How one project with nature leads to another

Looking back over the year I can now see the wisdom in John Dewey’s expression that we do something to the environment and it does something to us. I began the year by digging a pond in the middle of the wood and in the process I was inspired to create a path through the wood to the gate. Where the path started I created a grassy knoll from the turf I dug up from the field and planted bluebell bulbs into it. Having created the knoll I began to landscape around it, digging up the roots of brambles and nettles and transplanting wild sedges from other parts of the wood. This process encouraged me to accentuate the small hills and valleys in the existing topography. Once the rains began in late October puddles began to form in the area I was digging as the water table intersected the surface. I knew I had to dig another pond so I am finishing the year as I started it  – digging a pond!