Ancient Wood of Drum

Walked Dusty in the Ancient Wood of Drum (Castle) this morning. It was a little misty, but not cold. As we approached the castle, there were twigs and branches woven into interlocking circles hanging from some of the ancient oak trees. 

It is nearly autumn, and the fungi are in evidence. Toadstools and mushrooms of vibrant, heady colours push up from the damp soil. Weird carbuncles jut out of the sides of tree trunks. 

A sign heralded ‘Giants in the Woods’. I thought it would refer to the size of the trees but no, it advised that there were various man-made reproductions of giants lurking in the forest.

Didn’t really require much imagination to label this an enchanted forest. 

Dusty was delighted to be on a different walk, and though we’ve been there before, we’ve not been there for awhile. Yet she remembered the half-hidden path through the ferns (bracken) which sprouted nearly three feet high, which led to a pool of water.

A stagnant pool of water, we discovered, covered with algae and reeking. I kept her in the fast flowing stream that fed it. 

This ancient wood, adjacent to Drum Castle, used to be the royal hunting grounds. Some of the trees were probably saplings when kings and princes rode out on their steeds to shoot deer (or people!). Drum Castle’s keep has stood there since the twelfth century, and many a siege has surrounded it over the years. 

Perhaps some might think of ghosts in these woods. Of fairies and giants and elves. But when I looked at those magnificent old oaks, majestically stretching their branches, the leaves starting to yellow as autumn approaches, I just give the glory to God. 

What a God we have! His creation is astonishing. The beauty is undeniable in this place. What a shame that we humans so often not only don’t see it, but in our hubris and greed we so often 

desecrate it. 

God forgive us.