According to my nature pumped kids, I SHOULD be a whizz at identifying trees. Sure I can spot the usual English ones -oak,sycamore, horse chestnut but any more .....well I'm 'stumped'. It's not that I'm not interested, I LOVE a stomp  through the woods. But the names just don't stick.

Yesterday we went for a great walk through charnwood forest  (Leicester), much of it is centuries old with a huge variety of trees. Again, as the kids scampered through the trees, i was frustrated at myself for not knowing the ALL the names. Then we stumbled upon a 1000 yr oak tree which was so awesome. Awesome in it's size, the history it must have seen, the luminous green of the leaves. Then, I had a 'doh' moment (Homer Simpson). I realised that while tree identification IS important, it is not AS important in me recognising and being inspired by nature's rich heritage. So often i get distracted by insignificant detailsd insted of revelling in the majesty before my eyes.