As some of you may already be aware from the little snipets in our newsletters, I have a strong interest and passion for animals big and small and can't help but share with our readers their wonderful nature and the work I do with them.

We welcomed our first couple of Sebastopol geese. They arrived just before Christmas and have settled very well in the 3 acres of grassland that is their new home. They have joined our little flock of Indian runners. Sebastopol are easily recognised by the curly feathers that cover the whole of their body in a rich frothy display. It is an extraordinary sight which coupled with their stately walk and snow white elegance reminded us of ballerinas in their tutu. We named them Darcey and Rudi after the world re-known ballet dancers. They are young birds and don't have much to show for at the moment. The feathers will develop as the birds grow towards adulthood.
Early April, they became proud parents to 3 goslings who after 3 months of growing up are pretty much the same size as their parents. Two of them are smooth breasted but the third boasts a display of curly, crazy and determinedly unruly feathers all over his chest, his wings and back!

If you look in your kitchen cupboard, the chances are that a jar of thyme is nestled amongst your herb collection. The roots of this humble garden herb, long favoured by cooks, stretch way back through history.

Which thyme is which?
Bataglia tells us that there are over 300 varities of thyme, with Thymus vulgaris being the commonest. As with any aromatic plant, the chemistry, aroma and recommended uses of its essential oils are not the same as that of the whole plant. However the variations do not stop there, as T. vulgaris has 6 known chemotypes and the essential oils of several are commonly used in aromatherapy. You may be aware that when aromatic plants produce different chemotypes they can vary widely between each other in terms of chemistry, recommended therapeutic uses and safety issues. Therefore aromatherapists and essential oil lovers should be familiar with each essential oil chemotype you use.

It has been a long while since we were able to have these 2 aromatics on our shelves, as much as a few years indeed.

We are very pleased to be able to supply once more one of our favourites - a dilution of benzoin extract in organic ethanol. The oil is organic but not Cosmos

And also a hydrosouble extract of vanilla beans - also organic.