Wooden Flute in G Major. 432Hz. Film 2m.29s inc credits.

Woodland Walk

20 year old trees grow in the woodland by the cabin. They were planted by Judy and Peter. Birch, oak, beech and conifers are living and breathing and helping other habitats to thrive. Squirrels and foxes dart here and there and an abundance of plants are flourishing and mushrooms maturing in the soft damp earth. On this day the wind was strong and the leaves were alive and dancing on the edge of the woodland. As I walked towards the bottom of the woodland a quiet stillness arrived in the shelter of trees.

For Jess

Wooden Flute in Fm Pentatonic. Film 2m.50s inc credits.

Pond

I followed the grassy path around the meadow where the ponies were grazing. There was an opening into some woodland and another path more textured and gnarly. The woodland was abundant with ferns. Ancient and wild. Brambles and earthy bliss. A mysterious path from a fairytale which could lead to all kinds of magical places. The path widened into a peaceful corner of the field with a pond of floating lilies.

For Lilla

Wooden Flute in G Major. 432Hz. Film 2m.50s inc credits.

Squirrel In Red

Each day a squirrel would pass by the cabin. I don’t know if it was the same one or there were many but I only ever saw one at a time. I would catch a glimpse from the corner of my eye. By the time I picked up my camera and switched it on the squirrel was gone. I set up the camera by the window and managed to catch a few cheeky moments. It helped that conkers were falling from the large horse chestnut close to the cabin.

For Jo

Wooden Flute in Fm Pentatonic. Film 2m.26s inc credits.

Tsuga Shelter

I brought my flute into the woods. I wanted to write and play a melody in the woods. It started to rain. I found a tree to shelter and wondered who I might write this melody for. My phone rang. It was my friend Guy. I was standing under a tsuga tree with my flute in one hand and my phone in the other. After we talked I sat in the shelter of the tree and wrote a melody.

For Guy

Wooden Flute in G Major. 432Hz. Film 3m.43s inc credits.

17,000 Trees

Judy and Peter have been planting trees over many years. Their latest project is a field of 17,000 trees including aspen, holly, oak, birch, hawthorn, cherry, spindle, rowan and scots pine. They designed the pathways in the field in the shape of a butterfly. The field is high up on a hill overlooking the city of Cork. These young trees of one year look so delicate and battle with the elements to survive. Not all will make it but those that do will grow to make a thriving forest.

For Judy and Peter

Wooden Flute in Fm Pentatonic. Film 2m.46s inc credits.

Woodland Rain

In the morning when I stepped out of the cabin, on the other side of the gate in a field a woodland of larch trees. Their silhouettes would stretch into the sky as the orange glow of the sun rose behind their long trunks. On this misty drizzly afternoon I took my camera and umbrella and quietly watched the rain fall and the trees stood still as a photograph.

For Chris

Wooden Flute in G Major. 432Hz. Film 3m.03s inc credits.

Flight at Dusk

As dusk falls I catch a glimpse of a fox disappearing into the woods. A bat darts above my head. Then out of sight. I love the way these creatures suddenly spring from nowhere. So silent they sprint and then vanish. I filmed the trees above the cabin as the night sky drew in. I didn’t see any more bats or foxes but they were there somewhere scurrying in the woods. Invisible beings in flight at dusk.

For Lorraine

Wooden Flute in Fm Pentatonic. Film 2m.47s inc credits.

Skylark & Jasmine

As the sky darkened I decided to take a short walk up to the field where Skylark and Jasmine, the resident ponies, were grazing. I had been a little wary of them at times and avoided crossing the field on my own as the mare was very protective of her foal. I knelt down quietly and could just make out their silhouettes in the distance. The wind sent them galloping from one corner of the field to another. Daughter following mother. So connected. Dancing in circles at dusk.

For Nikki

Wooden Flute in G Major. 432Hz. Film 3m.16s inc credits.

Upon a Dandelion

As I wandered up the hill into the butterfly field a butterfly fluttered in front of me and landed on a dandelion. I followed the butterfly as it once again took flight, landed, took flight, landed, took flight…

For James

Wooden Flute in G Major. 432Hz. Film 3m.40s inc credits.

Spindle on the Edge

Most of the trees in Garravagh are native to Ireland. In a smaller field opposite the butterfly field grow six year old trees. The pathways are in the shape of Yin Yang. On the outer edges stand the hardier trees. Scots pine, oak and birch. They will live longer and protect the smaller ornamental trees, rowans and spindles, that decorate the inside edges. It was the first time I seen spindle trees. Their pink berries illuminated the paths.

For Dan

Wooden Flute in Fm Pentatonic. Film 3m.19s inc credits.

In The Holly

Opposite the cabin on the edge of the woodland stands a large holly tree. A thick trunk with dark green glistening leaves and bright red berries. I was looking at the tree from the cabin window. It was a while before I noticed the blackbird nestling in the leaves at the centre. So tiny. Camouflaged into the darkness of the leaves. And then the flash of yellow. That fine beak of ethereal song and those bright eyes shining.

For Caroline

Wooden Flute in Fm Pentatonic. Film 3m.03s inc credits.

From The Cabin

Inside the cabin, at night, glass becomes black slate. I open the door and the moon is hidden by the clouds. The night is silent and thick as coal. I creep down to the inner edge of the woodland and turn to face the cabin. From the darkness of the woods I look up to see oblongs of warm light glowing from the cabin wrapped in a starless night. I layer birdsong from another morning. Merge images of the cabin in daylight. Shifting space. Shaping time.

For Angie

Wooden Flute in G Major. 423Hz. Film 3m.06s inc credits.

Moon at Midnight

I couldn’t sleep. The light from the moon was shining a spotlight on Garravagh. The tropical plants in the small garden at the side of the cabin were glowing. From below, looking up to the sky, the trees and plants that were normally silhouetted by the morning sun now sliced their sharp black leaves into the white moon like a Japanese print.

For Tony and Glen

Wooden Flute in G Major. 423Hz. Film 2m.53s inc credits.

Scots Pine

I help Peter remove stakes from 50 Scots Pines in the Yin Yang field. 7,000 trees were planted here six years ago. The stakes help to stop the weaker trees from falling. Now strong enough, the stakes have to be removed so the trunks won’t be damaged by the ties. We crawl under the fresh scent of pine, where tiny mushrooms are growing amongst moss and dried pine needles.

For Row