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24 June. While I was enjoying the walking meditation exploration we had had a plan of activities for the others. In reality Jon got very little spoon carving done. Why? Well the children found a paw print in the mud and came to the conclusion it was a fox paw print. As time drew on and I didn't come back Rowan came to the conclusion that I had been eaten by foxes and wanted to look for me. When I arrived back, emerging through the trees, I was met with very gleeful joy. Rosie had done some sketching of a tree and some weaving. Jon had done a fair bit of chasing and reassuring Rowan. Thank goodness I hadn't been eaten by foxes. PS we have since discussed the types of animals foxes do and don't eat :) PPS the first picture was me trying to get a photo a grasshopper. We could hear many and saw one sitting in the grass. We have looked at the pic for ages and can't spot them! Maybe excellent camouflage or maybe it's just behind the grass in the foreground!

24 June. After weeks of teaching online via Zoom I was planning a face to face outdoors meet up with some of the lovely people I share yoga and meditation with. It was a bright sunny day and the whole family headed to Walkmill for me to explore and find a good route for a walking meditation. Jon and the kids set up with various activities:- Jon some spoon carving, Rosie some John Muir inspired sketching and the little ones exploring what they could find. It's very rare I get chance to be alone in nature and it was a wonderful experience. First I found a lovely secluded spot big enough for us to do some gentle warm ups and stretches. I walked around, hearing some rustling along the way and as I observed this area from the other side I was privileged to see a deer standing just where I had been. I stood and watched for a while then tried to take a picture but as you can see from the pic with the flower in the deer gracefully slid back into the woods. I started a walking meditation through the trees. Some of the paths I had walked before and some were new to me. At one point just before the path I was on was about to reach the main path I saw a beautiful clearing on one side of the path. I walked in thinking and feeling what a beautiful spot it would be for us to just stand and breathe. I did just that for a few moments and then at the edge of the clearing noticed a tiny path. It must have been a deer path. I followed it in awe and wonder that even after so many years Walkmill holds such beautiful places to be discovered. The path faded and then became clear again several times before it rejoined a more well trodden path. It brought to mind the fact that in life sometimes our direction and path is obvious and other times less obvious or maybe there is no one defined choice. On this walk I was able to be with the not knowing and trust I would find a way through. When the path became less obvious I paused, took some deep nourishing, calming breaths and looked all around. In time the way always became clear. A metaphor for life maybe.

Huge areas of the ground and bushes were covered in snow. However, it was actually fluffy seeds from the trees. We couldn’t believe how much there. We think it’s a Cottonwood tree, but need to go and research further.

On Monday, I have to return to school as my mum is a keyworker. I have created this huge poster to share with my headteacher and my class teacher, I've included all bits that I have enjoyed the most during my John Muir Award. I hope they like it!

Today I have sent an email with the letter attached, to my local MP. I've asked for his help! We will have to see what he replies! Fingers crossed!

Today, I walked into the woods with mum and my brother, I wanted to create a nature bracelet. My mum put some thick masking tape on my wrist and as I walked, I picked things up off the ground and placed them on my bracelet. I've put a picture of some of the things I found. I impressed my brother that I could name the trees and plants that we saw! Although I was happy about this, I was really sad to see that the area of wooden that I cleaned during my litter pick is all messy again. I asked my mum if I could write to Ben Bradley our local MP as he didn't respond to my tweet. So, that's my mission tomorrow!

The meadow beside the Waggonways has burst into life. Through the winter it can be a very wet boggy area. With the recent sun and rain, the flowers and grass have grown rapidly.

It had been raining for a few hours, light showers, so we went to see how the Waggonways would look. Lots of blossom has fallen and berries are beginning.