spring in the woods

8 May 2015


One of the reasons we bought our house (an it was the only one we looked at!) was because it is right next to a conservation site, which is home to a river, marsh and woods. The distance is so close that our tot has been able to walk there (without buggy or carrier) for nearly a year. The woods is small and impossible to get lost in, yet it's quite disorientating so it feels a lot bigger. There are HUGE cedar trees in one area but the rest is of native species of trees like oak, beech and hazel.

We are so happy to find an amazing array of spring flowers there today, and we took a small picnic with us, hot chocolate, gingerbread biscuits and a banana.


(this is the old disused railway track that joins one town to the other, the woods is just off this track)





I'd heard about the bluebells, but no one mentioned the mass of wild orchids in flower!


and teeny weeny violets.

...and the odd 'white' bell amongst the blue.






Our littlun seems to love her new rucksack, she filled it full of toys and carried that heavy load with her all the way.










It really is amazing that you can reach this place in just 10 minutes walk from the ferry, so if you don't have a car, it's a nice place to come if you want a break from the city ; )




She knows these paths like the back of her hand, and always stops to check if the eels have come back, or if there are any baby fish in the mill stream. I suppose she won't remember anything of her life in London where she lived until one year old. Our tiny flat and the neighbours upstairs, the crowded park and the noisy buses. She does love going to London though, but I can't imagine she'd want to live there...not right now anyway.

9 comments

  1. What a lovely spot for a picnic. I grew up in the countryside and loved it, (still do) Have a great weekend x

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  2. Lovely photos of your outing. I enjoyed seeing the woods - particularly the bluebells. I think its great that you live so close to the woods, such a wonderful experience to watch the seasons change and the different wildlife. I've just been reading a wonderful children's book to my grandchildren, if I remember the title right its "Touch the Magic Tree" and its very basic/interactive story about the life cycle of a tree- the leaves growing the bird that comes to nest in it- the 3 year old and the 6 year old both love it.

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  3. Its actually Tap the Magic Tree - had the first word wrong.

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  4. How lucky you are to be so close to the woods. I recall your blog posts when you felt stressed out about finding a home. Good things do come to those who wait.

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  5. Do you know why I can´t se your new posts on my bloglovin? It´s strange. I have tried to unfollow and then start to follow again, but it´s not working. Just asking incase someone else of your readers have had the same problem...

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  6. So sweet....Your little girl and the flowers. Have a nice day :)

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  7. Cattis I have that problem as well and have for ages.

    Such beautiful photos of the woods and your little cutie! I never tire of seeing photos of lovely English bluebell woods.

    http://www.asplashofvanilla.com/

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  8. I really love these photos :) The ladybird one is fantastic.

    I've been popping by for a little while so wanted to say hello :)

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  9. This is so beautiful. My goodness she's a cutie! I won't lie, I really miss living in the city sometimes, but then when I look at the toddler life that Ayana has out here in the country where we live I can see that it's a pretty amazing life for her (plus it's where I grew up too so I know all the best hut building spots ;))

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