Redwood forest Tree Walk

Ying and Yang. Walk through woods, finding green spaces. I really, really love it. Finding new perspective? I’m in!

Redwood forests in New Zealand are, basically, tree fields, planted to harvest at some point. Started as monoculture as most planted “woods” do. TThis forest was planted between 100 and 150 years ago. New Zealands proud – ferns in al variations – found there way into these fields, growing well under the trees. The trees are gigantic! Quite impressive … and then, these trees are not even in puberty, agewise… The tallest tree (125 years old) here is now about 75m high, with estimat to produces enough timber to build a little more than 3 houses. At the entrance: a slide of a tree cut in down in 1952, which started to grow before the birth of Jesus. Just as a reference.

Tree walk at this place meens: walking between trees on elevated platforms and swing bridges. Not for the fainthearted. It certainly provides you with a new perspective. And: it’s not a ‘natural walk’ at all. Ying and Yang. 

I loved it! Loved the view, loved the rythm, the swings. Circades did their very best. I hardly saw or heared any birds. The closest to wild life were spider webs. (I love spider webs 🙂

Forest business, in its style, is quite a pākehā business (pākehā = not-Maori-New Zealander). In their tradition, Maori use (only) timber from fallen or gifted trees or thriftwood. 

What amazed me along the tree walk: they installed quite big wooden laterns (practical for night walks). The artist put a lot of thoughts into style and material choices. In the first place, I found it a bit odd. But certainly, when some wind came through the woods and the laterns started to swing, it gave a real spiritual sense to it. Made the rythm of nature visible, almost palpeble. Watching long enough, you might get into a kind of trance.

After finishing the tree walk, I felt the urge to walk through the trees on the ground. An ordanery walk in the forest. The further I went away from the tree walk, the denser the wood became. More diversity, more different sounds, more light and shadow. Felt spoiled.