It’s almost three weeks since my last visit and I’m so frustrated that I can’t go during this latest lockdown. There are many winter-time jobs to do – clearing up of the trees I felled last time and I would have liked to have taken a few more down, fixing the owl box up I made in the summer, setting up my blacksmithing area. Not to mention just getting my dose of nature’s medicine. The news depresses me with talks of the lockdown possibly going into summer – whaaaaat?

Last year I missed out on quite a lot, the peak of spring arrived during the first lockdown which cheated me out of that particular joy and I didn’t get to camp out at all. So what does this year hold in store for woodland visits and what can I write about now? Well not much it seems, so I’ll just post a few photos from happier times and wish you the best for the year 2021. I know many people are suffering with anxiety and depression so my only advice is to get out into your local natural areas if you can and immerse yourself in nature. Take time to stop, look and listen. It’s surprising what you might find. On some of my recent walks around the river near my home, I have spotted kingfishers, an otter and a lady swimming in it when there was snow falling!

Yesterday’s visit was for working. This time of year I have to get busy with the sycamore thinning. There are still a lot to remove before I am satisfied. The solitary oak that I am trying to help needed a few more nearby sycamore felled in order to give it the light it needs to thrive. The first three trees went down text book style. The next three got hung up and needed pulling out which is hard work. So far this winter I have felled about ten. Sounds a lot but it is hardly noticeable and I’d like to do double that. I did a bit of clearing up but there’s still a lot to do to cut them into moveable sizes, stack then and clear the brash tops. It looks like a disaster site at the moment.

My neighbours arrived with one of their friends, who is more of an expert at tree felling, to help fell some particularly tricky trees. This one was close to the ride and in order to avoid the possibility of it hitting and damaging some other trees, he attached a winch to steer it. Here it is as it starts to fall.

I had just finished eating my lunch and started to load up some firewood logs to take home when unexpectedly, it started snowing. I love that quietness and peaceful feeling you get when it’s snowing around you. The woods took on a magical atmosphere and it was quite surreal to be there and working in the snow. It really did feel elemental and primitive. It was wet, cold and hard work but somehow it made me feel more alive – fantastic.