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The bling bling tree

2/10/2014

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Isn't it funny how in fairy tales it's all about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, or the golden goose crawling out of the beanstalk? It's all about the bling ba-bling or the prince with the ching cha-ching. And they all live happily ever after... 

       Or do they? Popstar wisdom (Jessie J) says: "Money can't buy us happiness". What's more she rocks out: "We just wanna make the world dance, forget about the price tag" which, as it goes, makes me cry every time I hear it. "Wet! I hear the musos shouting. But come on... You gotta love the thought of the entire world dancing, humans plants and all. 

This week, I wanted to make a little corner of our earth dance. I wanted to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the revolutionary Wilderness Act, which set a standard worldwide for protecting our wild spaces. Introducing the kids to the idea went a little like this:

Bobby: "What are we doing after school today mama?" 
Me: "We're going to make the world dance. We're going to go hug some trees."
Bobby: "Why would we do that?"
Me: "It's good for your health.  It's now been scientifically proven."
Bobby: "Awesome. Can it make you like live longer?"
Me: "Yeah. It can actually."
Minu: "Can I bring my scooter?"

After school we headed to our local park and looked for the most huggable tree. Bobby chose a big fat one covered in gnarly bark, all old and proud like a grandpa. Minu meanwhile chose a wispy, slender one, that was softer to the touch and easier to wrap herself round. Annie refused completely at first, but once she got the hang of it she wouldn't stop, hugging every tree she passed along the way: "Mama, this one uggy, that one uggy..." The next day, I wanted to know what the kids had got out of it:

Me: "Hey guys, what did hugging the tree feel like for you?"
Bobby: "It felt like I was being paid."
Me: "Paid? What do you mean paid?"
Bobby: "I felt rich. I gave love to the tree and the tree gave love back to me."

Need more persuading? You don't have to be a hippie to hug a tree. You just got to wanna make the world dance. 

What you need:
  • A tree

Top tip: Just like with a fusty old aunt the kids don't dig, they may not connect to the first tree they hug, while the next one may have their name all over it. 
Top quote: “A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognised as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammelled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” The Wilderness Act, 1964

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Smooch
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Leaning in... Bobby teaches Jared Leto (see below) how to hug a tree
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#Jaredhugginleto Here's one who knows how to let go. Tree bliss.
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Bearhug
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CoolAid. Research shows that Australia's koalas cope with heat by leaning against cooler tree trunks.
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Making the world dance: In June, on World Environment Day, more than 2000 people gathered in Nepal's capital to attempt the world record for the biggest tree hug.
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Tree Fall, Andy Goldsworthy, 2013. Let's face it, trees are inspiring: Good for your health, good for the creative juices, good all round. Go and hug one.
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Wood Line, Andy Goldsworthy, 2011



More wild ideas:

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Painting with plants
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Cracking the creek
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The most awesomest thing
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If Richard Long can, so can we

22/7/2014

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Got no paint, paper or pens to hand but desperate to entertain the kids creatively? Look no further than your back garden or nearest park.

Inspired by Richard Long and Andy Goldsworthy's beautiful land art, we set off recently while on holiday in Italy, to hunt for natural elements to create an art work with. As let's face it, there comes a time when even the kids have had enough of the pool and need a new distraction. On our stroll Bobby and Minu collected olives, pine needles, bark, other dried plants and a few rocks. Bobby knew immediately what he wanted to do and set to work. 

You don't have to be in Italy to create land art. You can do it wherever you are, with whatever you have around you. Just use what you can find when you next go for a walk. It depends a bit on the season and on your location what you can get, but there's always something... Some suggestions of what you could use:

  • Leaves in the autumn
  • Pine cones
  • Acorns
  • Rocks, pebbles
  • Shells
  • Sand
  • Sticks
  • Flowers
  • Snow
  • Ice
  • Water

Below some pics of the kids gathering material, and then some examples of how the big boys do it.

Top tip: Everything that is of a natural origin can be used. No matter how dry, small, wet or muddy.
Top quote: "A work of art can be a journey." Richard Long
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Minu gathering olives
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Bobby's finished masterpiece.

And here's how Andy Goldsworthy and Richard Long do it...

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Green to yellow leaves, Andy Goldsworthy
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Leaves in a circle, Andy Goldsworthy
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Walking and Marking, Richard Long
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A circle in the Andes, Richard Long
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    Author

    Anne-Celine Jaeger is a journalist, author and mother of three based in London. This blog is about about tapping into the adventurous, innocent, magical spirit in every child, not caring about dirty hands, mucky feet, tangled hair or muddy knees. It's about running wild in nature. It's about smelling, feeling, touching, hearing and tasting the great outdoors. It's about being free.

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