This autumn lots of these lovely beings will be felled for our protection as they become unstable from the ash die back fungus.
I am offering to hold two spaces where we can acknowledge the lives of these wonderful trees before they are felled.
Friday 30th August Dartington Hall Estate.
Please get in touch if you would like to take part.
Welcoming stories, poems, songs and memories shared of your connection to Ash.
We shall meet at the picnic area by the playground at the shops of Dartington.
This event is Free and open to all
The second walk/gathering on 6th October will be longer and involve folk from Dartington’s forestry and property teams .. more details to fo!low.
You can come to both. Let me know if you’d like to come on Friday.
Warmest wishes Emma
If you can’t make either date, I invite you to participating by taking a walk along the footpaths in the woods above the cycle path from the shops at Dartington to Totnes and anywhere else you may encounter a sickening ash and just stop and say hello, send out love and if it feels appropriate draw a symbol on kins trunk in chalk or charcoal.
Here is a link to a wonderful blog post with lots of information, poetry and thoughts about Ash.
Here is another thought inspiring take on Ash die-back by Julie Horley from her website https://weaversofwellbeing.com/. Julie and I recently connected at Dartington and I was deeply moved by her healing work with people and trees.
Here’s a little poem I wrote on Friday 30th inspired by our time with the Ash Trees at Dartington.
Wind dancer
Air stirrer
Holder of stars
Heavenly shade creator
How I love thee.
Black shiny buds
and knobbly fingered branch,
so comforting to stroke.
My grandfather, grandmother
Bretheren of sheer direction
connecting earth to sky.
Thank you for holding this earth strong.
I hear you long to reach the stars and it won’t be long now.”