Personal Development, Shamanism and Environmental Issues

Woodland Trust, Heartwood Forest: Indians and Cowboys

Posted By Ina Woolcott

“Plans to create England’s largest new native forest took a major step forward at the beginning of October 2008, when the Woodland Trust took possession 858 acres (347 hectares) of land, on which 600,000 trees will be planted. Incredibly, it takes just 12 years to turn bare land into flourishing native woodland, complete with a diverse range of wildlife and towering trees. - WOW, it really never is too late.

It immediately marked its ownership by opening six new, British-made, larch kissing gates into the site. Now, members of the public can walk miles of permissive footpaths through formerly private farmland containing 3 pockets of ancient woodland - 44acres in total -hosting the UKs richest wildlife habitat, located near Sandridge, just 3 miles north of St Albans in Hertfordshire.

Getting out and active in woodland is great way for adults and children to connect with nature. Over 2 million people live within 15 miles of the site which can be accessed via public transport, and we want everyone to come and take part”.

Editors comment:
As my regular readers already know, I am very connected to nature. I could disappear into the wilderness forever with the knowledge to survive, a tipi, horses and those closest to me wishing to join me (and who would live by my rules, lol). My daughter naturally would have no choice but to come with me…. I keep coming across inspiring projects like this, and they make me teary-eyed with happiness and hope. Someone said to me the other day “its too late to save the planet/nature”. (pessimistic so-and-so). If everyone had that attitude, we’d get nowhere in life. As me and my mum like to say, ‘its never too late’. .

More and more people are trying to turn things around and encourage nature to flourish, and encourage the wildlife that has been driven away for so many centuries to return. Our inner shamans, our inner children, are coming out - about time too. I love it, it makes my heart and soul glad. Lets go an play in the woods Lets be Indians and DEFINITELY NOT COWBOYS.

To find out more info, what you can do to help and/or to make a donation (go on, I did!) go to:
WOODLAND TRUST WEBSITE

Related reading:
Great Fen Project
Great Fen Project: What You Should Know

Arundel Wildfowl Trust and a Walk at Swanbourne Lake

Posted By Ina Woolcott

Below are just a couple of pictures of just a few of the bird me and my 3 year old daughter saw today at the Wildfowl Trust in Arundel, West Sussex. We’ve seen chaffinches many a time there, but it was the first time we’ve seen a Greater Spotted Woodpecker (I hear they are rare) and a Nuthatch. We had the pleasure of watching the woodpecker for about 5 minutes, until Inky got a bit bored and wanted to move on… anyhow, well done Inky, 5 minutes is a long time for a little girly - especially you - to concentrate on something without hardly talking. The woodpecker was still there feeding off the bird feeder when we (me very reluctantly) left. Something about seeing these wild birds I was so unaware of in my youth gives me a rush of happiness. We also saw a Wren for about the 5th time, but it was gone in a flash. At this particular feeder where we saw the Woodpecker et al, there were also coal tits, marsh tits, blue tits and a gorgeous male pheasant.

We have been loving the crisp, cold yet sunny days and autumn colours of Arundel this week. Yesterday we walked around Swanbourne Lake . It always amazes me how far my little Inky can walk, her stamina is great at such a young age. She loves puddle jumping in her wellies (I wore my new wellies yesterday too so I had to join in on madams request, haha) , as well as climbing up and around the roots of a very old looking tree on the other side of the lake. Another of her favourite activities is climbing up the grassy hill on the first half of the walk and rolling down it, reminds me of me when I was little. We gathered lots of twigs, feathers and leaves yesterday, today and in the past few weeks and are in the throes of an art project, making a tree on a huge piece of cardboard covered in paper which me and Inky made - I will be putting the pictures up as soon as we have completed our ‘mission‘. Not sure how long it will take, but I reckon we will need maybe up to 10 hours over the next week or so.

Chaffinch

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Greater Spotted Woodpecker