Discover treasures found in an old wood through the seasons

The Wood: The Life and Times of Cockshutt Wood is an enchanting book written by woodland manager, John Lewis-Stempel, during his last year looking after this delightful habitat in the south-west of Hertfordshire.

Having managed this three and a half acre deciduous and coniferous woodland for four years, John built a wonderful relationship with the trees, wildlife, animals and birds, following in the footsteps of his paternal great-grandfather who was the 'reeve' or manager of a woodland at Aconbury, just over the hill.

There is a short introduction which identifies Cockshutt Wood as a special sanctuary and last refuge for many fauna and flora in the area. It was also a sanctuary for John who tended to the woodland on a daily basis through the seasons. Authentic old woodlands are described as 'fortresses of nature against the tide of people and agri-business' and learning how such places are managed and protected without disturbing the natural balance of things is truly inspiring.

The book is written like a diary with entries for each day of the year leading up to John's last day. A holiday was forsaken this particular year, as John says: 'I did not miss a day of being with my wood.'

Starting in December, the reader is immediately introduced to a myriad of plants, birds, wild animals and trees which bring back fragmented memories of spending time in woodlands as a child. Each aspect of the wood and its inhabitants is explained in the context of the particular day in question, and in terms of what needed to be done and what the weather was doing. You can see how things change through the months and seasons, and discover what it might be like to live in such a place or what you might expect to see if you spent time there.

As much as I love walking, it's true that you see the most interesting things when you find somewhere to sit still and take in the environment around you for a while. It is a treat for the soul and generally very good for us to be able to sit still and observe things quietly. This is when you really start to take in and understand wildlife, birds and animals as they go about their daily routines. Its a wonderful opportunity to let nature show us something of her world and I find the effect is very calming and enlightening.

John has a plastic seat for exactly such observations near the secluded pond deep in the wood. It's a place where he can absorb what is going on around him, learning new things by watching closely what is going on at any particular time and thinking about what needs to be done.

The book is full of fascinating factual information such as woodland terminology, how to age trees and how they grow, what to forage with delicious recipes, old Herefordshire names for living things and traditional woodland poems. John knows and shares information about the trees, animals, birds, domestic animals, wildlife and ways of the wood like no one else can. It is an absolute delight for this reason, greatly enhanced by the love felt for this special place and the fact that after spending so much time there, it was no longer about owning anything or being in charge, it was about living in harmony with nature and being a part of the natural rhythm of life.

This book is not only a lovely story with many endearing characters, it is also a reference book and a tribute to a beautiful connection made with the natural world - one to be always treasured and never forgotten.

Sue Cartwright

Spiral Leaf

Buy the book!

Purchase a copy of this treasure trove of a book by following the affiliate link to the Spiral Leaf bookshop below.

The Wood: The Life and Times of Cockshutt Wood