Autumn is my favourite time of year, cosy nights, log fires, Halloween, fireworks are all things to celebrate. However even the most determined optimist would have a slight grimace looking at the current forecast. After staying inside watching tv, drawing, eating lots we decided to jump in to our wellies and go puddle hunting. Although we live in a built up area we can walk for 20 minutes and be in the woods and this is where our wellies took us. BP is just discovering puddles so the walk was more like 45 minutes as TP and BP jumped, splashed and ran through every puddle on the way but soon the hard grey streets turned in to glorious squishy brown mud. The ‘woods’ we ended up in are not huge, they are a tiny patch of trees and meadows lovingly maintained by the residents of the surrounding houses.
The woodland is entered into via a bridge, the best entrance to any adventure. For TP this was a hop and jump from suburbia in to the magic of the woods. For BP is was more a climb and stumble but we got there. TP led the way rushing through the muddy paths past the damp trees to poo stick bridge. We have been playing here since he could walk. He collected a stick for each of us, we plopped them in one side and raced to the other eagerly awaiting the winning stick. Mine zoomed through first followed by TP’s, WP’s was nowhere to be seen. BP is not yet familiar with the ritual and decided that rather than a stick she would race acorns. Physics did not allow her to be victorious but spotting her next adventure she soon forgot the game and ran on. Next to the stream is a tree which fell down during a storm creating a natural archway. BP ran straight through laughing as the ivy reached down to tickle her as she went. We all followed (some with more ease than others) and walked along the river bank to our next bridge. This is my favourite part of the walk. The stream runs under the bridge from 2 directions and joins with a wonderful twinkly sound as it rushes under a fence and away. Well this is what usually happens but today something was wrong. No beautiful sounds or twinkly water but a slightly stagnant over full pond. TP decided we should investigate. We gathered sticks and carefully made our way over the stream to the fence. We found the natural course of the river had been blocked by an addition to the fence. There were bars and the falling leaves had blocked the holes in between. Carefully using our sticks we swept away the leaves and then suddenly the water began to flow. In a matter of minutes the scum had gone and the gorgeous sound of running water filled the air. BP mixed the water with her stick as it came rushing past, the whole area seemed to return to life. After our successful mission we slowly returned through the woods to the bridge. As we crossed the bridge back out in to our suburban surroundings the sun came out glistening through the trees and we enjoyed the warmth on our walk back home.
Rewilding my family 