Happy new year 2026

Solstice Dawn in the orchard at Cotehele, Cornwall.

I had great plans to post a Yule blog, but due to technical issues, I had to give up!

So, here is a catch up on what I’ve been up to during the festive season.

After a very busy few weeks, my family and I packed up and headed down to Cornwall on 19th December.

We had 10 days staying in the Dairy Cottage at the National Trust property of Cotehele.

The Dairy Cottage

On Saturday 20th December Cotehele had their annual Wassail. There were many people and much excitement! The procession started after Morris dancing by the Wreckers Border Morris, we gathered and followed the Wassail King and Queen, Green man and Oss through the gardens and into the orchard. The Rubber Band accompanied us with music.

Wreckers Border Morris

some images of the Gathering and Wassail.

It was a celebration of the orchards, and to ensure a good crop next year we all made noise, banging drums and pots and pans, to scare away bad spirits from the orchard.

we hung toast on the trees to bring the robin to the orchard.

The next morning Freya, my Daughter and I, walked to the orchard at sunrise to see crows feasting on the toast! I’m sure the robin had been to visit, we just didn’t see him.

Cotehele is famous for their flower garland. Since the 1950’s they have made the garland with flowers grown in Cothele’s gardens. It was featured on the BBC program ‘Christmas Treasures of the National Trust’ available on the BBC i player now. It is a great program, giving you insight about how the garland is made, and its history.

We met and chatted to the head gardener on our wanderings around the garden. It was lovely to chat about all of the work that goes into such a beautiful thing.

We had a restful 10 days, I got up most mornings to watch the dawn, we could hear Tawny Owls calling at night, and wonderful dark starlit sky.

We celebrated the Solstice and Christmas, I sketched, and we did a wonderful jigsaw!

the night sky

Evening walks around the grounds out of hours to see the Christmas trees

my dawn walks

inside the great hall, library and kitchen.

The rest of the house opens in March

some photos around the grounds. We had beautiful weather!

our improvised Christmas tree, the family and the puzzle!

I hope you all had a wonderful Festive Season. Sending you very best wishes for a happy, peaceful, prosperous and healthy new year!

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I will re-open my web shop on 6th January, and hopefully add new pieces very soon, once I get back to the bench and get working again.

I will have more wild folk pins available, and if you are after a wild folk book, please drop me an email, I have a few signed copies available.

My first job is to complete 4 new pieces for an online exhibition ‘ Earth Guardians’ with the Inverarity Gallery.

It will open on 1st February

www.inveraritygallery.com

Here is a sneaky peak into my sketch book

I am working on something new especially for this exhibition.

Thanks for taking the time to read about my latest adventure!

I look forward to seeing you at events over 2026.

I will add another blog soon with where you can find me. But for now, sending you all my very best wishes

Rachel x