Holywell Dene Wander: A winter wander on Sunday February 2nd
We meet at 1.50 for a 2.00pm start at the East end of Holywell Dene Road. Most people will be travelling by car north on A192 from Earsdon. As you enter Holywell from the south, turn right at Milbourne Arms into Holywell Dene Road. At east end the road will turn into a farm track. We meet here. Suggest you park either on Holywell Dene Rd or on East Grange.
Duration of walk: 2hrs on well walked footpaths with some ups and downs. We will then head to the Kings Arms in Seaton Sluice for refreshment break. We should be there for about 4.00pm if anyone wants to join us for a drink who can’t do the walk.
As Rob said in his New Year blog ‘Nature gives us a framework through our seasons that motivates us to engage with Her’ Today on the first of our seasonal walks we seek to engage with winter. We invite you to engage in a way which might not only be different but also challenging. We invite you to not only to consider what nature and God might be saying to us but also how we feel deep down about it all.
We are on a journey where there is no destination so take your time, walk slowly, stop whenever you want, engage those senses and let nature do the talking. We should by now be familiar with the interconnecting wood wide web network of roots and fungi. Consider what messages you think might be passing today through that network. What might they be saying to you and very importantly how do you feel about what they might be saying?
Winter for many people is the least enjoyable season for a woodland walk. In response to the lower temperatures and shorter days, with weaker sunlight, much of nature goes into hibernation so one might think that there is less to see. If however you look on the season as a period of recovery and preparation rather than merely biding time, how might your perspective change?
As John Burroughs said: ‘They who marvel at the beauty of the world in summer can find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter, if you look for it’.
As we walk take a few photographs to remind you of what you saw but also make a few notes/words on what you thought and felt.
See ya Sunday!
Pete and Rob
Rob Wylie is the founder of BeachcomberFX and guides its leadership team. He has worked in the North East for over 20 years and has vast experience from various roles he has held. He has a passion for Fresh Expressions of Church and Pioneer Ministry as well as beer, beaches and Miniature Schnauzers.
Comments 1
Planning to park beside the King’s Arms at Seaton Sluice then walk east through the dene to meet you. That way it means I’ll not be walking back through the dene from the King’s Arms when it’s getting dark.