Autumn is well and truly here, the leaves are starting to turn from green to yellow, russet and orange. Whilst the leaves here are not as dramatic as when we lived in Boston, Massachusetts, and there is no website telling leaf-peepers where the best colours are to be found, as there is in New England, the woods are definitely starting to warm up colourwise.
In Japan, shinrinyoku, or forest bathing, advocates the benefits of spending time in the woods. In 2013, researchers from the University of Exeter found that people had lower mental distress and higher life satisfaction when they were living in greener areas. Other research identified a link between the lack of regular contact with the natural environment and an increase in the number of cases of allergies and asthma. This led Sue Holden, then CEO of the Woodland Trust, to declare that, “It has been calculated, that £2.1bn of healthcare costs could be saved if everyone had access to green spaces.”
Well, I did my bit for the NHS budget and headed out to Avon Mill Woods.
Despite looking deceptively green in the photo, there was a rich crop of leaves on the path which I gathered for use in The Magic Forest, an art project my husband Rod and I are working on at the moment. There will be an exhibition in Harbour House next August, plus we have joined up with the local National Trust Ranger Emma, who will tailor their primary school experience week in June to focus on woodland crafts and skills. We had a recent taste of this with carving spoons out of sycamore (apparently the wood is slightly antiseptic so makes ideal cooking utensils, plus it won’t absorb the colour of your curry!) and trying out a lathe operated by a foot treadle. We missed the coppicing demo unfortunately. We are starting to collect unwanted wool and woollen jumpers to make felt with primary children next July (will be seeking sponsorship to run the arts workshops in schools) so that we can install woollen creatures in the woods below Overbecks. I also have a vision to make an art trail in another local wood which will be based on fairy tales that feature woodlands (red cape, anyone?). Local charity Moor Trees is also going to give us baby saplings to give away at the exhibition, so everyone will get to take a bit of The Forest home with them. You can see what we are getting up to on our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-House-Group/501302149898224?ref=hl
Walking in the woods at the end of the afternoon I was the only person there. I was able to fill my pockets with leaves without anyone else wondering what on earth I was doing. The river was in spate, full of the recent rain, the sound of the rushing water muffled as I followed the path around the bend behind the trees. Felt fortunate that this corner of Devon allows me to benefit from both coast and countryside.
Walkspiration 