For this month’s Pick Six we turned to Heidi Hargreaves: co-founder and creative director at Dukki Gifts.
Drink: The Bird Hide, Attenborough
It’s where you’ll normally find me on a Sunday afternoon. Whether I've finished an event and need a wind down or I'm waiting for the Sunday roast to cook, there's no place I feel more relaxed than with a pint of Murmuration and a packet of pork scratchings. Their real ale is all from local breweries, and the menu changes regularly, so it's well worth a visit.
Historical figure: George Africanus
George Africanus overcame so much adversity in his life, and yet still became the first Black entrepreneur in Nottingham. So much of his legacy has been erased from history. It wasn't until 2003 that his grave was uncovered and restored. He is a figure of hope. Being born into slavery and persecution, and overcoming all that to become a pillar of the community is a story to be celebrated.
Notts spot: Attenborough Nature Reserve
I am so lucky to have Attenborough nature reserve on my doorstep. It was one of the reasons for moving to the area. Ten minutes walk, and you're in the countryside. Growing up in a rural village, I missed nature when I moved to the city, but the nature reserve allows me a bit of peace and quiet, away from the chaos. It also has a pretty decent café as a reward after a bit of exercise!
Holiday destination: Pembrokeshire
Some might say it's boring going to the same place more than once, but our family has been spending summer there since the 60s and I'm not about to break with tradition anytime soon. It's such a lovely place: Bosherston tea rooms with a lilypond walk and the secret beach at the end; Wiseman's bridge with the coastal tunnel to Saundersfoot; Colby Woodland gardens full of local crafts. There's even a boat trip to Caldy Island to visit the monks! Top it all off with a curry ‘arf n arf’ in Tenby. You can't beat it!
Album: Rockin’ the Suburbs by Ben Folds
While the title track isn't really my cuppa tea, the rest of the album really resonates with me. Ben’s piano work is mesmerizing, and songs like The Luckiest and Annie Waits deliver such emotion. It transports me straight back to the Manchester Academy in 2002, singing along to Not The Same - harmonies rising across the crowd. I was nineteen - life was simpler, more about music, and less about responsibilities.
A personal hero: Stephen Wallhead, Heidi’s grandfather
A calming presence in my childhood. Though not a celebrity, he was an accomplished artist and potter in his own right, and probably had the biggest influence on me pursuing a creative career. Whenever I question whether I should get a ‘proper job’ I am reminded that he always encouraged me to do something creative.
[instagram] @dukkigifts
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