We are in the middle of February, and the past two weeks have not been unlike any other winters in the UK - only that we are still in the post Christmas national lockdown - and it has been particularly cold. To a lot of people, winter is a time they dread the most: the... Continue Reading →
Pathways
Today I feel uplifted. I simply cannot describe the exact feeling: It's a tightness in my heart centre - not a bad one - but a nervous excitable energy knowing that I'm on the right path with my passion for trees. I was talking to a good friend today as he was feeling a bit... Continue Reading →
Last and First
As I'm writing, we are officially sailing through the first day of 2021 in the UK, so firstly a very Happy New Year to us all. Yesteryear was probably - for a lot of people - a branch that we'd like to snap across our knee. Although our boundaries and freedom have changed drastically, a... Continue Reading →
The Fading Light
The trees are calling I move my feet A foot in front of the other Round the fringes I proceed Step into the sanctuary A place I recognise Through my darkest hour In the evening's disguise My eyes are holding onto The last remaining light As I listen to the water My heart gently burns... Continue Reading →
Bokeh (Macro) Nature Shots
I have recently stumbled upon a new term in photography: Bokeh. Back when I used to shoot professionally, we only knew the term ‘macro’. Apparently ‘Bokeh’ is termed as “the Japanese aesthetic quality of the blur produced in out-of-focus parts of an image”. When I was a photojournalism student, I was extremely passionate about photography,... Continue Reading →
Autumn Snapshots
Just some photos we took today, in celebration of our local woods and my favourite season, Autumn! ~ All photos by C & J Duerden ~
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 →