Rewild Reflections Winter 2021 from Charis
I started working at the Rewild Project just a few weeks ago at the beginning of November 2021. I only work 5 hours a week, but in that short time I have seen so much extraordinary hard work, valuable reflective practice and positive determination to overcome some difficult and challenging times.
As we approach the Winter Solstice - the shortest day and the longest night of the year, the forest is cold. The howling wind sways the bare tree branches, frost covered leaves crunch underfoot and darkness takes hold… but it is one of my favourite times of the year. I like seeing the strength of the wild nature around us and the transformation that follows. Each year, I learn something new.
The Rewild Project really lives up to its name and I can’t help but compare my experience of the project with the changing seasons. The project seems to have grown so much this year and with that growth, challenges have arisen. Just like the forest, there is a wild nature within us. The Rewild Project brings us back to that; reminding us of our authentic selves, bringing out our passions and connecting us back to nature. It is not always easy, just as it is not always a calm sunny day in the forest, but I feel that is the point.
I am truly inspired by the community spirit, creativity and connection that the Rewild Project is bringing to so many lives. From the Winter Solstice onwards, the nights will get shorter and the light will gradually return. It feels a long way from springtime when the days get warmer and the first buds emerge, but I have no doubt that the Rewild community will continue to reflect the strength of the beautiful nature around us… and what a heart warming reflection that is.
