Birth of a Nemeton (Photo Heavy)

It's hard to tell from these photo's, but the ground underneath this thick growth of ferns was littered with fallen dead trees.  But I knew this was the perfect place for my Sacred Space/Grove/Nemeton.  To be honest, it's even better than the first site I had chosen--it's more open and shaded, and there always seems to be a constant air current moving through the trees that keeps the area nice and cool.

Sacred Space - Before Photo

Living Maple Tree Arch

Before

Before

Nature/Land Spirits Shrine

 I started work on Wednesday, July 23rd clearing the trail leading west from the Nature/Land Spirits Shrine to the top of a short "hill". The trail would eventually curve to the right and continue north on my property. 

Beginning of Trail

Up the hill

Almost to the top

 The top of the hill is where I stopped working for the night.  Looking through all those trees and brush, I tried not to get discouraged by all the work that still needed to be done.

**The leaning Poplar tree in the background is right behind my Maple Tree Arch and gives some perspective on distance**

This little Red Squirrel kept me company as well as entertained with his constant scolding for having invaded his space. 

What started out late Saturday morning as just a "work on the trail project", morphed into clearing out the entire area as well.  I was out there for close to six hours and with just an axe, saw, plant pruner, and good old-fashioned muscle, I was able to get so much accomplished in that time.  I lined the trail with some of the small trees I cleared out of the woods and created a border around the Nemeton with some bigger trees as well.  It's far from perfect and there is a great deal of work still left to do, but I made a huge dent.  

Trail heading to top of hill

Around the curve - trail headed north to Nemeton

Tree lined west border of Nemeton

That large downed tree in the foreground was too heavy to move by myself, so a chainsaw will cut it in two and it will become part of the border on the east side of the Nemeton

Southwest Corner of Nemeton

I removed a dozen or so rotting tree stumps and cut out the ferns one-by-one with my pruner.  I loaded them all up in my wheelbarrow and fed them to my chickens who go absolutely nuts over them. 

Debris pile

View looking south from Tree Arch

Trail leading away from Nemeton

Leaning Poplar Tree (it just grew that way)