I came upon this little patch of wilderness on my travels yesterday and was transfixed by the complexity of every level of life. In the distance, the fields and scrubland teemed with insects, wildflowers and birdsong. The air shimmered with the mid-afternoon heat.
Before me, the jutting trees, gnarled and grasping, created the ornate and chaotic structure of the in which I stood, supporting a soft penumbra of leaf and green light above my head. The bark was encrusted with lichen, and under this dry surface I imagined many litres of fluid and nutrient exchange, coursing to and from root and leaf, even in this dry weather.
Finally, amongst the undergrowth, a complex weave of grasses, buttercups, plantain and bogbean diffused the dappled sunlight and tree-shadows in mesmerising ways.
As I breathed in, the air felt heady with the scent of Queen Anne’s Lace herb and hawthorn blossom. I felt a deep sense of calm happiness.
Having recently learned about the benefits of practising the art of not rushing, I ambled onwards, excited at the thought of what other gifts today might bring.
Newsletter: About nature, mindfulness and happiness
Want to come for a walk? Join me as I explore the natural world and describe to you the fascinating things I find.
Slow down, escape your troubles, and let me whisk you away to somewhere calm…
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