Hello everyone, this is Bláthniad on Day 7 of 30 Days Wild! Today I wrote a wee story about why I love climbing trees. I hope you like it!

Climb trees to another world 

When I was really little, I wanted to be up high, to be up with the birds and the sky. I wanted to make a daisy crown and be Queen of the Trees, and I did. I felt like I was in a wonderland of dreams and it felt amazing.

 As I grew I climbed higher and higher. 

I climb up a giant snake when I’m in a tree. I fight dragons when I’m in a tree. I ride a unicorn when I’m in a tree. I  climb mountains when I’m in a tree. I’m an adventurous explorer when I’m in a tree. I’ve actually discovered new species in a tree, but shush don’t tell anyone. I’m saving them for when I’m older and a real life insect expert.

 

I travel through the jungle when I’m in a tree. My best friends join me when I I’m in a tree.

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I dream when I’m in a tree. I dream of talking ladybirds, dancing Kestrels and raindrops that taste like chocolate.

I like to make things from bits of trees, branches that the ground has left for me to use. They were all shouting. Pick me. Pick me!

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To feel moss, lichen and the bark is like feeling my own heart beat. If I could melt into the tree to find out its secrets, I would. Oh, but wait. I do know!!

Thank you very much for reading and thank you to my mum for the photos and for typing out my words really fast!

Bláthnaid McAnulty aged 7

This is Dara! I am amazed by what my sister has just created. It would make a great picture book!! It’s interesting because today I was reading the ‘Childish’ chapter in ‘Landmarks’ by Robert McFarlane. This passage came to mind:

‘To young children…nature is nothing but doors, really – and they swing open at every step. A hollow in a tree is a gateway to a castle. An ant hole in dry soil leads to the other side of the world. A stick-den is a palace. A puddle is a portal to an undersea realm…’ Later in this chapter McFarlane writes about the decrease in nature based activity, the increase in screen time and the disconnection between children and nature/landscape. I feel it so much too but I hope that Bláthnaid’s world will bring a little hope; that my parents allow us to create, to dream, to explore and to use just a wee bit of screen time to share our joy with others; that the magic is still around

Dara