Amma's Woodland in Ireland

Sunday was our first step towards developing GreenFriends ™ Amma Woodland project; the day was really wonderful in many different ways, and great fun as well.
We'd rescheduled the full 'Weekend in the Woods' for later in the year, and had opted instead for a smaller one-day gathering, so that GreenFriends and John (who's offered to make his land and skills available for the project) could meet and get to know each other a little first.
John's welcome couldn't have been warmer or kinder; we were all completely at home in no time, sharing our knowledge of trees and nature, and learning so much from John's great experience with planting woodland, caring for trees, and even building his timber-frame house - a feat he insists is easily achievable without heavy machinery or big financial outlay.

John took us through the extensive woodland he has planted over the past 12 years, in an area one participant described as "John's 'Heaven'"; the area is incredibly peaceful and beautiful. It's wonderful to see the native trees allowed to flourish in such a natural, unspoilt environment, and to study the rich and varied plant and animal life that is supported in such an environment.

We got in some practice in maintenance of small trees: this is great fun and involves 'dancing' round the sapings in order to flatten grasses and weeds so that the young trees have adequate access to light and can thrive.

We visited an ancient well on the land and drank the fresh, cool water: the spring appears on maps of the area dating back to the 1600s.

We 'hugged' a huge old Monterey Pine, several hundred years old: not a native variety, but probably planted as a 'specimen' tree by landowners in the 1700s.

We spent time near a big old oak which, though it had fallen many years ago, had simply continued growing from the few roots that remained in the soil, with branches transforming themselves into 'trunks', and we saw what a vast range of other plant life a tree can support.

We shared a delicious lunch, including John's fresh-from-the-oven bread.

We'd brought harmomium and a drum, and had a lovely satsang to close the day, dedicating the project and our efforts to Amma and Mother Nature.

Next time, we'll be learning more about tree care and planting, planning where Amma's Woodland will be, and we'll do our first planting when the trees are fully dormant, as that's the best time to plant: November to February.

Everyone is welcome to get involved in the Amma Woodland project.

Contact us at greenfriends@ammaireland.org or phone/text 0857471483