Before you walk | Ranger Cadets guided walking trail
Just a few suggestions, if I may, before you begin this walk.
When I'm in the countryside there are two Apps I love to use. One tells me about the flowers, plants and trees I can see. The other about the birds I can hear.
They are Flora Incognita for the flowers and trees.
And Merlin for the birds.
You can get each of these as an App for your phone, whether you have an Iphone or an Android.
Boths Apps are free. They add loads to my enjoyment, when I'm walking in the countryside.
Why not give them a try!
Another nice thing to do when walking in the countryside is to keep your curiosity active. As you walk, take an interest in everything around, and see if you can come up with questions to wonder about.
Now a final thought on how to walk, from an artist and Tai Chi expert. Who also happens to be my son.
Slow down and look around you, he tells me when we're out for a walk. 'It's not a race, Dad.'
It's good advice. I often rush from one task to another, head full of what needs to be done next.
Let's try it his way on this walk. Look down the valley, at Hill View Farm and its many woods, some well-established, others young and new.
Take a deep breath and call on all your senses. Look at the landscape or the detail in a leaf. Listen to the insects buzzing and the birds singing. Draw in the scents of the flowers or the grass under your feet.
Enjoy the life of the countryside that's all around you.
