It was such a crisp and beautiful morning, I just had to get outside.
I woke to the sound of birdsong, and a puppy whining at the door wanting to start the day. Opening the curtains it was a bright, crisp, autumn day with a ground frost glittering in the sun.
A day to dust off the cobwebs and stresses of new COVID lockdowns, cancelling courses and ridiculously long dark evenings. The last two weeks I’ve been drifting into a rut: acutely feeling the stresses of not being able to plan much into the future; wondering how I am going to sell courses for 2021 given the uncertainty isn’t just personal to me; feeling the drag of the evenings as it’s been getting dark before 5pm; and generally struggling to stay positive. The latest botched announcement of lockdown 2 didn’t improve my spirits.
I spent yesterday exploring Greenwich Park with a group of school pupils from Lewisham. Enabling loads of first-ever experiences for them including: petting a dog; learning how to tell the difference between a feral and a wood pigeon; identifying parakeets; and kicking piles of leaves in the grass. This reminded me to: appreciate the little things in life; feel joy whenever it is possible; smile easily; and stop stressing about things I cannot change. And most importantly to focus on the changes I can make.
When, this morning I woke to a much brighter bedroom than I have seen for weeks, it was time to don my walking boots and head out across the fields.
The aim – there wasn’t really one, to enjoy the bright crisp sun and see what I could see. I really enjoyed; soaking up some vitamin D, taking time to marvel at the autumn colours, the crazy bouncy-ness of my springer spaniel, and the incredible intricate patterns the frost had made on every surface below 20cm. As well as, to take the time to pause, notice and enjoy the wild strawberry flowers crinkling with the unexpected ground frost and the flax flowers glittering with a soft dew.
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Frosty Wild Strawberry Flower -
Just 30 minutes outside and less than a mile walked, there were many tracks to explore in the cold, stiff, wet, clay, as well as autumn marvels to enjoy. I returned to the house with a big smile on my face, renewed and excited to start the day.
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Hill Walking Navigation Course - Gift voucher£100.00 -
Hill Walking Navigation Course£100.00 -
Firelighting Master Class£110.00 -
Autumn Foraging Course£110.00 -
Late Spring Foraging Course£110.00 -
Track and Sign Course£110.00
Basket Weaving Day
£85
Create your very own willow basket. We take you through the entire basket weaving process from how to harvest your willow to how to care for your basket.
Weekend Bushcraft Course
£180
Fully immerse yourself into wilderness living. Learning a wide range of bushcraft and wilderness skills. No prior experience is needed, however this is by no means an introductory course.
Spring Foraging Day
£85
Learn to identify and cook seasonal wild foods. Our instructors will take you on a stroll to gather our plants in the afternoon you’ll cook up a delightful celebratory meal.