All about the base

Every woods and every piece of wild has it's own baseline. This is the level of activity that the more than human world has established as “the norm”.

The baseline of a woodland is as individual and unique as the woodland it applies to.

Jon Young in “What the robin knows” mentions a case where despite being besides a railway track,the birds were undisturbed by trains going past, yet when the door of a vehicle was slammed shut, the birds exploded into alarm calls. This was due to the trains being part of the baseline yet the door slamming was not.

When we enter the woods, we will often hear a cacophony of bird song, whilst some might think how nice this is, it's actually the bird's letting each other know a new strange thing has come into their home.

The distress calls will carry further and further into the woodland in concentric rings spreading the warning deeper and deeper. All of the more than human inhabitants will know immediately and that's the last you'll see or hear of them for some time.

When I come to the woods I try to ease into them, to slowly immerse myself into the baseline and become of the woods rather than being in the woods.

The first step of this is to slowly enter, I'm not here to tick off a task on my to do list, I'm not trying to hit my step count, I'm not looking to cover miles nor am I just there to walk the dog.

I'm returning to my natural environment, I want to be part of the woodland and feel the connection I know is there. It's not a furious assault or sudden burst, I'll pause at the threshold be that a gate, a path or a space between two trees.

I'll spend some time listening and carry out a breathing exercise I learnt during Mindful Nature Guide training with Ian Banyard. This exercise is called seasonal breathing and encourages a slowing down and awareness of self ,which I have found aids the recentering from hectic monkey mind to a more calm and relaxed mindset. This enables me to become settled in mind and body as the forest adjusts to me and I adjust to the forest.

Often this breathing exercise is sufficient to slow me down and ease me into the forests baseline, however, if I am particularly over stimulated paying attention to my physical pace and gait as I walk will also aid in carrying me into the baseline.

You'll soon become aware when the woods have returned to the baseline and accepted you as part of the woods, bird song will recommence as the strange presence has been assessed as not a threat.

I've noticed that when you spend a large amount of time in the woods the baseline is not affected by your presence, the crackle of the fire doesn't affect it, a friend informs me that flint knapping doesn't disturb our more than human kin, woodsmoke doesn't trigger an alarm call. I've had deer walk into my camp area, as well as seeing more animals as I move further beyond the green wall, and immerse deeper into the baseline of the forest.

Being familiar with the baseline will enhance your experience of reconnecting with nature and becoming a part of the woods. It's not a fast, quick skill to master,but it's well worth the slow time dedicated to achieve.