On Saturday evening we got hit by an unexpected thunder storm (not sure how the Met Service missed such a huge storm front?) which brought us a huge amount of rain and high winds. This storm brought intense rainfall, and with it several large land slips across our property. One of the most unexpected was through a native bush area that’s around 80 years of regrowth — an area that felt established, protected, and resilient. Tree roots play a vital role in land stability. They knit soil together, anchor slopes, slow the movement of water, and create underground networks that support entire ecosystems. Forests are one of nature’s most effective tools for preventing erosion. And yet — even 80 years is still very young in the life of a forest. Many of these trees are only just developing deeper structural roots. The soil layers beneath them are still settling, still learning how to hold water, still responding to extreme weather events that seem to becoming more frequent, intense, unseasonal. This doesn’t mean the system has failed. It means regeneration is not a finish line — it’s a process. Where the land has slipped, light has now entered. And light is an invitation. Pioneer species will arrive. Fast growers, soil binders, nitrogen fixers, ground covers. Fungi will follow. Insects. Birds. Over time, complexity will rebuild — often stronger, more diverse, and more resilient than before. For us, this becomes another living classroom. Another place to observe natural succession. Another reminder that nature doesn’t rush — and doesn’t waste disturbance. Regeneration isn’t about avoiding distribution. It's about ’s about how life responds after it. And life always responds. 🌿 ...And in the meantime we will respond with trying to figure out how to fix one of our main access ways!

Once you get to level 2 (that's super easy, just write or comment on a couple of posts) the 10 week nature journey course will open up for you. It is a gentle introduction back to nature, presence, and yourself. Many people want to feel more connected to nature but don’t know where to start. This 10-week journey guides you step-by-step — from your very first slow forest walk to a confident, meaningful solo Tree Medicine experience. Each week includes one simple activity you can do anywhere there are trees. No experience needed. I will add a new folder each week - Week 1 is up now. Enjoy, and please comment here or DM me if you have any questions about it.

...And why planting even one tree creates a ripple far bigger than we realise. 🌳 When people ask why we focus so much on trees for land regeneration, the answer is beautifully simple: ✨ Trees are one of the most powerful forces of healing on the planet — above and below the ground. 🌿 What trees do above the ground 🌿 - Clean and filter the air - Bring shade, shelter, and cooler microclimates - Slow strong winds and soften harsh environments - Provide food, nectar, and habitat for birds, insects, and wildlife - Shape how water flows across the land, preventing erosion and flooding - A healthy tree changes the entire feel of a landscape — you can sense it. 🌱 What trees do below the ground 🌱 This is where the quiet magic happens, their roots: - Hold soil together - Create channels for water to move - Feed whole networks of fungi and microbes - Pull down and store carbon - Support surrounding plants by sharing nutrients and moisture Underground, a tree becomes a hub of life — a living support system for everything around it. 🌏 Why we use trees to regenerate land 🌏 Because they don’t just “grow.” They restore. They stabilise. They invite biodiversity back in. As each tree matures, the land becomes healthier, the waterways clearer, and the wildlife more abundant. Over time, one tree becomes a grove… a grove becomes a forest… and a forest becomes a thriving ecosystem. 💚 The impact of one single tree 💚 It might seem small, but one tree: - Stores carbon - Feeds birds - Builds soil - Expands habitat - Grows shade - Creates beauty - Adds to a legacy you can literally stand beneath 🌳 Every tree is a beginning 🌳 A promise 🌳 A quiet act of regeneration. 🌱 A gentle call to action: If you’ve ever wondered whether your contribution matters — it does. One tree planted today will still be giving back long after we’re gone. 🌳 Planting a single tree is one of the simplest ways to help heal the earth — and yourself. 🌳 If you feel called, you can upgrade your plan, we'll plant your tree (and send you a video and info all about it) and you can be part of this growing legacy.

One unexpectedly good thing about being stuck on the couch while my ankle heals is that I finally had the spaciousness to study properly — and… I just completed my final exam and received my Certificate in Sylvotherapy! It feels like such a beautiful weaving of everything I already do here at Khemeia Valley — the land work, the energy work, the intuitive guidance, the tree medicine. Now I get to bring all of this together in a more intentional way for you. 🌿 What is Sylvotherapy (the simple version)? Sylvotherapy is the practice of reconnecting humans with the healing intelligence of the forest.It’s about slowing down enough to feel, breathe, and attune to the trees — letting their chemistry, their presence, and their calm shift your nervous system back into balance. Think of it as:✨ science + nature + energy + deep remembering✨ a guided way to come back into your body and your senses✨ letting the forest show you what you need, without forcing anything. I’m very excited to start creating these sessions. Once I'm back walking through the forest again I will open these sessions up. Have you ever been on a forest bathing walk?

Today as I headed down to our latest planting site, I was reminded that land regeneration isn’t just about planting native trees. While most of what we plant is native, there are moments and spaces on the whenua that call for something different — introduced species that bring their own unique functions, beauty, medicine, and different kind of energies to the landscape. Regeneration isn’t one-size-fits-all… it’s a living relationship with place and people.