Hello Wild Soul,
I wanted to let you know that this week is National Tree Week (22nd – 30th November) which marks the beginning of the annual tree planting season here in the UK. I don’t know about you, but it brings me joy on this drizzly, grey day, just thinking about all the little trees that are being planted up and down the country, over the coming weeks and months.
This year, the focus of National Tree Week is ‘a future filled with trees‘ and if you know me even slightly, you will know I need no excuse to celebrate our tree kin!
Last year, I shared my ‘Tree Guides for Embracing Change‘ post where I outline some of my favourite ways to begin connecting with trees. If you aren’t sure how to identify a particular tree but are curious about deepening your connection, I recommend catching up with this post.
In today’s post, I wanted to share some of the magnificent trees that have inspired us this year. We would LOVE to hear about any trees that have been special to you too, so do leave us a comment if you feel called to.
I will also be revealing some new woods that we have been co-creating with this month and sharing a discount code with you, so let’s dive in!
Field Maple, the unsung hero
In early Summer, I came across this beautiful, old field maple in a woodland near where I live. It is funny, I visit this woodland often and yet had never noticed this tree before.
The Field Maple is our only Maple native to the UK and they are such a staple of the British landscape that they are often overlooked. This is exactly what I had done, all the years that I had walked by on my track through the woods.
On one particular day however, I did notice this glorious tree, its branches extending so wide, that I felt as if they scooped me underneath this beautiful canopy. Over Summer, I visited often, spotting so much wildlife as I sat with my back against the trunk. It became my go to place, anytime I craved space, connection, perspective or comfort.
In Autumn, the Field Maple leads the transformation, as its leaves turn a brilliant yellow, reminding us, that they are there, nestled throughout the hedgerows and woodlands. They can also be found across our towns and cities, where they are very successful at tolerating pollution and providing vital homes, food and refuge to wildlife.
I think of them as steady, hardworking and humble trees that help us to find the beauty and magic in the mundane.
Sycamore, and deciding on a tree’s energy…
We sometimes get asked how we decide what ‘energy’ represents a particular tree, so I hope this post shares a little insight into how we connect with and learn from trees…
During an oppressively hot day around midsummer (yes, I know it might be hard to imagine that just now…) we headed for the woods in search of some shade. After some time strolling, we approached a mound, somewhere towards the middle of the woodland. On top of the mound stood a circle of 5 big sycamore trees. Their dense canopies united as one, blocking most of the sunlight from reaching the ground beneath them. The top of the mound was covered by a thick, (shade loving) mossy green carpet.
It felt as though we had hit the jackpot, as we climbed up and set our rucksacks down, taking shelter from the sun beneath these towering trees. We spent the afternoon, reading, snoozing and chatting away in what felt like our very own sanctuary. As I gazed up at the 5 pointed leaves above my head, I was reminded of a sycamore tree that I used to pass on my way to school. On several occasions, me and my mum took shelter from heavy rain showers underneath its branches.
When I got home that evening, I read a little more about Sycamore trees, and how they were often the chosen tree planted to shade or shelter farmhouses. Their fast growing nature, dense canopy and ability to withstand exposure to cold, wind, salt spray and air pollution makes them ideal trees to plant for shade or shelter.
And so, when we consider the life history and nature of how Sycamore trees grow and interact with the land around them and combine that with how we feel when we spend time with them, we chose the word ‘Sanctuary’ to represent their energy. For all those that have taken shelter from the elements, beneath their branches.
Beech, the Queen of the Woods
Earlier in the month we spent a lovely week exploring the woodlands of Cannock Chase, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Staffordshire.
It was the perfect time to enjoy the colours of Autumn, the golden tones of the Larch, Birch and Sycamores to the rusty bronzes of the Beech trees.
During one of our walks, we noticed ‘the 6 crones’ marked on the map and couldn’t resist taking a look. The map guided us to 6 very old Beech trees, that looked as though they have been planted in a circle at least a few hundred years ago.
They were quite the sight, with missing limbs, fungi creeping up their old trunks, and thinning canopies, they certainly felt the Queens of this forest!
Connecting and learning from trees, is an ever expanding journey that brings awe, perspective and connection to me regularly.
Spending time with them often helps remind me of the bigger picture, as I consider all they have stood through until this point, from changes to the landscape around them, to harsh winters and dry summers, on and on they grow.
And this is why we feel inspired to contribute to National Tree Week and to a ‘future filled with trees.’ By gathering and planting seeds from many of the amazing trees we have met this year it feels like the right way for us to honour them, and we can’t wait to see what grows next Spring!
Wild Fen Updates
We have been so inspired by all of the wonderful trees we have met this year, and have some beautiful new pieces to share with you over the coming weeks, in fact there are some in store already….here is a sneak peak of what is available right now!
To say thank you for your support again this year, we would like to offer you 20% off any Wild Jewellery pieces for the rest of this year! Simply enter the code YULE20 at the checkout.
Upcoming events
We still have some brilliant events to come before the year is out. Here is where you can find us next:
As we prepare to welcome December, I hope you find space for some moments to pause, and slow down during this notoriously busy month. Here is to making the space to step outside when the sun is shining, snuggle up with a good book after the sun sets and breathe when (or ideally before) it all feels a little too much!
Nic x
Wild Fen 