Somercecil

19/05/2025

02/03/2025

Queen hornet spotted on our foraging walk.
scarlet elf-cup (edible more fore astetic, not taste)

10/02/2025

We all experience stressful events, circumstances, or obstacles, it can feel like you’re alone and that you’ll never be able to move beyond it. This popular 12-step inspirational quote is a simple reminder that no matter how big an issue seems at the present, it will pass.

Many spiritual lineages would ask us to show gratitude for these times and how it builds character and shapes us, makes us more compassionate to others going through their own struggles, even though when in it, it can feel overwhelming

24/01/2025

Next 21 days of Yoga & Pilates accountability starts on 1st Feb open to all past yoga students, retreat or hiking guests for free🙏🏼❤️

It will follow the 24hr boot out strictly to help everyone💪❤️

It will give you a back-log of yoga & Pilates videos to choose from - find your favourite ones and keep up the habit🌱. It’s great for us too as keeps me accountable, hence maintaining my own practice ❤️🙏🏼🌱

24/01/2025

During the ‘rutting season’ which is the autumnal mating season; you will find small groups of stags, those who were unsuccessful in the ‘deer rut’ for the privilege to reproduce with ‘does.’ In England, a bachelor party is instead called a ‘stag do,’ getting its namesake from these small collection of stags.

24/01/2025

“How happy I am to be able to walk among the shrubs, the trees, the woods, the grass, and the rocks! For the woods, the trees and the rocks give man the resonance he needs” Beethoven

23/01/2025

How do we connect human nature to be more motivated to protect and preserve natural landscapes?❤️🌿

By feeling, knowing and understanding its value for oneself, society and the environment….

“Narratives dating back two millennia and across cultures describe natural settings as places of refuge and comfort in times of physiological stress. Creatives have championed its ability to inspire awe and wonder, serenity and peace, and scientists have proven its healing and restorative qualities”

✨Stress reduction theory - studies monitoring blood pressure and heart rate have shown stress reduction of individuals in nature vs urban environments (Ulrich,1981)
✨Attention Restoration Theory – studies have shown involuntary, effortless attention or ‘soft fascination’ is capable of restoring our direct attention (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989)
✨Phytoncides are naturally occurring chemical compounds secreted by plants and animals, exposure has been correlated with increased hours of sleep and decreased stress levels. Breathing in these substances have been shown to significantly increase the number of Natural Killer cell activity, which are signs of a healthy immunity. So really tune into the smells of nature from wet leaves, to pine to lavender.
✨Sunlight – serotonin levels are higher on sunny days and serotonin is commonly associated with feelings of wellbeing and happiness. We boost our Vitamin D levels from sunlight - Vitamin D deficiency is linked to a number of physical and mental health issues, including tiredness, bone and back pain, and depression.
✨Soil bacteria –studies have shown Mycobacterium Vaccae in the soil activate groups of neurons in the brain responsible for serotonin production.

Forest Bathing, which is widely practiced in Japan, is the immersing of yourself in a forest or a natural environment to improve your wellbeing. It has gained popularity worldwide as a way to promote health and reconnect with the natural environment.

20/01/2025

💙Blue Monday💙
We are on Day 20 of Somercecil 21 days of Yoga / Pilates accountability…useful tool this time of year when we need a little bit more of a nudge or support to keep us going💪💙. Next one starting 1st Feb - DM if interested. Yoga is a great tool to bring great peace to the mind and health to the body 🧘🏼‍♀️

Photo from back in January 2023 when we partnered with talented (who Bella was lucky to train with ) offering handstand workshops alongside some traditional Somercecil offerings🙏🏼💙

Stay tuned…new offerings coming in summer🔥

13/01/2025

Orchids need alkaline soils with low fertility to keep aggressive plants (like couch grass and nettles) away - Early purple orchids - are out first two weeks of May in the Cotswolds. Great place to find them is Minchinhampton Common

Orchids have a symbiotic relationship with mycorrhiza. Orchid seeds do not contain nutrition to support germination, germination depends entirely on mycorrhizae which colonize the seeds and supply them with food.

The appearance of orchids is visible evidence of creeping underground mycorrhizae. Like soil bacteria, the mycorrhizae are freeing up essential elements in the soil, phosphorous, copper, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron, making them available in a form that plants can absorb



Content from Wilding by Isabella Tree

13/01/2025

Private Cacao Ceremonies❤️🦄🍫

Yesterday we hosted a private cacao ceremony for guests who were interested in the healing energies of ceremonial cacao to open the heart and enable deeper connection❤️🧝‍♀️

Coming together in Ceremony, which is coming together with intention, respect, and focus, cultivating an environment that is filled with support, uplift, comfort, facilitates inner and outer transformation

Please get in touch for a bespoke Cacao Ceremony experience

13/01/2025

Bluebells coming out in March overcome the problem of the beech tree’s excessive shade by completing its growing and flowering season before the tree comes into leaf
- ‘Photoperiodism’ – response to change in day length – enabling seasonal adaption

Bluebells survive their as bulbs beneath the surface.

The Beech tree has the most mycorrhizal relationships of UK trees and is therefore one of the best trees to find mushrooms under in Autumn.

Photos taken from back-in-the-day when this gorgeous girl was around

Content from ‘England:A Natural History’ John Lewis Stempel