LETTERS

�HAVE YOUR SAY... Have your say in our letters page via email, Twitter, Facebook or good old pen and paper. email: info@thegreenparent.co.uk • twitter.co.uk/greenparentmag Post: The Green Parent, PO Box 104, East Hoathly, Lewes, BN7 9AX

Our fabulous range of children’s swimwear products are designed for their comfort and your peace of mind.

Gorgeous and essential products that work, protecting babies and children in and around water. Splash About helps make your child’s life safer, easier and quite simply...more fun!

Splash About products are available from all the leading baby swim schools, the best children’s mail order catalogues and select retail outlets.

Full product information, stockists, baby swim schools and online shop are available at www.splashabout.com

THE children’s safety swimwear specialists.

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VEGGIE Your food sorted Stay Warm Clothes to keep you cosy Helpful Holidays Volunteering with kids Green Babies Yoga and pregnancy Baby led weaning

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EMOTIONAL REPAIR Firstly can I just say what a fantastic magazine The Green Parenting magazine is. I have been an avid reader for the last 18 months. So I would just like to say a great big thank you for all the work your team has done so far. I have found the parenting features very interesting and beneficial and I wanted to tell you about my own experiences with Nicky Pilgrim, a psychology of vision trainer based in Cornwall. Her work has enabled me to repair many emotional 'broken bonds', and to ensure that I don’t sub-conciously project these experiences onto my daughter. Visit psychologyofvision. co.uk for info. Freya Coglan

DIFFERENT READ I came across your mag in WH Smith and tried it after ‘growing out’ of the baby mags on offer. I have since subscribed as I find it a really different read that I wish I’d had when my daughter was younger. Treena Fenwick

GREAT RECIPE I wanted to thank you for the nontoxic paint recipe in your last issue. I made some paint with my son and the colours were just beautiful! I was less pleased when Maia and Lucia, (16 month old twins), managed to paint some of the carpet but it is just about cleaned out. They also managed to eat a little as soon as I was engaged elsewhere, so I am so grateful that the paints were made out of cornflour. I also loved the craft ideas, thank you. Bianca, via email

NHS MIDWIVES & HOMEBIRTH I co-run a Homebirth Support Group in Exeter and I often find that our meetings centre around a worry that midwives will be unhelpful, discouraging or unable to attend homebirths due to staffing problems. Although I am happy that Zoe Foster was able to have such a blissful second birth with the support of an Independent Midwife (Seeking Support Oct/Nov 11), I feel sad that this article might put

FROM THE FORUMS

I was slightly concerned that the article (Sage the Saviour) doesn’t mention you shouldn’t use sage if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Otherwise excellent edition as usual and am looking forward to creating a dolls' house from shoe boxes with my little boy.

I noticed it said that sage tea helps reduce milk in nursing mothers.

I’m currently breastfeeding so I made a mental note not to make any sage tea just yet! I really enjoy these herbal articles; there seems so much wisdom that we have lost over time.

people who simply cannot afford an IM off considering homebirth. I am frequently reminded that in the States homebirth is virtually unheard of, and very expensive. I am blessed to live in a country with an NHS that provides free midwifery care to everyone, and extremely privileged to have had two of my three children at home, attended by NHS Midwives. I agree that there are areas in which the NHS may be bound by red tape and procedures, and I find these frustrating and challenging but I am confident that most of the midwives I have met are as enthusiastic about homebirth as I am and regularly put themselves out to enable a women to birth in the way she has chosen. I hope that readers will not write off all NHS midwives. Thank you for a really interesting and challenging issue, I couldn’t put it down! Claire Arnold

� Write to us and tell us what you'd like to read about in The Green Parent - we'd love to hear from you!

STAR LETTER We have a wonderful gift set from Natural Beauty experts, Miss Polly to give to our star letter writer. The beautifully packaged set contains pink grapefruit body butter, grapefruit and may chang soap and a luxury serum to brighten and repair tired skin. This is part of a gorgeous range at misspolly.co.uk. For your chance to get your hands on some natural goodies, write to us at the address above.

4 The Green Parent contentsFEBRUARY/MARCH2012

GREEN TRAVEL SPECIAL 40 RESPONSIBLE TOURISM How green is your holiday? Make

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sure that you choose the most ethical option from booking through to break. 44 EARTH EDUCATION Many children learn best through direct experience. The Sunship Earth programme encourages a love of nature by immersing children in the woods. 47 FAMILY FRIENDLY Looking for somewhere that doesn’t just accept children, but welcomes them with open arms? 51 UNDER THE STARS Camping can be a great bonding experience for the whole family. 54 LUXURY CAMPING We have chosen our favourite places where you can camp out and still enjoy a little luxury. 57 TRAVEL EXPERT Taking a sneaky walking break without the kids and exploring all the Black Mountains have to offer. 58 A YEAR OF TRAVEL Use this

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guide as inspiration when planning your holidays for 2012. IN DEPTH: GREEN BABIES 72 YOGA FOR MOTHERS How this ancient art can help you to find more time and peace in daily life and a short practice that you can do at home. 76 THE NATURAL WAY Exploring the

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decline in fertility in recent years and offering ideas for boosting fertility naturally. 79 NURTURING INSTINCT Breastfeeding

Splash About have them covered! We don’t compromise on design or quality, ever! - Making baby and childrens swimming safer, warmer, cleaner and simply MORE FUN!

Thick, temperature storing materials keep your little one warm

Better quality, better value for money and always looking GORGEOUS!

Cosy fleece lining for extra comfort and warmth

S AFETY•COMFORT•SECURITY

Maximum UV resistant fabrics provide ultimate protection from sunburn

Reinforced stitching provides strength and durability against the odds and how this is the ultimate nurturing gift.

Only sold through the best retailers and baby swim schools – find a stockist or buy online at www.splashabout.com www.splashabout.com

1224 Splash About 275x220 Col Ad_2011.indd 1

Well fitting cuffs reduce water flow, and prevent heat from escaping

Bright, fashionable colours, ensure your child can be seen

THE baby and childrens swimwear specialists

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Meat Free Mondays 4weeks’ worth of veggie recipes MAIN FEATURES 8 THE CONSCIOUS PARENT Being present for our children is an incredible gift we can offer as parents. 12 ON THE FINISH LINE One marathon runner and long-term breastfeeder shares how her body copes with the extremes. 17 COMPLAINT FREE WORLD Ever dreamt of living in a world free of complaints? One man envisioned just that and set up an organisation to change things. FAMILY LIFE 15 SUNDAY SELECTION Great family adventures for our favourite day of the week. 16 MODERN DAD How a pub walk can turn into a foray in the woods. 20 SPIRITUAL PARENTING Discovering who you truly are and living with authenticity. 98 CYCLE OF THE YEAR Planting broad beans and honouring goddess of fertility. LEARNING 26 EDUCATION NEWS Learning about the rainforest and exploring science. 26 IS SHE READING YET? Exploring our Early Years targets and whether they are healthy for child development. 29 PRINT YOUR OWN Using bits and pieces you can create your own cards and paper. 31 ON THE BOOKSHELF Great reads for the whole family.

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FAMILY TRAVEL SPECIAL Gorgeous green holidays

A year of adventure Sleep under the stars

GREEN BABIES Boosting Fertility Extreme Breastfeeding

THE ECO HOME How to reduce allergies Stop Complaining! Take the challenge Yoga for mothers Create a home practice

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