pm.

Sense-sational days out

For a sense-sational day out, bring your babies, toddlers and preschoolers to The National Memorial Arboretum for a Little Saplings Sensory Play. As well as story time, there are new sounds, colours and textures to explore with the help of some exciting sensory toys, a dark den and some light stimuli. Place all this in the beautiful natural surroundings of the National Memorial Arboretum and you have the ideal place to grow and nurture creativity. (4 August & 1 September).

Learn the bare necessities of bushcraft

Could your family survive in the woods? Build their own shelter? Start a fire and forage for food? Find out on a Woodlands Survival Crafts, Bushcraft Day (14 August) where they will learn new skills, have fun and experience real-life adventures.

For night time adventures, there’s the Family Bushcraft Evenings at Rosliston Forestry Centre (16&30 August), where you can learn to the ways of the wild, in the cool of the evening.

Every day is a Ranger Day at Conkers. Throughout the summer the Rangers can guide the whole family through a wide selection of activities. One day you could be learning to be a Survival Expert, the next could see you tackling Construction or experiencing Sensory Art. Other Ranger-led adventures include Pond Dipping, Bush Craft and Orienteering. All week, during the summer.

Want to try something a little different? How about Axe Throwing at the award winning Field Sports UK? Here you can master the art of axe throwing in a woodland setting. Your Axtravaganza starts with mini axes, before moving up, along with your skill level, to tomahawks. Come on, chop chop! Minimum Group Size: 2+. 15 years +. Booking essential. Quote #forestlife for a discount.

Free Range Families

I spy a Gruffolo

As an exception to our digital detox rule, you have our blessing to download The Gruffalo Spotter app at home and go Gruffolo hunting at Hicks Lodge: The National Forest Cycle Centre. Here, you can follow clues, collect evidence and bring the Gruffalo and his friends to life, right before your eyes on the screen of your smartphone or tablet. All summer.

Shiver me timbers

Come on you scurvy land lubbers, go wild in the pirate themed, maize maze at the National Forest Adventure Farm. Follow the clues around the 3 miles of pathways, bridges and viewing towers to discover Del Gardo’s treasure. 15 July – 4 September.

Ready, Teddy, Go

If you go down to Rosliston Forestry Centre you’re sure of a nice surprise! Bertie Bear is hosting a Teddy Bears Picnic Cycle Ride. Come along with your picnic and join Bertie for fun activities on the picnic area and an easy bike ride through the woods. 9 August.

Pop up Cinema

Star Wars and more, under the stars

Film fans will also love Calke Abbey’s Summer Nights Film Festival. Sit back in this spectacular location and enjoy Mama Mia on one night and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story the next. 3&4 August.

The time of your life

Take your popcorn and take your seats for the 80s classic, Dirty Dancing. The open-air Luna Cinema at the National Memorial Arboretum makes the perfect venue to relax with your own picnic, or something tasty from the restaurant. 15 July.

Wildlife Watch

Bring your little critters to meet ours, at the fun Pond Dipping Sessions at Rosliston Forestry Centre. There’s no need to book, just follow the signs and join us by the pond, where you’ll discover exactly what creatures live there! All equipment will be provided at Roliston Forestry Centre, all you need to bring is your curiosity. Suitable for ages 4-12 years.
25 July & 1 August.

For all the night owls out there, there’s also Nightwatch at Rosliston Forestry Centre. From 7.30 to 11pm, you can meet the experts who will be your guide to the local nocturnal creatures and explain the sights of the beautiful night sky. Friday 28 July. Suitable for all ages.

What exciting new adventures will you be having this summer? Share your experiences with us by using the #forestlife and @NatForestCo on Twitter or tag us in on Facebook.

For further information log on website :
https://www.visitnationalforest.co.uk/make-summer-last-lifetime-forest/

Feel the gold rush this autumn

Autumn, is our favourite time of year in The National Forest. The time when low suns, long shadows, bright colours and crisp fresh air make our hearts beat faster. Whether you have a few hours or even better, a few days, time living the #forestlife is precious. Read on for some great ideas and experience the gold rush yourself this autumn.

Take a walk in a world of colour

Autumn is when the Forest is dressed to impress with the bright, bold colours of summer giving way to warming auburns, rustic browns, and deep burgundies. Take a walk along one of the many woodland paths and you’ll enter a place where colour comes alive.

For some of the best autumn displays, head to the Outwoods and Beacon Hill. Alternatively, there’s the rich and vibrant Willesley Wood, near Ashby de la Zouch, where the field maple and rowan always put on a good show. Owned and managed by the Woodland Trust, Willesley Wood is one of the first woods planted as part of the National Forest and is fast becoming a haven for wildlife.

Eat, drink and be here

Come on a gastronomic journey through the Edible Forest Festival. Indulge in local food and drink, enjoy family friendly outdoor activities and lots more in the ancient Charnwood Forest. This weekend long festival will have a menu to tempt everyone – from secret banquets and breakfasts to afternoon tea, from cocktails to cider – all inspired by, and using, local produce. 15-17 September. Advance booking essential.

Get crafty and learn something new

Distill your own gin

For a spirited day out, visit Burleighs Gin, deep in Charnwood Forest. Here you can learn the art of distilling your own craft gin to enjoy at home. This artisan distillery is the perfect countryside escape and offers a unique insight into the world of a gin distillery. Advance booking essential.

Make something good with wood

Come and be a ‘maker’ at Greenwood Days. Whether novice or experienced, you can come for a day, a weekend, or even a whole week and learn a new craft. Learn a new skill! Everything from traditional Windsor chair making to contemporary willow sculpture and longbow making, or perhaps have a go at carving your own spoon! Advance booking essential.

Artists in residence

There are many places in The National Forest to visit where you can meet craftsmen and woman at work. For instance, the Ferrer’s Centre for Arts and Crafts has framers, upholsters, bakers, potters, blacksmiths and painters. And of course, there’s also a tearoom to give you fuel for an autumnal walk.

Frightful fun

Looking for terrifying treats this Halloween? There’s plenty to choose from in The National Forest. Visit the Halloween Spook-tacular at the National Forest Adventure Farm where you can explore the haunted house, go to Scare School, get broomstick training and pick your own pumpkin. 28-29 October. Book online to save 10%.

Alternatively, why not come and stretch your legs on a beautiful woodland walk at Cattows Farm? Afterwards, refuel with a tasty treat in the tearoom and then pick your own Halloween pumpkin from the pumpkin patch.

For the really brave at heart, there’s Family Halloween Nights at Conkers. Are you prepared to come along and walk in the haunted woods with all the ghostly ghouls, witches and trolls? 28,29,30,31 October. Advance booking essential.

Plant a tree, plant a memory

Gifting a tree is your chance to add to the beautiful landscape of the National Forest. When you gift a tree, you are not just planting a tree, you are creating a memory, that will live in the landscape for years and years. Join others at an autumn planting event, always a fun, friendly and enjoyable experience in The National Forest! Advance purchase is essential to attend the next tree planting event on Saturday 25 November.

Capture autumn on camera

Combine a beautiful walk at Calke Abbey with a photography lesson. Bring your own camera and Calke’s volunteer photographers will give you hints and tips while showing you the best places to get some great shots. Ideal for intermediate photographers. 16 September 10.30-12.30. No booking needed. Free event (admission applies).

For children, accompanied by an adult, there’s also a ‘Kids with Cameras’ afternoon session (13.30-14.30).

Remember, remember

Fireworks Night is a sparkling treat every year in the National Forest and this year is no different. At Conkers, on Saturday 4 November you can see one of the biggest displays in the Midlands. Come along from 5pm and enjoy a Bonfire night treat from the café. Show starts at 7pm. Book online.

For something quite different, check out the UK’s first and biggest 360 degree Fireworks display at Cattows Farm on Saturday 4 November. As well as a massive 55,000 fireworks, you can meet popular children’s characters, enjoy the fairground rides, and sample the live bar and food stalls. Book online.

Wake up in the Forest

A day just isn’t enough to fully experience autumn in the Forest, so if you can, why not stay? Without the summer crowds, there is a range of options to enjoy, from woodland lodges and luxurious glamping to B&Bs and farm stays. See the full range of accommodation here.

Whatever you get up to this autumn don’t forget to share your experiences with us by using the #forestlife and @NatForestCo on Twitter or tag us in on Facebook.

For further information log on website :
https://www.visitnationalforest.co.uk/feel-gold-rush-autumn/

What Are the Causes of Mustache Hair Loss?

Author
by ERICA ROTH

A man's mustache grows just like scalp hair--from hair follicles situated in your skin. Some men grow a mustache that's thick and full, while others' are sparse and thin, just like the variations of scalp hair from one person to the next. Illness, injury and hormonal imbalance can all cause you to suffer from mustache hair loss; in most cases your facial hair will grow back after the underlying cause is addressed.

Hair loss due to cancer treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy, is a widely-known side effect. According to the American Cancer Society, losing your hair from the potent drugs is not limited to scalp hair. People of both genders who undergo treatment for cancer may find that body hair, including a man's mustache, can also fall out during the course of treatment. In most cases, hair regrowth begins after chemotherapy and radiation has been completed.

Alopecia areata universalis is an auto-immune condition in which you lose hair on your scalp and your body, including facial hair. Your immune system essentially attacks itself, and de-activates functioning hair follicles, which leads to hair loss. Medications and other treatments may help reduce the inflammation in your hair follicles, which allows them to function properly again and grow hair. According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, alopecia areata universalis is not as common as other forms of alopecia that affect only scalp hair.

Men who have low testosterone levels due to a medical condition called hypogonadism--also called testicular failure--may lose mustache hair or are unable to grow facial hair in the first place. The National Institutes of Health MedlinePlus website explains that testicular failure can be the result of illness, injury or medication use. Symptoms can include a regression of or delayed onset of secondary sex characteristics, such as facial, armpit and pubic hair, infertility and lack of muscle development. Testosterone therapy may be a solution for men who have low hormone levels that affect their mustaches.

For further information log on website :
http://www.livestrong.com/article/231718-what-are-the-causes-of-mustache-hair-loss/

Friday, 29 September 2017

Benefits in Eating Blueberries for Diabetes

Author
by WHITNEY HOPLER

Blueberries are small fruits, but they contain a lot of power to help you do the big job of managing diabetes. The American Diabetes Association names blueberries as a "diabetes superfood" because blueberries are packed with nutrients, such as fiber and antioxidant vitamins, which provide several key benefits for dealing with diabetes.

Blueberries may help your body process glucose for energy efficiently, both increasing its sensitivity to insulin and managing blood sugar, which can help you fight diabetes. A University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center study presented April 19, 2009 at the Experimental Biology convention in New Orleans notes that laboratory rats that were fed blueberries crushed into a powder showed improved insulin sensitivity, even when eating a high-fat diet along with the blueberries. Since most people with type 2 diabetes struggle with insulin resistance, greater sensitivity to insulin can help manage the disease. The University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center study also showed that laboratory rats that ate a powder made from crushed blueberries had lower blood sugar than they did prior to eating the blueberry powder, and researchers noted that their genes changed to allow their bodies to process glucose more efficiently than previously. If you suffer from type 2 diabetes, you may be able to lower your blood sugar by consuming plenty of high-fiber foods like blueberries, Joslin Diabetes Center notes.

Since blueberries are low in calories yet high in nutrients, they may help you lose weight, which may help you fight diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that a 1-cup serving of blueberries contains just 83 calories and recommends replacing high-calorie snacks like chips with low-calorie fruits like blueberries as well as including blueberries in some of your meals. For example, you can mix blueberries with yogurt to enjoy a berry parfait for dessert. When laboratory rats in the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center study were fed blueberry powder, their body weight and total fat mass decreased. Researchers noted that the rats' genes related to fat burning and storage were changed to help their bodies process fat more efficiently than before they ate blueberries, thereby reducing the rats' risk of diabetes.

Eating blueberries may help you lose belly fat, which is an important part of fighting diabetes, since excess abdominal fat increases your risk of diabetes. Fat cells in your belly produce hormones that can promote insulin resistance, which then can lead to diabetes. When the laboratory rats in the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center study ate powder made from crushed blueberries as just 2 percent of their diets over 90 days, their amounts of abdominal fat decreased.

For further information log on website :
http://www.livestrong.com/article/350862-benefits-in-eating-blueberries-for-diabetes/

Blog List