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'And so goes the song, change succeeding change in glorious harmony through all the seasons and years' - John Muir, Wilderness Essays. I think this really resonates with our current lock down situation, we must take the time to learn to 'be' in our own space and observe and take pleasure in the smallest of things, notice what nature shares this space with us. That nature and wildlife are not stopped in their tracks like we are currently gives us hope. We can notice the minute changes each day as spring advances and our welcome visitors respond, following their evolutionary instincts to nest, breed, eat, migrate, sing..... Take pleasure from this, and comfort too. The rhythm of the world continues, and so will we eventually.

During lockdown I've enjoyed taking on projects or small challenges - things I can feel I've completed, learnt or achieved. So I was pleased to see that the week of John Muir Day celebrations was carrying on despite the restrictions, and that there were lots of ideas on the John Muir Trust website for individual things to do to celebrate what would have been John Muir's 182nd birthday on the 21st. I've decided to take on a new one each day of the week, starting with 'Discover in the Dark' - remembering that John Muir lost his eyesight temporarily in an accident and taking time to listen instead of look. From the top of the Braid Hills, I could just about see Traprain Law, indicating the general direction of Dunbar, where John Muir started his life. The wind brought the noise of the occasional car along the roads, and the sound of people laughing and calling in the last of the evening sun. I could hear birds I was familiar with - wren, chaffinch - and others I need to relearn each season...the gentle downward tumble of a willow warbler, and perhaps the scratchy song of a blackcap. What I thought was a peal of church bells turned out to be the tune of an ice-cream van...odd under the circumstances. The dry leaves on the trees rustled together and a mouse, or something mouse-sized, ran a tunnel under the grass below. When a jackdaw called above and I looked up, I saw a kestrel hovering silently...one thing I would have missed if I didn't have my sight. Day one - good to push the pause button and open my ears. And a new challenge now each day until Sunday...

23 February. There had been a lot of rain in the days leading up to this visit. Some plastic had washed down into one of the streams at the top of the woodland and got stuck. We pulled it out and took it home. At the top of this stream an impressive waterfall had formed with the extra water. The children scrambled up the stream ducking under crossing branches to have a closer look. Lower down in the woodland Rowan and I played an exciting game he made up about a dragon egg. Then enjoying the benefits of their waders, Willow and Rowan were able to explore the stream together. Note in the distance it meets a larger stream. More about that in another visit!

23rd February Hawkeswood. During this visit Rowan age 4 for some reason was very interested in Holly trees. There are a fair few Holly trees of all different ages in the woods. He stopped to acknowledge them all. One larger one in particular he was drawn to he called "The Family Holly Tree". We discussed smaller trees coming from bigger trees, seeds in the berries and how berries in general might 'travel' through the woods to make trees further apart. Rosie aged 8 found a tree in which she saw an elephant's head shape complete with trunk. She called this tree "Ganesha tree" after the Hindu God Ganesha. She can also be seen enjoying sitting in a tree. A place where she feels quite at home :) Jon brought his tools to acquire a post for the secret mission. He found a tree that had already been felled and got a section of that.

There is only so much preparation you can do when you take 24 children out to discover their wild place. You can tell them to wear appropriate clothing but sometimes they just have to learn from their mistakes! In particular MUD! For some this was the highlight after scooting to their destination and for others they found maybe they need to re think their footwear. Here are a few quotes.. “ I got stuck in the mud- my sole came off my shoe when the two adults helped to pull me out!” “I loved playing in the mud but not my shoes falling off!” “ Too Muddy!” “ I didn’t like getting muddy, I had my Vans on! My group called me Cinderella because I kept loosing my shoe! I brought my wellies the next time.” In our next update we will move onto our next adventure the Explore Session! 😀

So many things to discover. One of the children found a leaf, initially he thought it was a cocoon lying on it, you can see why? He called me over and a few other children to have a look and help him identify what it could be. Turns out it was a pussy willow bud. What fantastic opportunistic learning!

As you will have gathered I am writing these entries after the sessions occurred. 😀 They found a footprint, moss, ivy, sticks, trees, spiky bushes, rabbit holes, daffodils (not in bloom yet)

Who would have known, there is so much to discover! Here are some quotes from the children, “Finding the woodlice on the logs was cool.” “ I liked being around the trees in the wood.” “ I enjoyed playing the bio diversity bingo.” “I liked finding the fun place, trees going over us.”