I have lived in this house for 18 years and never entered the local woods.
I heard tales of needles, heard people on dirt bikes and at one time the police helicopter spent a LOT of time hovering over the woods.
A wood has the capacity to be a very scary place, think of Grimm's tales. Bad things happen in woods..... or so the tales go. So although the wood clearly provides an excellent habitat for the local wildlife I have never felt the urge to enter it for some reason.
Until this weekend.
One of my goals for this year was to make some sloe gin and for that you need sloes. I did some research and found that sloes are in the wood. I asked my husband whether I should go sloe hunting in the woods one day. His response was to wait until the weekend and we would go together...... that says something I think.
So on Sunday we went off like an aged Hansel and Gretel into the woods to search for sloes.
And do you know what it was nice, really nice and not at all scary.
The sun was shining, which always helps and although there was a lot of rubbish at the point where we entered the wood once you got some way in the paths were clear and the dappled sunshine through the trees was a delight.
We saw a family out dog walking and some girls on horses. We did some tree spotting, saw some butterflies, scared a bunch of rabbits at the edge of the wood and generally had a lovely walk.
When we came home I said that I was sad that we hadn't gone into the woods before. It genuinely had not entered my head before to do so and that is all about the myth of the wood and the tales that people have told both locally and historically. So now on a nice weekend morning we have vowed to have a walk in the woods, to see the changing of the seasons on our doorstep and enjoy this space that is visible a stone's throw from our door.
Oh.... and we collected a small bag of sloes as well so a result on all levels don't you think?
Yay! You go own that wood! Such a happy story. I totally get the fear but we all need to get out and make these places our own. Sharing nicely with each other of course.
ReplyDeleteI think the woods are at their most lovely in spring and autumn. You've reminded me that I've not been to the woods for a while, it's time for a visit. x
ReplyDeleteyum, sloe gin. well done for going to the scary woods. my children wouldn't go to the woods for years after we disturbed a bees nest once........
ReplyDeleteI must admit I'm not terribly keen on woods as I have often got lost in them and should have gone prepared with breadcrumbs or white pebbles. One quite nice airy wood has become a no-go area because of the number of dogs let off the lead in there. They come charging up from all directions and are followed in the far distance by owners calling ineffectually to them to come back. By which time they have leapt up and covered me in mud.
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