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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!

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

26th June. A couple of days previously we had been taking the kids for a short evening walk for a breath of fresh air. We hadn't planned to go into the woods near our house but when we walked past the entrance the pull of the trees was such that they really wanted to go in! I didn't have any means of taking photos to record that visit. The main thing that stood out from that exploration was just how much rubbish had been left there especially by the stream. We think it is a popular place for young people to gather. We vowed to return with bin bags! So we did just that with our friends Tamzin and Zora a few days later. They had never been in these woods before so we enjoyed sharing the space with them. We had brought bottles so we could show Zora how to make bughotels. Willow had been delighted to see how many creatures had moved into the one she made in Beavers and had positioned under a Bush in our garden!

24th June. All the children joined in enthusiastically and before long all the litter was cleared . Many hands made light work.