Just some photos we took today, in celebration of our local woods and my favourite season, Autumn! ~ All photos by C & J Duerden ~
Autumn Snapshots
No Rest On a Sunday
Sunday, traditionally is a day of rest. However, rest my feet I won't, as last weekend I headed out in the relentless rain for a bit of an exploration. Since moving to a new place, it's been thoroughly enjoyable not having anyone about when you go for a walk. I truly get to appreciate the... Continue Reading →
Ascension
How does it feel to be up in the crown of a tree? "Just climb and you'll find out," I answered myself. And so I did with my friend Sam, a professional arborist. Leading up to this moment, I have been super excited and looking forward to it for days. At this crucial stage, I... Continue Reading →
Like a Flowing River
"Life gets in the way", says a friend of mine. Actually he's not the only person who has openly expressed that sentiment, although I have never really agreed with it. I am aware that I haven't written in a long while; one might say that life did get in the way but for me it's... Continue Reading →
Meadow Park’s Ancient Oak
Despite dark clouds and heavy rain on the 17th of August 2020, I continue my quest of verifying more ancient trees. Through the Woodland Trust's ATI (Ancient Tree Inventory) website, I had found my next tree. It was situated in Bideford, down a narrow, well-trodden footpath beginning at the end of a small street called... Continue Reading →
Verifying an Ancient Tree
In the time following my last post about the Flitton Oak - 'I Heartwood' - a few events have happened. Spurred on by recording the tree on the Woodland Trust's Ancient Tree Inventory website, I decided to pursue my love for ancient and veteran trees by officially applying to be an ancient tree verifier. And... Continue Reading →
Back To My Trees
Driving towards the wood I was going to be working in, I noticed how the tree canopies on both sides of the road seemed to be welcoming me into their fold. I was excited to be working again with my friend Stuart in his private woodland; it has definitely been awhile since lockdown! We had... Continue Reading →
A New Path
For those of you who had seen my last poem, yes I must admit, it was sad. “Very beautiful, but sad”, as I was told by my close friend. What can I say? It has stemmed from pure, raw feelings. Feelings of frustration and uncertainty that I had been experiencing. Yesterday my ‘very beautiful, but... Continue Reading →
Wind, Water, Wood
Yesterday we were taken on a 5.5 mile walk around Bradiford and into a lovely little wood called Tutshill Wood. To get there we had to cut across open grassy fields of nothingness; all that lovely space for the freedom to spring our arms open and embrace the sun in glee. However it was a... Continue Reading →
I Heartwood ♥️
A special visit occurred last weekend. Acting on a tip-off from a ranger colleague, we followed a red dot on a screenshot map onto a narrow North Molton road, leading us to an inconspicuous triangle. This was where three roads met, and our special visit involved meeting an extraordinary tree. Parked up safely along the... Continue Reading →
