Woods – Alex Mabbs

Edge time

A couple of weeks ago, I spent a day in some woods staring at the trees. Always time well spent, I find. It being a beech wood, the floor was covered in thick leaf litter – just a uniform sea of brown. After a while, I noticed some green near my feet. And then IContinue reading “Edge time”

Natural time

It’s now three weeks since I finished my sabbatical and returned to work and I am really struggling to adjust. Three months of camping and hiking and staring at trees (as well as a few other trips and things) must have really slowed me down and it’s been quite a shock to come back toContinue reading “Natural time”

Living in the woods

I’m just back from a short week in a cabin in a small wood in Devon. It’s part of the wonderful Sheldon retreat centre (Society of Mary and Martha) where I’ve been for luxurious retreats in the past and where we go annually for a clergy family holiday. The cabin is pretty basic, although itContinue reading “Living in the woods”

At one with nature at any price

Yesterday I set out on a hike from home, over the Downs, to a campsite in the woods about 12 miles away. It was always going to be quite a challenge as I haven’t walked that far with a big pack since my legs were younger, but I liked the idea of doing the roundContinue reading “At one with nature at any price”

Dartmoor

I spent a few days on Dartmoor, camping in a small oak wood up the valley of the River Erme. Piles Copse is an ancient woodland, once part of a farmstead. It’s a beautiful and peaceful place, ascending from the river up into dark, impenetrable, boulder-strewn woodland, filled with oaks so old they have beards.Continue reading “Dartmoor”

Identity

I have been doing a bushcraft course, with the assessment weekend coming up fast. One aspect of the course is natural history. We have had to learn to identify trees and woodland plants, as well as animal tracks and signs. Out and about in parks and in the countryside these past six weeks, armed withContinue reading “Identity”

Daybreak

I’ve just had a very timely retreat at Sheldon, in Devon. I spent much of the week putting off dealing with the big emotional issue that I’ll soon be leaving my present churches and moving on. But if you’ve got to deal with something tough, or try to avoid doing so, you may as wellContinue reading “Daybreak”

Leave the leaves

This is what an autumn lawn should look like: It’s not a very good photo, but you get the idea. The leaves are supposed to lie under the tree, rot down with the help of the fungi and bugs that eat them, and then enrich the soil to feed the tree. The blackbirds flickContinue reading “Leave the leaves”

The sound of drums

The garden is an oasis of peace and quiet. As I walk down it, often I can feel the stress falling away. When I had my little breakdown three years ago, the garden was a great source of healing. My habit most mornings is to sit down at the end of the garden with aContinue reading “The sound of drums”

Climate Week

Here’s a contribution to Climate Week – yesterday’s sermon. Apologies to those of you who don’t like sermons. At least with a blog sermon, you can argue with the preacher in public. The readings are: Isaiah 55.1-13 and Luke 13.1-9 The readings today hinge on whether or not we can have hope. For the JewishContinue reading “Climate Week”