On the last two Sundays we have forsaken the warmth of a cosy bed and headed out into the cold. We wanted to share what the trees witness: darkness, stars, the quiet of night, the half-light that comes with a full moon in a cloudless sky, and the coming of day. We were rewarded with… Read More
It has been a year since we began our repeated walks to these seven trees. Winter’s rains, winds, snow and frost have played with each one; a spring has teased new life into them and turned the land around them from pallid sleep to green; summer has given them warmth and light; and autumn –… Read More
When autumn days are clear and warm, as they have been for the last week, the land comes alive with shades of gold, and the low sun picks out and burnishes the land. On Monday for our public walk to the Langstrath Birch we strolled for five hours through this vibrant landscape, always with the… Read More
Yesterday was one of those autumn days when golds, reds and greens become dazzling against a bright sky. Glencoyne Woodland was dreamy – sunlight making the canopies of ash, oak and sycamore leaves a play of translucent colour. Once again the weather forecast was spot on, and our choice of day to hang the orange… Read More
Our choice to dress seven different species of trees with words taken from a poem along the trail in Glencoyne Park came about because we wanted to celebrate the diversity here. Every time we walk in these woods we take delight in the number and variety of trees, and in the environment around them (which… Read More
When the sun has dipped below the western horizon but it’s not yet dark all around is velvetine. The fells become a felted mesh of colours: browned bracken; grass made luminous green by the simmering light; crags greyed and subdued now there are no certain shadows, their harshness is hidden by the half-dim; trees lose… Read More
The day started with rain, lots of it, clouds stubbornly low, with mist predicted for late afternoon. A perfect time to go out. Read More
There’s a tree by a river. It has come to be my favourite tree – and possibly it’s one of my favourite rivers too. This tree isn’t special because it is the oldest, or the widest, or the tallest. It has strong appeal for me because it holds its place with grace and strength. A birch,… Read More
We have been getting to know the Little Asby Hawthorn pretty well, visiting repeatedly, day and night, in winter, spring and summer. But what we really need to help us find out more about the land that the Hawthorn stands in, is an expert. In the space of a few hours with botanist Deborah Land… Read More
Seven days in the fells, simply, walking. No roof but the sky, air always fresh, bodies engaged, minds on the simple task of putting one foot in front of the other and the gentle but necessary concentration that comes with that – walking on uneven paths with a heavy load requires a focused mind. When… Read More
THE LONG VIEW