Far from the real world

This Sunday we we're back in the woods on a different trail and had a great walk with the boys. Of course we set up a rope swing somewhere on route (which we took down as well ready for the next tree).

It was one of those 'do we have to' mornings which ended with 'that was a great walk, can we go again?'

The woods are all ready to erupt into greenery just now, though they are pretty well upholstered with moss anyway, but even so the canopy is brown and grey, ready for that singing green of new growth. And talking of moss, as there has been so little rain, all the moss on stumps and stones was really dry and perfect for bony bums!

Will be dropping off the cache containers soon and making the walks complete, ready for Somerset Art Week in September (and earlier for anyone wanting to do them) Rather pleased as we have permissions and all tickety boo, now need to create the log books (and box) prepared for placing.

Angels in the walls

We found these in Dulverton the other day on a walk up the river.

The Shiralee and the woodcutter.

When ever I walk in the forest and find a branch of one type of tree seemingly growing inside another I always think of this story.

The Shiralee is a forest demon who guards the woods at night, all wood cutters fear him as the story goes that one night the moon was so bright that a wood cutter found himself walking deeper and deeper in to the trees in search of the perfect sample for a beam in his house. It must not be too curvy, nor too thick, on and on he went into the thick forest until at last he found the tree he needed. He lifted his axe and began to chop, for a while he worked in the bright moon light cutting a wedge from the tree until a terrible screech stopped him dead. Suddenly coming towards him was an ancient mossed and gnarled tree, it was moving at great speed with branches flailing and a hideous cavernous hole in it's trunk shaped like a distorted mouth.

The woodcutter screamed himself falling to his knees in fear. 'What do we have hear, a wood cutter in my forest?' screeched the mighty tree, it's voice like ripping bark.

'No I meant no harm' spluttered the wood cutter.

'Too late. the deed is done, you are mine now.' and the tree stooped over the woodcutter to rip him apart. The wood cutter thought fast knowing that he only had moments to live.


'Wait, surly you can't take me yet as I haven't finished the job, the tree still stands.'

'Oh.' said the Shiralee.

'Perhaps you can assist me in finishing the job, you place your hand here and help me push the tree over.' The wood cutter pointed to the slot he had cut in the trees trunk. The Shiralee thought for a second and agreed, so put a branch against the tree as requested.


'After three, push really hard.' said the wood cutter, but in that instance he picked up the wedge from the forest floor and shoved it back in the slot trapping the Shiralee's branch in there aswell. With a swift swing of the axe he drove the wedge home locking it firmly in place, then quickly stepped back out of the Shiralee's reach.

The forest was filled with a mighty roar, a terrible ripping and ear splintering sound but the Shiralee was trapped. The wood cutter fled the wood and never returned.

Sometimes on windy nights you can hear the tearing scream of the Shiralee as he tries to pull himself loose to no avail. But if ever you happen to be in the forest and see a branch of one tree growing inside another what you have found is the entrapped Shiralee, and what ever you do, don't go cutting him free!

Great News - stop press!!

I am rather pleased to have permission to place a log book for visitors to find once they have completed a walk. They are hidden at the end of the trails so the only signatures will be those who have walked the path.

I do feel that things are coming together, and gathering pace. The original tech issues which I felt were a hurdle insurmountable have all been overcome (well nearly all - get on the programme Nokia!) So now it comes down to media promotion, getting the word out that these special walks exist, they are free and just simple family fun.

So where to from here? Well lots of promotion to do of course but I have a itch to do a fourth hidden walk, the clues will be hidden in the current walks. So the theory is that only by doing the three walks can you decipher the fourth route.

Still working on this so nothing live as yet, but all in good time.