Josie Travels

Wildwood

The Sentinel | The woods near my parents’ house is where I spent a lot of my childhood. We used to play on the rope swing and paddle in the river. When I enter the woods, the first tree I always notice is this moss-covered oak, standing strong and ancient, surrounded by his brothers. He is the sentinel of this place, guarding the woods and protecting the people who enter. He always makes me feel welcome and it is comforting to know he will be standing there long after I have fallen.
Growth | Trees with smooth bark, such as the beech, make it hard for insects and ivy to take hold, but the tree must grow slowly, and it takes longer to heal any injuries. Trees with rough bark, like the oak, grow much faster which causes the bark to wrinkle and crack. This means the tree is susceptible to damage and it will have to spend more energy to protect itself. Growing up with trauma meant growing up quickly, there are cracks that cannot be healed, and it takes a lot of energy to maintain this tough exterior.
Resilience | “Green is what is left when ardor fades, when passion dies, when we die too”. Eco anxiety is rife, with more bad news than good most days. Living in Cornwall means being surrounded by nature that is well looked after, often protected, and it is easy to forget what we are doing to the planet. It is important to remember, as I walk through the small pockets of ancient woodland that are left, that nature is resilient, and she will prevail.
Reflection | Here is the moment that changed this portfolio. I was still trying to focus on trees and their folklore, but the reflection in the stream caught my eye. It made me realise that instead of trying to create something fake, I should focus on what I know. My struggles are a part of my life, what better way to channel it than with my photography? This image is a visual representation of how I feel most days – calm on the surface, turbulent underneath, reflecting an image that is almost normal, but not quite.
Winter Blossom | It seems that a lot of people struggle during the winter months, fed up with the dreary weather and the shorter days, but winter is when I thrive. Wrapped up warm, the air clear and crisp, each sunny day feels like a fresh start. Walking through the woods, I catch a glimpse of white within the green and brown. It’s the end of November, months after the bramble is supposed to bloom, and here is a delicate flower amongst the thorns.
Koru | In Māori tradition, ferns represent strength, stubborn resistance and enduring power. The koru – a spiral symbol of an unfurling fern frond – symbolises perpetual movement and a return to the point of origin. Ferns are prevalent in the woods here, and each one embodies the spirit of new beginnings and spiritual growth, a gentle reminder of where I have been, where I am going, and what I must look forward to. My life has been changing a lot recently, but the journey is not yet over.
Ethereal | While I was travelling, I tried to get off the beaten path in search of
something special, away from other people, like a secret meant only for me. It’s the same in the woods, there are magical moments hidden away if you make the effort to look. This porcelain fungus was clinging onto a fallen beech tree, its white gills backlit by the winter sky, ethereal in its beauty, as if from a fairytale.
Togetherness | Sulphur tufts, also known as clustered woodlovers, are a common woodland fungus that grow from dead, rotting wood. They are soft and delicate, but bitter and poisonous. Anyone struggling with their mental health will know the feeling of toxic thoughts covered up with a smile, and how important it is to surround yourself with positivity. We all suffer in our own way, but we don’t have to suffer alone. I’m grateful for the forest that calms my thoughts and soothes my soul, and for the people who support me through it all.
Changing Seasons | “And all the lives we ever lived and all the lives to be are full of trees and changing leaves”. As winter approaches, trees prepare themselves by restricting water to the leaves, exposing the hidden pigments, and creating a splash of colour before falling off and decomposing. Change is inevitable, and it is something we should learn to embrace. Everything always works out in the end, and if it isn’t working out, then it must not be the end.

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