Issue #25 The Misc. Adventures Digest
A week of wet woodland adventures, plus some dewy Nature Happenings
Hello there. Back to our regular Digest after last week’s Nature Connection special and our first attempt at a Substack Chat. I’m not sure how that went. It’s a brave act writing something you care deeply about and then pushing the “send to everyone now” button. We’re so grateful to those who contributed to our chat and left comments last week. Thank you!
We’ve had some small adventures over the last week or so, mostly woodland ones, crawling on our hands and knees to find familiar (and some not so familiar) friends that are popping up everywhere through the leaf litter. The woods are the best place to be at the moment, bursting with life and interwoven with magic everywhere. Nearly all species of tree have burst their buds now, with oak and ash lagging slightly behind the rest. The newly unfurled leaves are so vibrant. Vivid, translucent and fresh. Now is the time to breathe it all in. If you happen to be passing through the woods, remember to pause, just for a moment and notice the gentle, slow, explosion of life all around.
The woodland floor is a galaxy of floral activity. Bluebells are nearly at peak purple. We have noticed here in the north that stitchworts and bluebells grow together more readily than we are accustomed to seeing. It’s a good look. Stitchworts shining bright white, starlike against a purple and green sky. Clusters of wood anemones, wild garlic and delicate white nodding heads of wood sorrel, all equally stelliferous add to the complexity of the scene. In shallow pools, the tiny flowers of saxifrage shine brightly, bringing yellow and gold to the mix. The canopy is a cacophony of birdsong; wood warblers are back and cuckoos are cuckooing. Blackcaps are doing their best nightingale impressions for which we are grateful; at this time of year nightingales would have been serenading us throughout the night in the woods of Sussex, but are notably absent up here in the north.
It’s been wet most weekends, but that hasn't stopped our woodland wanderings. In fact sometimes I think the woods look better in or shortly after rain, every surface bejewelled with water droplets. I’m always reminded by this quote from Henry David Thoreau’s Journal:
"It is worth the while to walk in wet weather; the earth and leaves are strewn with pearls."
Mosses and ferns seem so much more vibrant after the rain too. One walk took us up a steep slope through dripping oak woods to a craggy jumble of huge boulders covered in luxuriant, glowing coats of green. A good spot for trolls and other mysterious creatures. We spent spent a while here happily exploring nooks, crannies and small caves down which Benji shouted “Anybody down there?”. No replies unfortunately. I like to imagine the forces that sent these boulders tumbling, tens of thousands of years ago, glacial acts of destruction and creation.
Or trolls perhaps.
Nature Happenings
Hello, Emma here with this week’s Nature Happenings!
Following on from the Henry David Thoreau quote that Andrew shared above, behold Lady’s Mantle, the ultimate pearl collector!
Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris) is a member of the rose family, growing mainly in upland areas on acidic soils. At first glance, it may seem to be a fairly unassuming leafy plant, but catch it covered in tiny spheres of dew and suddenly it is something incredibly beautiful. The leaves are hydrophobic, covered in tiny microscopic hairs that catch moisture and turn it into perfect tiny spheres that cling to the edges and centre of the leaves like jewels.
Folklore tells that the dew which collects in Lady’s Mantle contains magic and early alchemists believed it could turn base metals into gold (the scientific name ‘alchemilla’ comes from the word alchemy). Maybe next time, I will sample a couple of drops…
Lady’s Mantle has many medicinal uses. Traditionally, the flowers were used in tea and given to women in late pregnancy to tone the uterus and encourage birth, and it’s also said to help regulate the menstrual cycle. Due to its astringent properties, the leaves can be crushed and used to help heal wounds and I read (in Mo Wilde’s book, The Wilderness Cure) that a skin oil can be made using an infusion of the leaves to help smooth out wrinkles.
Let us know if you’ve spotted Lady’s Mantle and do report back on any magical effects if you try drinking the dew!
We had a fun filled weekend, with the wedding of lovely friends over in the beautiful Borrowdale valley (coincidentally on the anniversary of our own wedding) and a visit from one of our favourite people from down south. The weather was not as bad as it was supposed to be so we were able to do a good guided tour in and around the local area, I think.
It’s such a joy to be able to share our favourite places with friends, but sad to see them go.
I’ve been out all this week on a chainsaw training course; this time learning how to properly deal with windblown trees which is just about the most dangerous thing you can do in the woods. Thanks to Storm Arwen there is no shortage of windblown trees to sort out so I’ve been in Grizedale Forest cutting huge spruces from their root plates and trying not to get squashed. So far, so good. I have my assessment on Monday - wish me luck!
Well, that’s all for this week’s Digest. We hope you get to spend some time in the woods to revel in all things gloriously green and send warm wishes for the week ahead.
Andrew, Emma and Benji
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Excellent stuff! Love a good troll grotto 😊 Also spotted some alchemilla today, covered in the most beautiful droplets. Didn't sample them but maybe next time!
The photos are stunning! Those green boulders! Also I like the Thoreau quote as I really love being out in the rain. It awakens the senses. Thanks for another weekly update. 💚