Slow Life in April in the English Countryside
Slow Life in April in the English Countryside: A Season of beauty
The English countryside has awakened and with each passing day, it becomes greener, more abundant and alive. April marks the beginning of the most beautiful three-quarters of the year here in England. From now until late Autumn, the landscape delights us with its beauty - first green leaves, then the spectacle of roses and wildflowers, followed by brambles and apples in abundance, until the leaves turn golden and brown.
One of the foundations of slow living is learning to notice the seasons, and here in the English countryside, each one has its own distinct beauty.
Watch " Slow Living in April in the English Countryside: Spring Seasonal Foraging, Cooking & Baking" Vlog Here:
Foraging Wild Garlic in April in British Woods
Come join me for a morning in the woods in early April to gather some wild garlic. It’s a very popular herb that grows in shady British woodlands. I want to make a small jar of pesto and since wild garlic is at its peak this month, now is the perfect time to gather young leaves for cooking or freezing.
Easy Wild Garlic Pesto Recipe
In the video, I’m sharing a simple wild garlic pesto recipe. I’m using toasted pumpkin seeds - because that’s what I had at home - but you can easily use pine nuts or other seeds instead.
Wild garlic pesto is made just like classic pesto: with lemon, Parmesan, and oil, but the fact that I foraged the leaves myself makes it feel like medicine for the soul.
Pesto recipe HERE
(I used pumpkin seeds instead of pine nuts, wild garlic instead of basil and skipped the garlic clove)
Shop "Into the woods" green leaves and moss candle made in the UK
Trying the Viral Pesto Eggs Recipe with Wild Garlic
With a fresh jar of homemade pesto, I finally tried the viral recipe. It’s simple: add a couple of spoonfuls of pesto to a pan and crack in an egg. I gently mixed the egg white with the pesto and let it fry.
Please don’t judge my egg - I still can’t seem to get the timing right and my yolk is never runny, but it's a lovely idea for a quick breakfast or lunch for pesto lovers.
A Writer's Life in Spring in the English Countryside
I’m inviting you into my cosy writing corner, where I’ve been busy working on new posts. There’s always something fresh waiting on the blog for those who enjoy seasonal and slow living.
I’ve also started a new series about eating in tune with the seasons and British food traditions. I hope it inspires you in the months to come.
April Joys: Gardening in the Spring in the English Countryside
One of the gentle joys of April is working in the garden. I recently got a new hydrangea - it normally blooms in summer, but this one was forced into early flowering for Mother's Day. Its current blooms will fade soon, but it already has lots of new growth. I'm repotting it into a larger container, giving it a good drink, and hoping it will bloom beautifully again this summer.
Exploring the Timeless Beauty of England: Nun's Cross Farm
This week, we’re back in Dartmoor National Park, driving through historic villages and across bridges built near the original medieval clapper bridges. Our destination: Nun's Cross Farm - a solitary farmhouse surrounded by miles of open moorland.
The farmhouse stands near a medieval cross, dating back to at least the 13th century. It once guided monks along the ancient route known as the Abbot’s Way. The cross has stood silently for centuries, watching over the windswept moors.
The farmhouse itself was built in 1870 by a farmer named John Hopper. One local legend tells of the farmer’s wife, who went out one foggy November evening, alarmed by the sound of distressed cows. Still in her nightgown, she disappeared into the mist and was never seen again.
Homemade Lemon Meringue Roulade Recipe for Spring
Lastly—but certainly not least—I’m sharing the process of making a lemon meringue roulade. It was a little tricky to get right, but my husband absolutely loved it. He said it tasted like “lemon cloud.” 😊
