The other day, I took a walk through the woods near my home. The dog, as usual, came along, but this time, our cat decided to grace us with his presence too. As I crunched through the fallen autumn leaves, I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the cat and dog chasing each other playfully. In that moment, I was transported back to my childhood, remembering the many nature walks I took in these same woods.
At school, we had a nature table—Bord Dúlra in Irish—where we’d proudly display signs of the changing seasons. Being country children, we always had an abundance of treasures to bring in: leaves, berries, flowers, and more. Each item would be lovingly labelled by our teacher, who had the most beautiful handwriting. I always loved how autumn filled our Bord Dúlra with the richness of the season.
Autumn was, and still is, my favourite time of year. The vibrant colours of montbretia, with its bright orange blooms, and the golden palmate leaves of horse chestnut trees stand out in my memory. I can still see the shiny brown conkers, some just peeping out of their spiky green shells, not quite ready to fall. There were blackberries, sloes, hazelnuts, acorns, haw berries, and the whirling sycamore helicopters that spun to the ground. Our Bord Dúlra would soon be heaving with the bounty of autumn.
One memory that stands out is my childhood fascination with oak trees. Growing up in the coastal village of Doolin, oak trees were a rare sight, which made them feel even more special. I had learned that the oak was the king of the forest, revered by the ancient Druids for its connection to magic and wisdom. There were a few growing in our little woods, and I was determined to be the first to bring an acorn to our Bord Dúlra. I’d search the leaf-scattered ground for that perfect little green oval, hoping to find one with its fetching little hat still intact. It was always such a thrill to find one.
To this day, I still love oak trees—they’re probably my favourite native tree. I feel incredibly fortunate that we’ve been able to plant oak saplings all over our land, with plans for many more to come. There’s something special about knowing that we are caretakers of this land, helping it flourish with native trees and nurturing a connection to the natural world.
That simple walk through the woods reminded me of how deeply rooted my love for nature is, and how privileged I feel to live in such a magical place. The trees, the leaves, and even the playful antics of a cat and dog all bring me back to the joy and wonder of childhood—when every acorn was a treasure, and every walk held the promise of discovery.
Comments