Stolen hours with the gun

Enchanting woodland and abundant wildlife create a perfect afternoon for Jamie Tusting

- Jamie Tusting

Not far from where I live, there is a 60-acre woodland that was planted at the turn of the millennium on an old landfill site. Once planted, a deer fence was put up around the whole block and it was left to its own devices. The eclectic mix of trees thrived on the old rubbish tip and an enchanting wood grew up.

Throughout its life, the woodland has remained unmanaged. Rarely does anyone venture into it, least of all to shoot it. When I started work on the estate, I was given free rein by the forester to enjoy the wood, given that no one else used it.

Over the past few years it has become a special place. A place that I have often retreated to when I need headspace, thinking time or simply a dose of nature. As soon as you enter through the big gates, you feel a million miles from anywhere and can become totally and utterly immersed in a habitat that truly belongs to nature — a rarity in these times.

Unlock the majesty

My favourite pastime when I’m walking through the wood is hunting for robin’s pincushions — one of the most captivating things you can find in a woodland. Caused by the tiny gall wasp, the delicate growth, reddish in colour, can be found on the stems of dog roses in late summer. I find it fascinating that the woodland ecosystem is so utterly diverse and, if you take the time to look closely, you soon unlock the majesty of it all.