Daria Kot - Reconnect with Nature

Our early morning walk today showed how the recent drought has brought signs of early autumn. I used to hate autumn and winter — the end of August always felt sad, knowing summer was slipping away. I never liked long, dark evenings.
But over the last two years something has shifted. I’ve started feeling excited about mushroom season, and I’ve found real pleasure in walking in the dark when there are no people around.
I realised the world is so dynamic — no day, month, or year is ever the same. Time flies so fast that there’s no point wasting it on sadness; it always passes. I have no idea how the dry weather will affect mushrooms this year, but I feel genuinely excited to see the leaves falling, changing colours, and to look for mushrooms beneath them.I’m excited about quiet walks in the darkness, without groups of youngsters or screaming children around. I never thought I would say this. And I’m truly looking forward to running my first mushroom walk on 18 October.

Standing beside this giant at Aira Force Gardens feels unreal — its 6.77 m girth makes it one of the Lake District’s most impressive trees.

But here’s the real UK tree royalty:

Widest tree → The Marton Oak in Cheshire, a massive 14.02 m

Tallest tree → A 69 m Douglas fir in Reelig Glen, Scotland

Oldest tree → The Fortingall Yew, possibly up to 5,000 years old

Even if it’s not the widest, the Aira Force tree is still a breathtaking reminder of how powerful and ancient nature can be. 🌿✨