Mysteries of the WINTER WOODLAND

Head into the trees this January, where strange natural marvels await the sharp-eyed explorer, urges countryman John Wright

- John Wright

Winter woodlands are peaceful places. The bustle of bee and bird is in abeyance and things are resting, giving us time, space and inclination to ponder and examine what is there. There is also a beauty and a clarity intrinsic to a winter woodland that is obscured in the vibrant displays of other seasons. The structure of the trees and their arrangement, be it natural or imposed by man, become clear, and small constructions such as bird’s nests, witch’s brooms and wasp nests are revealed.

While the woodland scene is a joy to encounter, considerably more can be gained from taking things slowly and looking closely. While I occasionally adopt a vigorous pace, my daughter warns prospective walking companions that I am repeatedly distracted by one treasure or other and that the only sensible time to go for a walk with me is in the dark when little is visible that might slow our progress to a crawl. Perhaps you could ease yourself into this mode of walking by stopping every now and then for a cup of something warming and look around you. Standing or sitting silently, examine the nearest rotting log, the branches above you, the leaf-litter at your feet or, perhaps, a nearby and oddly shaped hole in the ground for which no purpose will readily come to mind.

Apart from wrapping-up warm, my advice is to take a loupe (a sort of folding magnifying glass for your pocket) so you can get close to things – the closer you get, the more interesting plants, fungi and invertebrates can become.