Tristan Haynes is a Field Manager for the North West and West Midlands Area team at the Forestry Commission and has previously worked on social forestry projects. Here, he takes us on a walk up Moel y Golfa and shares the benefits of nature for wellbeing.
Choosing a favourite woodland walk is an almost impossible task for someone who spends as much of their time in woodlands as possible (both in and out of work). So, I’ve settled on one that was more about the reason than the walk itself (which was also stunning nevertheless!).
As a child, the ‘woods’ near my Dorset home were my sanctuary. Now living in a relatively more urban area of Shrewsbury, I still like to escape via what is usually (unfortunately) a drive to the woods. I like to hope that my children do too as they frequently get dragged along regardless, to discover a new spot or visit an old favourite!
Other than the large areas of Forestry England estate, Shropshire ‘woods’ are not typically very large, but can be extremely rich ecologically. We are also within easy reach of some typically vast, often commercial, forest estate just over the Welsh border.
I recently found myself in a challenging situation regarding one of my daughter’s ability to cope at school and I didn’t know what to do. When I am feeling this way – I simply put one foot in front of the other out in nature and clear my mind. So, this is exactly what we did.
After heading to a wood on the way towards mid-Wales that I’d often passed but not thought much of, the ice was soon broken by a challenging climb up a steep slope! We all know that physical activity creates feel good ‘endorphins’ and this was clearly just what we needed.
Once at the top I was waxing lyrical about the many different habitats that seemed to be evident, from wood pasture to upland heath as well as the beautiful semi-natural woodland itself. I admit to being a tree-geek and regularly attempt to impart my ‘enthusiasm’ on the family. I realise they are unlikely to directly take up my interest, but hopefully seeing my passion for my work may have some benefit. A distinctive grove of Beech then lent itself to my self-styled ‘tree of the week’ blog on my LinkedIn.
Having popped into the farm shop on the way and picked up our favourite hiking snack, some homemade scotch eggs, we stopped to devour them in the sunshine beneath the slightly bizarre setting of what transpired to be a memorial dedicated to local Romani leader Ernest Burton! A slightly sketchy descent (not least because, as usual, my daughter had not come out in appropriate footwear!) required some teamwork to navigate but we coped, albeit drawing the attention of a fell runner in the process.
As we exited the wood via a slightly ‘off-piste’ route (thanks to my infamous navigation skills, or lack of!) I feel some bridges had been built before what would turn out to be our final test of the day, working together to herd some escaped lambs away from a busy main road and back into their paddock, a very rewarding activity in itself!
The NHS recommends 5 ways to improve your mental health and wellbeing, and a walk in the woods can help with all. Woodlands are vital spaces for social connection, physical exercise and taking a moment to pause.
'Into the woods' is a blog series where staff members share adventures in their favourite woodlands. Join us every month as we explore the woodlands we love and uncover their beauty, wildlife, and hidden treasures.
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