Plant ID can remain an inscrutable subject for many. I use a triangulation method when trying to identify a new plant – one guide is a classic field guide that groups plants by colour, flower type and then habitat. I use another guide that groups things by genus – this is useful to double check… Continue reading Identify Plants – a short guide
Blog
I MAY RING
The lovely hawthorn has, across history, been regarded as the emblem of hope, a tree of union and of marriage. Its branches have been carried by the ancient Greeks in wedding processions, and used by them to deck the altar of Hymenaios. It was once said that Hawthorn could heal a broken heart. Maybe that… Continue reading I MAY RING
Barefoot wild running
“I slid to a stop, my toes piping mud between them. I had missed the turn on an invisible path. As my weight shifted and in the split second between stopping in one direction and tipping in another I was poised, motionless. A statue in the forest: framed by sunlight, steam rising into the chilly… Continue reading Barefoot wild running
Mushroom Mindfulness
'Then it got down off the mushroom, and crawled away in the grass, merely remarking as it went, 'One side will make you grow taller, and the other side will make you grow shorter. 'One side of what? The other side of what?' thought Alice to herself. 'Of the mushroom,' said the Caterpillar, just as… Continue reading Mushroom Mindfulness
An Ode to Urtica
Sometimes it is just worth slowing down for a moment and appreciating a single plant. A plant worth pondering is the much-maligned stinging nettle. I have chosen this plant because holds a notorious reputation, and fear, in the young and the old. It maybe because of this that we rush past this plant on our… Continue reading An Ode to Urtica
Foraging for Wellbeing
"It was dawn on the vernal equinox. The sun rose to warm the backs of the silver birch. We lightly tapped the bark and drank the sweet, pure sap as it rose to push out the first flush of foliage. The touch and taste captured the essence of spring and nature in a way that… Continue reading Foraging for Wellbeing
The song of trees
The crack of branches bent too far The rustle of leaves spring, summer or fall The soprano of limbs rubbing The groan of trunks bending in a gale The gentle kiss of leaves falling on the ground The fizz of wind through pine The quake of a storm through aspen The flap of a breeze… Continue reading The song of trees
Forest Bathing for Carers
"Not knowing what to expect I found the forest bathing session a wonderful experience. The delicious forest tea and biscuits in the heated tipi was the perfect ending. Camilla and Mark made everyone feel relaxed and welcome and the combination of a guided mindful walk, helping us tune into nature, along with their woodland know… Continue reading Forest Bathing for Carers
Snowed in with time to reconnect
One of the 'upsides' of living in the wilds is that we can really catch the weather. Unseasonal snow fall might have caught us on the hop a bit but it has done two good things. It has forced the hurly burly of busy modern life and our crowded Isle beyond our horizon. All of… Continue reading Snowed in with time to reconnect
Chop Therapy: The Art of Being Present in Full Flow.
'Splitting logs is the part of the job Arne enjoys most. "It’s a therapeutic. And it’s not a very complex job. Routine really, but not boring. So many things happen in our everyday lives bother us and cloud our day. Often, if I’ve been to a meeting and gotten worked up about something or other,… Continue reading Chop Therapy: The Art of Being Present in Full Flow.
Aquafolium 