Two Very Different Sunday Walks in the Woods

Sunday 21st September 2025

This Sunday the woods played host to not just one but two very different guided walks, each opening up a fresh way of experiencing Oxleas Woodlands.

The day began with a bright, crisp, and rather cold morning as a group gathered at Severndroog Castle to meet local botanist Richard. Right from the start, Richard set the tone by explaining that this wasn’t going to be an ordinary “walk.” He rarely follows a set route, he told us, because he never gets more than a few yards before something catches his eye.

True to his word, we were still in the car park when he was already pointing out leaf shapes, tree bark, and explaining how the woodland’s many species depend on one another.

From there, the next two hours were pure joy. Richard led us slowly into Castle Wood, showing us how to identify trees and weaving in history and ecology along the way. He explained the long story of beech and oak in these woods, with a lively digression into nettle tea-making. We were encouraged to notice everything—leaves, fungi, bark, and plants—looking up into the canopy and down at the ground beneath our feet. Along the way we discovered a giant Chicken-of-the-woods fungus at the base of an oak, the curious bean pods of an Indian bean-tree, and the gnarled beauty of hornbeam, an indicator of ancient woodland. Richard confessed later that, much as he loves hornbeam, his heart really belongs to the resilient and graceful birch.

What made the walk especially engaging was Richard himself. He happily chatted with everyone, young and old, answering questions (and admitting cheerfully when he didn’t know something), and sharing his wealth of knowledge in a way that was both fun and accessible. The walk ended below Severndroog Castle at the Giant Redwood, where Richard inspired us with the centuries-long life cycle of these magnificent trees. It was, in every sense, a fascinating and memorable morning, full of insight and enthusiasm for “all things green.”

In the afternoon, the pace slowed as Katie guided a Shinrin Yoku (Forest Bathing) session to mark Mabon, the Celtic name for the autumn equinox. Ten participants gathered under the spreading branches of a grand Sweet Chestnut, a tree long associated with abundance and longevity.

From there, the group moved gently through the woods, pausing to notice the subtle balance of light and shade, movement and stillness. Time was given for reflection, gratitude for the passing year, and quiet preparation for the winter ahead. The session ended with a taste of the forest itself - blackberry tea and fresh walnuts - accompanied by poetry that deepened the sense of connection.

Participants described the experience as calming, restorative, and even enlightening, with several commenting on how Katie’s calm and measured guidance helped them rediscover the wonder of nature.

Together these two walks showed the many ways in which the woodland can be appreciated—through the lens of science and ecology, or through slowing down and opening the senses to its restorative power.

Both left participants refreshed, inspired, and keen for the next opportunity to walk among the trees.