My two middle sons run down the hill together, so close in age that they are almost the same height. The trees dwarf them. When I think back to this wood, I never imagine the trees being so tall; it seems such a close, small place in my memory.
Spring is still with us and red campions line the paths. Newly blossomed, this one spoke to my camera, with all of its recently unfurled crinkles showing in the petals.
We steer off track onto the less-used trails. The bluebells are starting to fade here; they look more settled-in as part of the woodland palette than the electric blues of before. Everywhere above us is the flutter of birds. Beneath our feet, the forest floor stirs with insects.
There is something very comforting in the sight of a new oak tree. A woodland future secured. We find this sapling just a few feet away from a gnarled ancient representative of the same species. Then we spot several more. A nursery of oak.
My older son charges ahead, finding the way. He loves exploring these wilder paths. His brother holds my hand and perfectly mimics the birdsong around us. He pauses to run his fingers lightly through a fern; a shiny beetle crawls onto his hand and he observes it for a moment before settling it onto a fallen branch.
I kneel down next to him and notice that a small daisy that looks pure white from a distance, is delicately edged with pink tinges to each petal.
This unexplored route takes us almost out of the woodland. The path then comes back under the shade of the tree canopy beside a small stream, whose waters flow down from the edge of the dairy fields.
After crossing an old wooden bridge and taking a short uphill climb we return to our hidden glade. The clearing is so verdant, it is hard to imagine that just a few months before it was an icy winter pond fringed with sharp bare branches.
On this shadier side of the wood, the bluebells need a little more coaxing and are only just in their first flush of vivid colour. They arrive later, though always appear in denser numbers.
We stop for a while and scan this floral horizon, nowhere to rush to. When the breeze rushes through the tiny bells they become a shimmering ocean beneath the trees. As they crest, we spot a flare of white amongst the blue.
Before us is an albino variety of the English bluebell, exceptionally rare in the wild. I make a note of where we find it, in the hopes that it will return next year.
—Keep safe and well everyone. With heartfelt thanks to all those who are working to keep us safe, especially those on the frontline in the NHS and hospitals around the world.—
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Tiny Potager 
What lovely photos. Nature is wonderful isn’t it. X
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Yes! I think the scenery is doing all of the hard work for me – I feel like I could point my camera anywhere in the woodland and the photos would look lovely 🙂
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Sounds and looks absolutely gorgeous!
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Thank you very much Morag, I hope you are keeping well x
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Beautiful photos. Your wide shots are very painterly.
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Thank you Tina, I trained in art history, so telling me that my photos are painterly is a wonderful compliment x
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Beautiful! X
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Thank you very much x
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Amazing photos! I love the albino English bluebell pic.
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Thank you Blanca, I’ve been trying to spot one for years, they are so delicate 🙂
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Fabulous shot of the red campion. They are brightening our life up here too.
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Thanks Tootlepedal – it was a very nice moment when I had the camera focused and then suddenly it focused just a little bit more sharply and all of the petal wrinkles were picked up! 🙂
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Beautiful post, nature at its best. It gladdens the soul. Thank you.
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That was lovely and I could imagine being on that walk! I love the close-up of the flowers and of course I’d love to just sort of spin around in those trees admiring all the beauty 🙂
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Delightful walk. Reminds me of the park I used to walk in regularly.
janet
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Are your bluebells still out? Ours are long gone in this heat…
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Love the white bluebell!
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Lovely post.
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A delightful walk beautifully photographed and described. The scale in that first picture is fascinating.
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How beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
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Magical picture of your son on the path way with towering trees.
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Lovely. Those blue bells are my favorite. We have beautiful woods nearby, but the plentiful deer bring plentiful ticks. Are ticks a problem in English woods?
https://suzanklassen.com/2020/05/20/the-parade/
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Always love seeing your bright and cheery posts and pictures!
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I love the photos and the narrative.
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Such loveliness! Nature is my saving grace during this crazy time!
Loved strolling with you!
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What a beautiful walk – loved being able to ‘accompany’ you! It lifts my spirits. 🙂
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What a beautiful forest. Reminds me of the hundred acre wood.
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It is a very similar type of old English wood – you are spot on 🙂 It’s only 29 acres though so possibly not big enough for Woozles 🌼
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