Pizza Express

On Wednesday 6th June, 4D were invited to Pizza
Express in Winchmore Hill. We walked through the doors at 09:30 to find the
kitchen in full swing: The ovens were roaring and the pizzaiolo was busy
kneading dough and chopping fresh herbs and vegetables.

After scrubbing our hands and putting on an apron, we
set about making our own Margheritas, the ‘Queen of Pizzas’. First we stretched
the dough, gently easing it up the sides of the pizza pan to make the crust.
Passata was added and we spread it across the base using a lift and tap
technique. The mozzarella was evenly distributed and we finished with a
sprinkle of oregano.

As our pizzas baked, we tasted raw onions and basil;
mushrooms and olives. The basil was fragrant and bitter; the onions sweet and tangy;
and in no time, our pizzas were ready. They emerged from the ovens with golden
tops and fluffy crusts and smelt delicious. We each took home our very own Margherita,
ready for our supper.

4D would like to thank Pizza Express for their
generosity: The workshop was run free-of-charge and was a fantastic
introduction to the history and art of pizza making. Many thanks.

Woodcroft Wildspace.

On a bright summer’s morning, 4D walked through Winchmore Hill
to Woodcroft Wildspace, a nature reserve tucked between Broadwalk and Woodland
Way. The site comprises around 4 acres of green space and is staffed by local
volunteers. Over the past 15 years, they have worked hard to plant trees,
shrubs, and flowers; dig ponds and compost heaps; build hives and a rainwater
collection tank. Pathways divide the wildspace into distinct habitats and a log
cabin doubles up as a classroom.

On site we were greeted by Bob, Lynne, and Amanda. They
divided us into three groups and we began our exploration of the site. In the
ponds, we found ramshorn snails and water boatmen; dragonfly nymphs and
immature newts. We were careful not to disturb the silt at the bottom of the
pond and no one was brave enough to take a leech into their hands!

In the long grass of the meadow, we found ladybirds,
grasshoppers, and moths. Ants had made their nest at the base of a plum tree
and in the apiary, bees were hard at work. We could hear their furious hum but
they weren’t interested in us, only in ferrying nectar to their hives. Amanda
showed us a sheet of honeycomb and explained that in his life-time, a male bee
will fill no more than four of the hexagonal cells: That’s less than a teaspoon
of honey! Luckily, hives contain more than 20,000 bees and each worker makes
more honey than he needs, so collecting a few jars doesn’t affect the colony
too much.

After visiting the apiary, we wandered into the wooded area to
identify a variety of trees. We found Horse Chestnuts and Sycamores; Rowan and
Ash; Silver Birch and Pine trees. Blackberries were ripening on the brambles
and the oak trees were covered in galls once used by Medieval scribes to make
ink. When we came back out into fields, we were covered in sticky cleaver weeds
and the burred seed heads of wood avens.

It was a wonderful morning and we would like to thank the
Woodcroft team for having us. See you again next year. 

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