Adventure

My daughter looked across the breakfast table yesterday morning and asked “when are we going to go on an adventure, mum?”  It was a timely reminder that we have been spending too much time on the mundane – house, work, and occasionally the garden.  So we planned an adventure, not a very big one in some minds but will challenge us.  A cycle out to the forest and a mini beast safari when we get there is the plan. 

Of course, we will need to carefully pack the right equipment: a white sheet, bug box, magnifying glass and a small book on bugs.  We will need provisions to keep us going, the usual lunch box fare.  And we hope the weather will be kind.  The logistics have to be right.

In the course of discussing and planning all this, I get caught up in her sense of thrill and wonder why I needed prompting in the first place.  Eleanor Roosevelt once famously said “Do one thing every day that scares you.”  This little adventure may not be that scary to me but that exhilarating feeling of doing something just that bit out of the ordinary is just as satisfying.

When was the last time you went on an adventure?

Nature

It goes without saying that when you own a forest, as the community of Bute does, there is plenty of nature to think about.  I find it strange though how we tend to separate nature from ourselves and human developments, as if we are outside it in some way.  We also adopt some curious habits as a result of this separation – either it is something to exploit and use with no regards to consequence or it is something to fence off and protect free from our presence.  Of course there are always extremes, and as is usual, most people will fall somewhere in the middle – we can use it but in a sustainable way. 

Do we truly recognise that we are nature and nature is us?  If we have this shift of perspective what does it mean for our community and our forest?  As an island community, we can be isolated for many reasons, however with ownership of our forest we have become part of a larger community.  We are part of a growing number of communities who have taken control of their own destinies, all of them realising that people and environment are our greatest assets.  Why not take time out to make a connection today whether it is locally or in the wider community.  Your forest awaits.

Health & Fitness

A good friend of mine often comments “it’s not rocket science is it, eat less than you want and exercise more than you want”, the rest is unprintable and relates to both our middle-aged spreads.  But she is right, and on the days when I get out to the forest, almost without effort, I achieve that balance.  A lightweight packed lunch and plenty of walking.

It seems though that health & fitness have become rocket science – know all there is to know about nutrition, understand what body mass index means or works or gets measured, take part in a programme, change your diet etc. etc.  We have targets with inputs and outputs.  We need to be concerned about the drain on our national resources and the pressure on the NHS.  We have so much information to take in so that we can make informed choices that perhaps our bellies aren’t the only bits that get overloaded.

And yet, take a picnic out into the woods, stroll till you find a spot that invites you sit, and enjoy.  To quote a meerkat “simples”.

Photograph courtesy of Jessica Herriot

Peace

Too often we have little time for reflection and sometimes all we need is to enjoy the moment without too much thought.  Walking through our community forest can help restore balance in a busy or stressful life.  Restore your sense of calm and wellbeing by discovering a peaceful spot perhaps near one of our babbling burns. 

Each of your senses will get a natural fix.  The variety of colours and changing light as you move through different types of canopy and into open space is a better exercise for your eyes than pixels.  You will stop to listen and learn that peaceful doesn’t mean quiet, the wind through the trees, waters trickling or rushing, small unseen things going about their busy lives with no mind to us, and of course, bird song.  There are many textures for your fingers to experiment with, soft grasses contrast with rough barks, shimmering water or lichen and moss covered rock, readily available to your touch.  As urban grime clears from nose and lungs, you will notice individual aromas from moist earth to sweet perfumes.  Make sure you bring some sustenance with you, to keep your energy up and feed your taste buds, unless of course you are an experienced forager, in which case a feast awaits.

The fantastic thing about creating this wonderful experience is you can revisit anytime you like both in memory and physically.  Haste ye to, and meander back to Bute Community Forest.

Think and Act as Owners 2

Spring has most definitely Sprung!  A whole lot has happened since my last update – we have had some disappointments, some exciting developments, North Bute had it’s first Forest School workshop and our planned Spring Event is a lovely memory.

Success came in the form of an award from Climate Challenge Fund – this will be used to progress our Hydro Electric Scheme.  A detailed feasibility study is required including a number of environmental studies.  The path to achieving a sustainable income stream for our community and the projects we hope to progress has many challenges and, quite rightly, a great deal of scrutiny from bodies such as SEPA, SNH, and Argyll & Bute Council.  As we move forward your support will be crucial for this important project that will help sustain the management of the forest and development of other community projects.

The disappointments – three of our funding applications were turned down.  This doesn’t mean we are sitting with our heads in our hands on the contrary – we just need to get inventive! 

Two of the applications were needed to take forward our Forest Events programme.  Our summer event – The Big Green Picnic,  a community event for families – an opportunity for us to celebrate our ownership of the forest, share a jelly piece and have some fun.  Funding was needed to prepare the site, put on some great entertainment, and provide transport.  In recent weeks, we have witnessed what this community can achieve when inspired to action.  So how do we come together as a community to make our party happen?  I invite you to come forward with ideas and support.

The third application was not a total rejection but an invitation to work a bit harder on the proposal – I always welcome constructive feedback and with our directors will ensure the revised application takes full account of the feedback received. 

I was delighted to attend the inaugural general meeting of Community Land Scotland, on the Isle of Harris.  We have achieved a great deal in a short space of time and perhaps by being so busy by inward focus we haven’t realised what a historic step has been taken.  A light bulb was seen to appear above my head, as I realised that our community is part of something very big and very special.   I am often struck by the wealth of knowledge and expertise in our community and the commitment of individuals to make a difference in their own and others lives.  And also wonder how much we might be missing amongst those who have yet to get involved? 

In building contacts with other inspiring and passionate people we will learn and achieve much more and for those who perhaps think owning this wonderful forest isn’t about them – I would like to leave you with a quote from someone I met at that conference.

“Community ownership, …, is a quality of the owner, not the land, and reflects characteristics of the landowner”.  Andy Wightman

For more information on Community Land Scotland click here

Andy’s website can be accessed here