56. A Child of the Woods

I was two weeks old, I opened my eyes and looked up. A peaceful view of the sun sparkling through the fluttering leaves of the trees above me. All was well in my world.

That is the story of my life.

As long as the woods are there, all is well in my world.

I pray that this gift will be there for many generations to come.

All through my life, Bluebell wood on One Tree hill has been the playground for me, my family, friends and neighbours. Many weekends and holidays were spent playing, walking, picnicking and relaxing in the woods.

As children, we ran wild from Spion Kop to One Tree Hill and beyond, it was heaven on earth for us, in all the seasons.Running through the leaves, sledging in the snow, playing hide and seek in the long grass and the dark woods in Spring.

Sliding down the sandy hills, swinging from ropes hung in trees. The sound of the church bells would tell us when to eat our Marg sandwiches, and drink the cold water from the fountain set among the silver birch. As us children became of school age we were often sent off for the day in the school holidays, without the adults to spoil our fun. But come Sunday, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters and parents would come and join us in the hills, with organised games.We’d learn about the grasses, wild flowers, trees and wild life for whom the woods are home to.

When I grew up I took my own children to the woods, so they could enjoy the fresh air and freedom as I had done. Tracking was a favourite, picnicking in the snow also. As my children grew older we would go out as dawn was breaking to hide out in the woods to watch the wildlife go about their business. The rabbits and the squirrels were a delight to watch, the fox making his way home after a busy night, always the hope of spotting a badger or deer. Collecting wild flowers and grasses for school projects etc.

Walking through the woods with the children and talking to them about all we see is a nice way of teaching them about the world and life around us.

For over a hundred years, my family and many others have gone to the hills to escape the hustle and bustle of the modern world, to the peace of the magic world of ONE TREE HILL.

I like to think that the hills will be there to comfort, heal and teach generations to come, and that I can spend my last days in peace and tranquillity, in this heaven on earth.

Story writer/provider
Alison

Flag Designer
Alison

Painter(s)
Kinetika Artists

Landscape Character Area
Langdon Hills and Farmland