Open Gates Outdoors

It seems I am not the only person who enjoys reflecting on trees. I really enjoyed these two radio programmes on trees, both very short, the first one 8 minutes and the second one 3 minutes.  This one (the first in a series of twelve BBC podcasts on trees from 1992) which explains how in many cultures the tree is a comforting metaphor for the passage of life. The science, art and sometimes veneration of trees I also enjoyed this one which was today’s Thought for the Day on Radio 4’s Today programme  Thought for the day 30.6.23 George 

My spontaneous tree hugging session with my daughter at the weekend got me reflecting on the status of trees and why they are worthy of a hug. It’s not hard to think of examples of sacred trees from myth or history; the Royal Oak used as a refuge by Charles 1, the Major Oak in Clumber Park home of Robin Hood to name just two.  Famous tree worshippers include non other than King Charles III who in November 2019 revealed he shook hands with every tree he planted and wished it well ( King Charles III ). Julia “Butterfly” Hill who lived 61 metres up in a Giant Redwood in California for over two years between 1997 and 1999 ( Julia Butterfly Hill ). And then of course there is Daniel Hooper aka “Swampy” who occupied a tree he named “the Beancan” in Aylesbury in 2000 to protest about HS2 ( swampy ).  I’ve never thought of myself as a tree worshipper but on reflection I think I am. I worship the Common Lime tree outside my bedroom window. I worship the Silver  Birch Tree my ...

 ....so said Handel in his oratorio The Messiah! Whether or not that is the case we can't deny that sheep are an ever present conspicuous feature of the countryside and we all have our opinions on them. My recent fb and instagram post on the Open Gates Outdoors feeds showing a photo of a particularly mangey looking sheep near Strines made me reflect more deeply on sheep.  For me, on the plus side sheep create sheep trods which make running across rough ground easier and quicker but on the negative side I am told they spread ticks. Where do the sheep in the Peak District come from and do they have a positive or negative impact on the environment? The second question is a moot and divisive point so I don't intend to come down on one side or the other but to merely highlight an argument for each side. From what I can make out from some initial research there are two predominant breeds of sheep in the peak district - except for in Chatsworth which, as you might expect, is a little...

Hello! It occurred to me that the best way to keep our website current and make sure it includes the very latest news and reflections of Open Gates Outdoors would be to include a blog spot. So here it is. It’s my first attempt at a Blog so please feel free to get in touch and give me your thoughts… I can’t promise to blog every day but will aim to once a week. My intention  is to develop themes of our Facebook and Instagram posts to include a bit more detail. This might be on amusing experiences in the outdoors, issues to do with the outdoors generally or more specifically to do with widening participation in the outdoors, or observations and discoveries relating to natural or man made features of the outdoors.  Watch this space….. George PS first proper blog to appear here later today relating to sheep!! Don’t miss it…..🐏🐑😀