Inspired by Nature is a themed Croak to entertain you with some of our favourite artwork based on nature and the outdoors. We hope it will stimulate you to get creative and produce something yourself. If you do and would like to share them with us, please post them on our Facebook page, Twitter account, or email us at info@froglife.org
This months feature has been written by Rebecca Neal our Conservation Youth Worker on the Peterborough Green Pathways project, funded by BBC Children in Need.
This is a new term for my creative writing class and one of the challenges set by my lecturer was to write a complete love story in 200 words. I really enjoy the challenge of packing a whole story into a short space and so decided to write one about a tree (obviously, when someone says write about love, I write about nature!) I use to take young people on the Green Pathways project to this tree to climb. The tree has been damaged and is not safe to go near now, in case it drops limbs. I was really sad about this and decided to collect some acorns to send to friends for Christmas and encourage them to plant them with a story. Unfortunately, the tree did not produce many acorns and I have only managed to find seven that were good enough to plant so I planted them at home. I hope these will grow and I will prolong the life of this beautiful tree through its seedlings.
Life Eternal
The tree knew love from its first moment of life. An acorn carefully placed in a warm spot, protected from hungry jays with a hollow log. The lovers returned often to where he first proposed, to ensure the tree flourished as well as their children. Its strength permeated their relationship and their vitality brought forth leaves and flowers. In their silver twilight she came to pray, and then to cry through the dark. Sometimes the offspring came again and there was energy in the sunny clearing.
Then it was forgotten.
Bees investigated, kestrels surveyed, and blue tits nested. Leaves grew and fell.
A woman led children to the clearing and they brought happiness and noise. They climbed the strong limbs and encouraged their friends. Many left with unfamiliar achievement in their heart. The woman loved the tree for its beauty and for what it bestowed. The tree seemed invincible.
But thoughtless fires by partying youths broke the skin, and the tree struggled. No more children came.
The woman still loved the tree though and returned to collect seeds. She planted them in a warm spot with her lover and protected them from hungry jays.