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Inspired by nature

Activity: Hapa-Zome

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Have you heard of Hapa-Zome?

Hapa-Zome is an incredible craft originating from the Japanese art of Tataki Zome. Tataki means to pound or hammer, and when applied to flowers this is where the magical art happens! A simple search on the internet will bring up incredibly inspiring creations, the method of pounding the leaves and flowers with the fabric brings the different botanical dyes to the fabric.

Want to try it at home? All you need is some cotton, we love using Calico, an assortment of flowers and leaves from your garden, a hard surface and either a hammer or palm sized rock!

We love this craft as it allows you to be as precise or messy as you like! You can either arrange your foraged leaves and flowers on half of the fabric to create a picture or scene. Or perhaps you are a messy artist? In that case just throw them on!

 

Fold the material in half so all the plants are covered, place on a hard surface such as a wooden block and get hammering! You will quickly see the dyes coming though, imprints forming or explosions of colour appearing!

Finally, open the fabric and peel away the leaves. Voila your Hapa-Zome or Tataki-Zome is complete! We would love to see your creations so be sure to tag us in any social media posts!

This craft is great for all ages and abilities, just to be sure you don’t hit any fingers and of course be mindful what species of plants you are collecting as some are toxic.

Inspired by Nature: Love Parks Week

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Written by Froglife’s Transforming Lives Trainee, Elizabeth Disdel

When asked to write an entry for the Croaks newsletter about the nationwide project #LoveParksWeek, my mind immediately jumped (pun intended) to one of my favourite poems…

 

“When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.” 

— Wendell Berry

 

I am unsure if you will feel the same, but this poem means much more to me after lockdown than it did before. Whilst the world seemed to be crashing into chaos, green places became places of solace for many. Green spaces are often (correctly) touted as being infinitely important for wildlife – with many species relying on them to protect against destructive habitat fragmentation and protect their space to exist within a sprawling metropolis of concrete triffids and fast-moving cars. Whilst this is true, and so important, we must remember that these spaces are for humans to find peace within too. We are not as far removed from the natural world as we might think we are or try to be. 

Parks are reminders that all beings, both human and other, can live in accordance with Mother Nature and as One. 

Froglife’s Frogloaf Recipe

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Tag us in your pictures of your amphibian or reptile inspired baking on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the hashtags #Frogbread #GBBO

In light of the return of Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off, We’ve had a go at our own ‘frogloaf’. Recipe below!

Ingredients:

  • 600g plain strong bread flour
  • 1 heaped tsp dried yeast
  • 2 tsp salt
  • Two handfuls of spinach (optional for green colour)

Method:

  1. Wash and cook the spinach in a pan on a low heat, with the lid on. Once it is fully wilted and soft, use a blender to make a paste. Leave this to cool.
  2. Combine the flour, salt, yeast and 300ml of tepid water. Check the yeast packet as some kinds need activating in water. Next add the spinach paste. Mix the dough with a spoon. It should be soft and springy, not too wet and sticky, and not too dry. Add a little more flour or water as needed to achieve this.
  3. Knead this mixture for around 5-6 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball, and leave it to prove in the mixing bowl until roughly doubled in size (2-3 hours).
  4. Turn this out and knead again for a few minutes. Cut the dough into two – around 2/3 to make the body, and 1/3 to make the eyes and legs.
  5. On a baking sheet on a large tray, shape the body into an egg shape. The fatter end will form the frog’s face. Shape the smaller dough ball into two back legs, two front legs, and two eyes. It’s important that these stick well to the body, some water can help here. 
  6. We also used two olives to make eyes.
  7. Leave the frog to prove until doubled again in size (around 30-60 minutes), under an oiled piece of clingfilm.
  8. Bake in a preheated oven on high, for around 20 minutes.
  9. Introduce your new frog friend to your pond (optional)

Why I love Snakes! – A poem

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Adder, smooth or grass snake by name,
Our native snakes are not all the same.

The adder’s stylish zig-zags black

Make a splash along its back.
The smooth snake, who is rare to find

Has smoother scales than the other kinds.

The grass snake is the last of the three,
They love to swim – it’s a sight to see!

Snakes may have a difficult time,
But seeing one is just sublime!

Poem written and shared with us by Bethan Davies 

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