Midsummer Escapades - To The Trees Edition #76

Once again the Summer Solstice seems to arrive too early. To say that Winter is now approaching seems preemptive, but it is true. The sun having stood still for a few days over the solstice, now turns away from its procession north and starts to drift south again, drawing in its height and reach and falling into a shallower arc as the Earth tilts away from the fiery sphere.

At Midsummer, the last dregs of daylight linger on until midnight and the first light of day seeps in just three hours later. The trees enjoy long days of sunshine. On one hand this serves them with the light to photosynthesise, while on the other hand draws the water from their leaves, from the earth, and puts them at risk of dehydration. The notable birch in Glastonbury Abbey sadly appears to be on its last legs, whether that’s due to lack of water, old age, or other reasons, is debatable, but the deterioration of the ground managers favourite tree, a girthy silver birch of 80 odd years, is a sad loss indeed. Equally sorrowful is the sight of the crone ash on Well house lane, split in two by the recent deluge, the tree is featured in the Heritage ash pamphlet I created last year, and is one of two trees to have partially fallen since it’s publication.

The latter two weeks of this moon’s cycle have been characterised by intense heat. Thankfully, the days are bookended by a few hours of less imposing atmosphere, so morning and evening walks have been fully embraced. Notable are the numerous butterflies flitting and circling over the pastures and between the hedgerows, seeming more plentiful than previous years. On the Tor on Monday morning I watched as a butterfly circled a falling white feather beside St Michael’s tower, the two floating and circling for a moment that stretched on forever. It was as if they were attached by an invisible chord and guided by fine threads from above.

These special moments of happening that cannot be photographed, are like dreams that I would struggle to believe had occurred at all if I had not witnessed them in complete wakefulness.

The flowering of the linden tree marks perfectly the arrival of midsummer. Grandmother Lime’s first flower popped open two weeks in advance of the solstice. Slowly she has reached a peak of flowering and is now transforming her ovaries into plump green, suede upholstered berries that will dry into woody seed pods, holding inside tiny black seeds. By means of a purpose built sail, the woody berry and internal seed will be carried away from its parent on a path of its own destiny.

Recent walks to Grandmother lime have highlighted the tree’s radiance, particularly at this time of the year when she truly comes into her own. At this time of the year humans are readily brought to tears by the picturesque green cocoon she provides and many who sit with her for a while are brought to emotional release while sat in her presence. A testament to the positive healing effects that trees can have on us human beings.

Grandmother Lime – Group

On Friday, I enjoyed accompanying a retreat group from France on a tour to Stonehenge and Avebury. Then, on Saturday, we took a walk around Glastonbury to meet Grandmother Lime, who they found particularly compelling. This is the first time I have offered such an experience in which, over two days, we visited three key sacred sites of this immense sacred landscape; Stonehenge, Avebury, Glastonbury, connected together by ley lines.

During the trip, I introduced the stones, provided perspective on their alignments, geometry and spiritual features and symbolism, while exploring the horizons and landscape features dotted around the area. It was the greatest honour to guide a group around the sites which form the complex ancient landscape that sits around my home town of Salisbury Wiltshire. A selection of images is included below.

Private walk bookings have been plentiful this season and resulted in the busiest month of tree walking in the seven years since we started, and I continue to push myself to grow with this process and offer these tours on a more regular basis. Coming up in July is the tree walk and owl experience on Saturday the 4th, which requires booking in advance. The usual public tree walks and Abbey tree tours can be found listed below.

Hope to see you on one or all of the upcoming walks.

MW 30/6/26

Here’s a video of a recent yew and Holy well adventure at St teilo, LLandeilo, Wales.