Seasonal Offerings, Shenley Wood

Ever since I found a collection of strange carvings etched deep into the bark of the trees here, I’ve always found Shenley Wood a little eerie. There’s something about walking the deeper pathways of this dark ancient wood that can make you forget you’re only moments away from the city – it feels like a world apart. The road noise quickly fades away and you’re left with just birdsong and the incessant sighing of branches – and in today’s high winds, those sighs were accompanied by the occasional creaking moan overhead. Mindful of the danger from falling limbs, I decided not linger on my walk or venture onto those deep inner paths, but instead took the paved circular route that runs just inside the wood.

There, I found something rather strange. When I came to the first collection of tiny bright red apples arranged on a mossy tree stump, it made me smile – the contrast of red and green made me think of Christmas, even though that’s still a good few weeks away. However, when I carried on round and came across a second arrangement, then a third, and finally a single perfect apple perched enticingly on a bench, these offerings started to seem more intriguing and almost had a fairy tale quality to them. Had I stumbled across a folk ritual, a gathering together of autumnal bounty for some unknown purpose? Who else was following this enticing path? I checked there was no-one behind me but I was, as usual, completely alone. I wondered what might have happened to me if I’d taken a seat on the bench, and ate that shiny little apple… The rain grew heavier as I hurried away towards the exit, glad that I’d only taken photographs and not disturbed any of the little collections. As I pulled up my hood and headed back the way I’d come, I crossed my fingers and fervently hoped there was no unseen woodland entity behind, planning to follow me home.