HAPPENINGS
Led by the Seasons
Country Houses for a new generation with Country Life
Country Life has invited four leading practitioners in the fields of architects, designers, contractors and suppliers to share their insight into the new demands on the English country house.
Join Andrew Inchley, a director of Yiangou architects, the interior designer Emma Sims- Hilditch, Tim Moulding, whose eponymous building firm was founded in 1798, and Edward Smith, a founding director of the bespoke British stone specialist Artorius Faber, in discussion with Country Life’s Executive Editor Giles Kime.
Create Academy Presents: Inside & Out: Butter Wakefield & Rita Konig
Join two-time RHS Flower Show winner, Butter Wakefield, in conversation with acclaimed designer Rita Konig for a truly unique discussion on garden design.
Behind the Scenes with the Ottolenghi Team
Join Ottolenghi Comfort co-authors Helen Goh, Verena Lochmuller, and Tara Wigley in conversation with food writer Molly Tait-Hyland to discuss all things Ottolenghi including their joyful and comforting new cookbook.
‘An English Vision’; A Distinctive Approach to Architecture and Design
Join award-winning architectural designer Ben Pentreath, and Country Life's Executive and Interiors Editor Giles Kime, for an engaging and visionary conversation about Ben’s life's work and his new book, An English Vision: Traditional Architecture and Decoration for Today.
Celebrating Tulips
Join writer and journalist Daisy Garnett; specialist grower and tulip expert Polly Nicholson; garden designer Sean Pritchard, and photographer Britt Willoughby for an informative and inspiring discussion on the much-loved bulb. Here our experts will share tips and techniques on growing tulips - with recommendations of favourite types and combinations, thoughts on displaying, and an exploration of tulip depictions in art. This conversation is essential for all tulip lovers.
Create Academy Presents: ‘A Life in Design’ with Kathryn M. Ireland
Join Emily Tobin, editor of The World of Interiors, in conversation with acclaimed interiors and textile designer Kathryn M. Ireland who will be talking through her life in design.
Helping Hedgehogs and the Ethical Issues with Conservation
Join ecologist Hugh Warwick, and writer Molly Tait-Hyland, for a insightful and candid discussion on how we might help Britain’s favourite mammal and Hugh’s new book, Cull of the Wild: Killing in the Name of Conservation.
Thrifting, Mindful Production and Navigating Fast Fashion
From the pitfalls of polyester to the extensive waste generated by seasonal trends, negotiating the fashion world is an incredibly daunting task. Join luxury and sustainability specialist Tiffanie Darke; fashion stylist and editor Bay Garnett; Alex McIntosh, founder of Create Sustain, and Ruth Rands, founder of regenerative knitwear brand HERD for an illuminating and lively discussion on this challenging topic.
A ‘Fruitful’ Afternoon Tea and Talk with Sarah Johnson and Molly Tait-Hyland
Join Chez Panisse alumni and Spring pastry chef Sarah Johnson for an intimate conversation and tasting from her beautiful debut book Fruitful; Sweet and Savoury Fruit Recipes Inspired by Farms, Orchards and Gardens. Here, Sarah explores key techniques of cooking fruit, the best tips and tricks to get the most from your produce and shares insight gleaned from speaking to fruit growers and farmers around the world.
First, take a walk through the orchard to the verdant Kitchen Gardens, where Head Kitchen Gardener Daryll will share his knowledge on cultivating fruit. Following the walk, we will return to the Home Kitchen for an afternoon tea of cakes and tarts from Fruitful while Sarah and food writer Molly Tait-Hyland explore key themes in Sarah’s book. Following the talk, Sarah will be signing copies of Fruitful.
15.00 - Guest Arrival
15.10 - 16.00 - Walk to Kitchen Garden
16.00 - 16.45 - In Conversation with Molly Tait-Hyland
16.45 - 17.00 - Book Signing
AFTERNOON TEA & TALK - £35 - includes walk to the Kitchen Garden, afternoon tea and talk
AFTERNOON TEA & TALK - £55 - includes a two-course lunch in the Ox Barn, walk to the Kitchen Garden, afternoon tea and talk
Sarah Johnson
Sarah Johnson is an American-born pastry chef who trained under Alice Waters at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California, and currently splits her time between Spring restaurant, London, and Heckfield Place, Hampshire, as Head of Pastry Development. Her close relationship with the farmers and producers that supply the restaurants has given her a wealth of knowledge on the best fruits to buy and cook.
Molly Tait-Hyland
Molly is a food writer and editor. For eight years, she worked as contributing editor on the Observer Food Monthly, writing, editing and commissioning. She has also contributed to publications such as Guardian Feast and the Observer Magazine, and is part way through a Master's in Food Policy at City University. Molly is married to Charlie Hibbert, chef Patron of Thyme, and spends her days looking after their baby, Florence.
Fruitful; Sweet and Savoury Fruit Recipes Inspired by Farms, Orchards and Gardens
A celebration of fruit, and all the glorious variety it can bring to our plates, this comprehensive new cookbook shows how to source, cook and enjoy fruit throughout the year in both sweet and savoury recipes.
Covering all the key techniques for cooking with fruit, such as roasting, poaching and puréeing, the book contains over 80 recipes in chapters on citrus, berries, stone fruit, orchard and vine fruits, pome fruits, shrubs and stalks. From Polenta and Blackberry Muffins to Pan-Fried Duck Breast with Blackcurrant, the recipes vary from crisp apples to buttery pears, fragrant peaches to plump berries, and zingy vibrant lemons to juicy cherries, and include jams, sorbets and ice creams. Interspersed between the recipes are flavour charts for every fruit, expert advice for mastering the key techniques, and thought-provoking contributions from fruit growers around the world.
From mouth-watering suppers, elegant cakes and luxurious desserts, Fruitful is a definitive guide to cooking with fruit, set to become a timeless resource in the kitchen for years to come.
“A fresh and delicious book, full of simple and nourishing recipes that honour our connection to the earth” - ALICE WATERS
“A delicious celebration of ripe seasonal produce” - DARINA ALLEN, BALLYMALOE COOKERY SCHOOL
PLEASE NOTE OUR HAPPENINGS ARE NON REFUNDABLE, HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO ATTEND, PLEASE LET US KNOW 72 HOURS PRIOR TO THE EVENT, AND WE CAN TRANSFER YOUR DEPOSIT TO ANOTHER SCHEDULE OR TO A VOUCHER.
Nature informing Art, a panel discussion with Isabel and Julian Bannerman, Endellion Lycett Green and Clare Foster
Join celebrated garden designers Isabel and Julian Bannerman, artist Endellion Lycett Green and Clare Foster, Garden Editor at House & Garden for an evocative, humorous and highly personal conversation on all things nature and art.
In Conversation: Greekish: Everyday Recipes with Greek Roots with Georgina Hayden and Molly Tait-Hyland
Join award-winning food writer Georgina Hayden and Molly Tait-Hyland for a conversation about her new book Greekish: Everyday Recipes with Greek Roots.
In Conversation | Aimee Farrell interviews Caryn Hibbert, Edward Bulmer & Bunny Guinness; Bringing the outside in: colour, pattern and nature
Join Caryn Hibbert, founder of Thyme and creator of Bertioli's beautiful Cutting Garden collection as she leads a conversation with renowned garden design Bunny Guinness and Edward Bulmer, acclaimed interior designer and founder of Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, exploring the role that colour, pattern and nature play in their creative approaches to work and life.
Bertioli's pop-up at the Edward Bulmer Natural Paint showroom in Pimlico promises an inspiring, floriferous evening, in celebration of Belgravia in Bloom and RHS Chelsea Flower Week this May.
Conservation at Home and Abroad, a panel discussion with Isabelle Tompkins, Dr Olly Fox and Lucy Cleland
Join Isabelle Tompkins, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Samara Reserve, Dr Olly Fox, ornithologist and member of the West Oxfordshire Farmland Bird Project, and Lucy Cleland, Founding Editor of Country & Town House for a conversation on the interconnectedness of these habitats and the remarkable biodiversity found in such polar ecosystems. Here at Thyme this May, they share stories of hope and the resilience of nature.
In Conversation: A Flower Garden for Pollinators, with Rachel de Thame and Clare Foster
Join Rachel de Thame, expert horticulturalist and Gardener's World presenter, and Clare Foster, Garden Editor of House & Garden, to learn how to create a garden that provides an abundant resource of plants rich in nectar and pollen all year round.
In Conversation: Zao Fan: Breakfast of China with Michael Zee and Molly Tait-Hyland
Join Michael Zee, creator of the popular Symmetry Breakfast Instagram account for a fascinating conversation about Michael's second cookery book, Breakfast of China.
In Conversation: Outside In: A Year of Growing and Displaying with Sean Pritchard and Molly Tait-Hyland
Join Sean Pritchard and Molly Tait-Hyland, for an inspiring conversation about his new book: Outside In: A year of growing and displaying.
In Conversation: Garden Designer Jinny Blom
Join Tiffany Daneff for an informative and deeply personal conversation with one of the world’s leading landscape gardeners, Jinny Blom.
In Conversation: Diana Henry & Molly Tait-Hyland
An instant classic when it was published 20 years ago, Roast Figs, Sugar Snow remains the quintessential book on the magic of cold weather cooking.
Diana writes evocatively about both place and food, making it a book well worth reading, as well as cooking from. This revised and expanded edition includes eight new recipes and new forewords from Diana Henry and Nigel Slater.
In Conversation: The Importance of Colour, Shape & Form in Art & Design
Interiors Journalist, Jessica Salter will host a lively and inspiring conversation about how to achieve the balance of colour, shape and form to create joyful design, with artist and celebrated colourist, Jemma Powell, interior designer Lucy Barlow, founder of architectural interior design studio, Barlow and Barlow, known for her fearless and luxurious sense of pattern, print and colour and Ella Ringner, founder of the ready-to-wear and homeware brand Yolke, whose designs never fail to bring decorative beauty to wardrobe favorites.
Together, the panel will share their knowledge and tips on how to be brave and create unexpected pattern and colour combinations, to bring joy to interior spaces and wardrobe staples.
10am guests arrive for coffee and cookies
10.30am start
11.30am conversation end, audience Q&A
12 noon – End
Jemma Powell
Jemma Powell is a British artist based in Oxfordshire and is known for her painterly, observational landscapes drawn from a close contemplation of nature and her travels.
Often painting ‘en plein air’, Powell’s work is cross-pollinated with the sensory essence of the day whether that be reflected in lashings of torrid intense heat, wind rushing through lush greenery or a moistness in the air. Once the first colour is laid on a canvas, the first shape is marked out in Powell’s definitive, energetically charged brushstrokes with subsequent strokes following in conversation with one another.
Lucy Barlow
Lucy Barlow set up the Notting Hill practice in 2013 with her brother Max, the studio Lightning designer.
Lucy studied fashion before attending the Inchbald School of Design. On graduating, she worked for a number of years with the decorator Mark Gillette in the north of England creating interiors for a series of big country house estates.
Her debut interiors project was a considerable undertaking: the restoration of a quartet of luxury London apartments inside Gatti House, a majestic grade II listed building on the Strand. These decadently dressed residences – which broke records for property prices when offered for sale in 2015 – became a showcase for her rich interior style, which is marked by its riotous sense of fun, colour and pattern. This project was the springboard for founding her own design practice in September 2013.
She says: “It’s so important to create a space that makes your life better. Colour, pattern, warmth, beautiful lighting – these are the tools to make you feel happy in a home.”
Ella Ringner
A Cotswolds based textile designer and founder of the ready-to-wear and homeware brand Yolke. Having studied Textile design at London’s Central Saint Martins, Ella went on to launch Yolke in 2014. Synonymous with classic styles with a playful twist, Yolke’s collections have expanded across sleepwear, homeware, wallpapers and footwear. Known for its floral prints, Ella designs in line with the floral seasons incorporating natures offerings into the prints and colours. A strong believer in the power of print, the self confessed pattern and motif obsessive, Ella combines her love of colour and pattern to collaborations with artists and brands whilst preserving Yolke’s signature relaxed style.
Jessica Salter
Jessica Salter is a lifestyle and interiors journalist and editor whose work regularly appears in the Telegraph and the Times, along with a range of national, glossy magazines.
Her work covers lifestyle, health and wellbeing, celebrity profiles, business, interiors and craft.
Jessica was formerly commissioning editor at the Telegraph Magazine, features director at Stylist and deputy editor of Women’s Health. She was awarded the Scott Trust Bursary in 2005.
In addition to her journalistic work, Jessica is a content editor and consultant and is a ghostwriter for a range of publishers.
PLEASE NOTE OUR HAPPENINGS ARE NON REFUNDABLE, HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO ATTEND, PLEASE LET US KNOW 72 HOURS PRIOR TO THE EVENT, AND WE CAN TRANSFER YOUR DEPOSIT TO ANOTHER SCHEDULE OR TO A VOUCHER.
Sarah Raven at Thyme: Magnificent Pots
This is the course for those who love gardening in pots. Whether you have a large-ish garden like Sarah's, or one where the whole garden is in containers. Including practical and design tips, learn plenty of new ideas for magnificent
Sarah Raven at Thyme: The Cutting Garden
I love being able to pick armfuls of flowers for a good nine months of the year and in this day course we will teach you how, giving you hard facts on how to succeed with growing the very best and most productive plants. We will also give you practical advice on seed sowing and propagation, soil conditioning, mulching, staking and all the most important things we have found to help us succeed with nine month round flower production.
Sarah Raven at Thyme: A Year Full of Flowers
Inspiration, planting ideas and expert advice for a beautiful garden all year round. This is the course for the general gardener, who - like Sarah – adores and thrives on year round colour, scent and floweriness just outside the door.
In Conversation: Planting a Paradise with Arthur Parkinson & Butter Wakefield
Join much loved Garden Designer Butter Wakefield, to celebrate the launch of Arthur Parkinson’s new book, ‘Planting a Paradise’. Butter will talk to Arthur about what to grow through the seasons with an array of planting ideas and recommended varieties to inspire the experienced and novice gardener alike
Country Life: The sustainable country house
Join Country Life at Thyme in the Cotswolds to discover the secret to creating a house that is sympathetic with its surroundings
In Conversation: Blanche Vaughan & Hatta Byng
A Year in the Garden-Seasonal recipes for everyday pleasure
House & Garden Editor, Hatta Byng will be in conversation with Blanche Vaughan–they will talk about House & Garden’s first recipe book, written and curated by Blanche Vaughan, Food Editor of House & Garden.
In Conversation: Lorraine Candy and Kirsty Vant
Join us for a conversation between award-winning journalist and Sunday Times best-selling author, Lorraine Candy and Kathryn Pinkham, founder of The Insomnia Clinic, one of the UK’s only specialist insomnia services.
In conversation: Plantlife’s Matt Pitts with Tiffany Daneff of Country Life
Join Plantlife's Matt Pitt, Meadows Adviser at Plantlife, in conversation with Tiffany Danneff from Country Life. They will be discussing how Plantlife works with famers and landowners to increase the biodiversity in their grasslands
Plantlife is the international conservation charity working to secure a world rich in wild plants and fungi. Plantlife is the only UK membership charity dedicated to conserving wild plants and fungi in their natural habitats and helping people to enjoy and learn about them. Plantlife works across all key plant ecosystems and habitats with a particular focus in the UK on grasslands and temperate rainforests due to their acute vulnerability and number of at-risk species.
In Conversation: The Flower Garden with Clare Foster and Zoe Levey
Zoe Levey, Editor of Wildflower Magazine, will be in conversation with one of the UK’s most loved garden writers and gardeners, Clare Foster – to share tips and know-how from her celebrated book on growing flowers from seed, The Flower Garden.
In Conversation: Edward Bulmer & Giles Kime, Interiors Editor of Country Life
Edward has spent the last 30 years working in some of Britain’s finest buildings. He is a leading interior designer, architectural historian and ‘colourman’. Giles will talk to Edward about his new book, ‘ The Colourful Past: Edward Bulmer and the English Country House’ and what he has learnt restoring some of Britain’s most important heritage buildings, bringing his expert knowledge to conservation and his design flair to the creation of new spaces for modern living.
In Conversation: Pippa Vosper and writer, Clover Stroud
Writer and presenter, Pippa Vosper, most noted for her honest series of features for British Vogue, will be hosting an intimate conversation with acclaimed author, Clover Stroud - Stroud’s writing is enthralling: she holds nothing back. She is an author who plunges deep into life’s most ordinary yet elusive matters: trauma, motherhood, and, with her most recent book, The Red of My Blood, death and loss.
Coco Chanel: The Legend & The Life - Justine Picardie Talk
Join us for an inspiring morning with Justine Picardie, as she unveils the legacy of Coco Chanel, the once feared and revered by the rest of the fashion industry. Picardie brings Gabrielle Chanel out of hiding and uncovers the consequences of what Chanel covered up, unpicking the seams between truth and myth in a story that reveals the true heart of fashion.
Book signing will take place after the talk.
Panel Discussion & Book Signing: Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and The Land Gardeners
Hosted by Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall explore the importance of soil health and its vital role in our ecosystem while discussing what we need to do in order to secure its future. Hugh is joined by The Land Gardeners, chef Lulu Cox and artist Nancy Cadogan to hear about their acclaimed new book, Soil to Table, exploring the link between the health of our soils and what we eat.
Within the discussion, Hugh will delve into recipes and inspiration for his newly launched book, River Cottage Good Comfort; Best-Loved Favourites Made Better for You.
Book signing will take place after the talk.
Sarah Raven: The Cutting Garden with Sarah Raven
This is my classic course for those who are thinking about creating an intensive cutting patch, or who want to grow a few flowers for the house, built on everything I’ve learnt about growing cut flowers over the last 27 years at my home, Perch Hill.