Heart of the Forest

I love black and white photos and this has to be one of my favourites. Mainly because I love taking pictures of trees. I think that they are so beautiful; you get short ones, tall ones, big ones and small ones. No matter what size, shape or colour I absolutely love taking pictures of trees.

I took this photo on the last part of my day in Hartfield. For any of you that don’t know I love Winnie the Pooh, I grew up with him and to this day think it is one of the greatest children’s stories ever told. The expansion of the beloved bear over the years has increased so much and is now known by all. On mugs, t-shirts, toys, puzzles, books and even cutlery. This cute yellow bear is everywhere. Even his quotes along with Christopher Robin’s are known all over. They mean so much with just a few words, Pooh’s simple yet profound sayings have stolen my heart, they have made me cry and laugh as well as making me feel warmth and love.

“If there ever comes a day where we can’t be together. Keep me in your heart and I will stay there forever” - Is one of my favourites from Winnie the Pooh and is one that has a special place in my heart; it always has since I heard it, since it was said and always will.

This is where my journey began, a family trip to Pooh Corner and the hundred acre woods in the beautiful Hartfield. Seeing all of the natural beauty while buying some pooh gifts of course was one of the best trips I had been on. I loved it, walking past Roo’s sandy pit, through the hundred acre woods and even playing Pooh sticks on Pooh bridge made my heart feel warm. All the pictures I had seen in books, films and even read about, I was finally at the same place where many had walked before me.

I couldn’t take enough photos of the entire hundred acre woods, stopping at every chance I got to take a photo of a tree, a sign, a bench; I just wanted to capture all of the history and beauty within a picture. Once we had nearly seen everything we headed up a huge hill, past Eeyore’s gloomy place and after a short walk we reached the top of the hill. A beautiful sight stood before me, not just a plaque remembering the history but the perfect landscape full of trees, houses, remarkable buildings and blue skies. I sat there in silence for what felt like forever just listening to the sound of silence, the cool air on my cheeks and the warmth in my heart.

After taking several pictures to commemorate the adventure we headed back down the hill, passing through Eeyore’s gloomy place, the tall trees around me with the sunlight peering through with every step I took. In and out of the trees I moved, casually placing my hand on them. I know it sounds silly and some people say that trees can talk, and I think if you stand in the heart of a forest, close your eyes and just breathe you will understand what everyone means, I know I do. It’s the most beautiful, peaceful and tranquil moment of any adventure.

This is where this photo was taken, in amongst the tall trees, the sunlight passing behind me and the leaves blowing in the wind, I took my camera out and took over 30 photos of the same forest, but sometimes by removing the colour you add the meaning, it made the bark stand out, the grass, the branches, the lines of trees in one forest, it made them all pop more, but to me this photo will always remind me of one of my favourite places and favourite adventures, a day with family, a day of memories, this is the one that stole my heart. In the heart of the forest.