We love taking our children outside, into nature. Getting out gives them a chance to explore, be noisy, dirty and run free. One of the places we regularly visit is Westonbirt Arboretum. Our favourite time to visit the arboretum is in autumn. The colour in the trees is amazing at this time of year. Reds, oranges, yellows, and greens. Reminding me that there’s no pattern or colour in our world that wasn’t inspired by nature.
So with September well under way we went for a Sunday walk at Westonbirt Arboretum. Shortly after starting our walk the children found us all sticks, fashioned with Mr Purple’s pen knife into swords, walking sticks and hobby horses. We found fantastic fungus growing under, and on trees and fallen logs.
My children joined a team of other children playing amongst the trees and they all worked together to build a den. Co-operation and compromise was strong beneath the treetops.
We walked slowly, savouring the time together as a family, an unhurried moment in our usually hectic lives. Mr Purple shared his passion for trees with us, showing the children how to identify them by the bark texture and colour, and the shape of the leaves.
Westonbirt is part of the forestry commission and we’re very lucky to live a short drive away. For more information take a look at their website. Here are some pictures from our day.
