The Wild Woods

Is there anything more spectacular than wild woods?

A mountain top with breathtaking views or a rugged long coastline are good contenders. However I would argue that due to their exposure to the elements, they often become often a passing enjoyment as opposed to a place to linger and savour.

When I talk of wild woods I do not mean parks or cultivated and planted woodlands.

The wild woods have been allowed to mostly develop by themselves and follow the natural ecosystem.

Of course sometimes these need to be managed, but their primary use is not monetary or for show.

Walking in these woods is like taking a journey back through time and history. They would not have looked much different in the time of the Vikings, but potentially they are a little safer now, from thieves and dangerous wild animals.

Trees in a wild wood just look different. There is no pattern or order in their arrangement. Each tree has had to fight hard to make room for itself and enough light to flourish.

The woods are also full of trees which have fallen down or half-fallen down and now are propped up by their neighbours. The moss has had centuries to grow up from the floor and decorate the lower parts of the trees. This leads to a plethora of radiant greens when the light hits the woods.

The wild woodland has a much more calming effect on the human brain. It is, after all, nature as it was intended to be.

Doggies: Banipal, Poppy, Punky, Tesla and Lucy