Three Months On...

Well it’s been nearly three months since we became guardians of this wonderful woodland and every passing moment brings new delights. When we first entered the woods it was February and in the depths of winter. The only flashes of colour came from the bright green moss which carpeted the ground with it’s luxurious softness. We visited the woods during the buying process so we could see how this little piece of Sussex changed through the weeks and months. One day in April we took a picnic there and sat in the middle of the woods, the exact spot where the Tipi now stands, and marvelled at how warm it was and seeing the buds of green on the trees and the primulas and blue bells giving extra colour. The next day saw the county a foot deep in snow overnight – a strange experience to say the least, however, this snow broke a lot of branches in the woods providing us with natural fire fodder.

We took ownership in late May 2006, in time for the second Bank Holiday and spent most of that week there in the woods cutting a path through the now grassy floor, discovering the whole place in a new way with the leaves on the trees starting to form their crown. The compost toilet was made, a shelter and kitchen bender made, and all the time we were being watched by the woodland creatures who were there before us.

In the night of springtime the song of the nightingale, and the hoots of owls talking to each other kept us awake. We have Roe Deer and Muntjaks, mice and rabbits in the woods and a rather friendly Robin who often pops over to the camp to flit about and supervise our work.

There are many walks around and bridle paths, which carry horse riders along and the occasional dog walker. A stream flows in the valley to the West of the woods that has wild garlic in abundance, which fills the air with its pungent smell. Further up the footpath is a field, this is the furthest we have walked from the woods in that direction so far, but on those brief visits to the field we have seen deer, rabbits, buzzards and even a hare.

As the cold brought us a late spring, the heat is bringing us an early autumn this year. Already there are Acorns, Hazelnuts, Mushrooms and Blackberries in abundance and many other berries I have yet to identify and yet we still see the butterflies dancing around the teasel and thistles, hornets cruising through the woods and Adders and Grass Snakes slithering through the undergrowth.

A wondrous place with more to be told than time would ever allow…….. I count my blessings every day and don’t take a minute for granted. Off to the woods again later for the August Bank Holiday…. Hi ho hi ho it’s off to work we go………

Quote

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived
Henry David Thoreau, Walden (1854)