Almost a week ago, I was sitting hugging my kids in the ambient light of Allendale Village Hall in Northumberland, listening to the wondrous Karine Polwart performing at the Allen Valleys Folk Festival, before heading over the North Pennines with my daughters to splash in puddles and scurry up and down muddy banks for fun.
Thank you for this, Gill. I, too, have grappled with what our collective response to the felling of this tree says about us and our respect for the natural world given all the other things going on that we wilfully turn a blind eye to daily. I'm sharing a piece related to this tomorrow and can see so many echoes in this. We are thinking and processing in real time, aren't we?
Why did a teenage boy destroy such a beautiful tree? I feel that your quote says it very well: 'The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth’.
When I was that age and living in a poor area, (70s) I saw frequent vandalism from boys who had no meaning in their life, were at an age where they wanted independence but had no idea how to achieve that. Destroying something that would get them noticed was the easiest option for them to feel important (to themselves.) Of course I could be wrong but this was my first thought. :)
Anyway after that serious comment, I love your beautiful pictures Gill! x
Well met here on Substack!! I'm part of the Allen Valleys Folk Festival committee and contacted you about your glorious picture. Hope to meet you today in person at Alnwick Story Fest
Thank you for your beautiful words Gillian. I was also at the Allen Valleys Folk Festival last weekend and found it magical! To find out about the Sycamore Gap Tree a few days later was truly heartbreaking. My thoughts on it ended up being my first Substack post, totally unplanned but I felt I had to write something. Sending love and light your way x
Gillian, Thank you for this. I actually cannot read this whole post yet - it makes my heart hurt - and I have never seen The Tree - but I feel the sadness and the life force deeply enough as an earthly being across the ocean. I will read soon but thank you for sending this out and sharing your words and art - they can help the healing. x
Thank you for this, Gill. I, too, have grappled with what our collective response to the felling of this tree says about us and our respect for the natural world given all the other things going on that we wilfully turn a blind eye to daily. I'm sharing a piece related to this tomorrow and can see so many echoes in this. We are thinking and processing in real time, aren't we?
Why did a teenage boy destroy such a beautiful tree? I feel that your quote says it very well: 'The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth’.
When I was that age and living in a poor area, (70s) I saw frequent vandalism from boys who had no meaning in their life, were at an age where they wanted independence but had no idea how to achieve that. Destroying something that would get them noticed was the easiest option for them to feel important (to themselves.) Of course I could be wrong but this was my first thought. :)
Anyway after that serious comment, I love your beautiful pictures Gill! x
Thankyou for writing and finding the words I couldn’t. ✨🌳🥲
Well met here on Substack!! I'm part of the Allen Valleys Folk Festival committee and contacted you about your glorious picture. Hope to meet you today in person at Alnwick Story Fest
Ooo great Sue! I’ll be at Claire, Sharon and Caro’s events… rainbow beaded necklace and tired looking face 😂 do say hello x
I was so sad when I heard about your beautiful sycamore. 💔
I live in the states, but have listened to spell songs obsessively since first finding the lost words at our local library. 🩷
Thank you for your beautiful words Gillian. I was also at the Allen Valleys Folk Festival last weekend and found it magical! To find out about the Sycamore Gap Tree a few days later was truly heartbreaking. My thoughts on it ended up being my first Substack post, totally unplanned but I felt I had to write something. Sending love and light your way x
Thanks for your stubborn hope and your ongoing invitations to wonder and story ❤️
Gillian, Thank you for this. I actually cannot read this whole post yet - it makes my heart hurt - and I have never seen The Tree - but I feel the sadness and the life force deeply enough as an earthly being across the ocean. I will read soon but thank you for sending this out and sharing your words and art - they can help the healing. x