A-TEAM Perspectives: A Minute's Silence With Nature

Header image by Danny Easton. Images by our A-TEAM. Words by our A-TEAM and Leigh Rose.

As the heart and soul of Trash Free Trails our A-TEAM it feels only right that we celebrate our first Minute’s Silence with Nature by weaving together moments on the trails as told by those who live and breathe these places. 

The premise of a Minute Silence with Nature is a simple one; to acknowledge everything nature provides us and recognise we all have a responsibility to protect the more than human world. We felt there was no better time to do this at the exact moment that the Northern Hemisphere is most tilted towards the Sun; the Summer Solstice on June 21st at exactly 9:24am. 

It feels best to start with where folks headed. We’ve always believed that ‘trails’ are different for everyone and one person's ‘wild place’ isn’t more or less ‘wild’ because than another just because it has more people or a lower altitude.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/e60ede_ceb8f03b3a2e4c0da24bce40566d6293/480p/mp4/file.mp4

'Our backyard might not have world famous mountains,

jungle, or desert, but it’s special and it’s home.'

'A place to be loved and protected.'

'Our connection to life.'

'The people we love in places we love, that’s all that matters.'

'Nature is food for the soul.'

'I couldn’t face a grand adventure today so instead I took the dog, walked 10 minutes from my house into The Islands.'

'I chose this route as it balances the serenity of nature with the noise of the arterial A303 and of course the world heritage site of Stonehenge.'

The solstice is a time that provides a unique blend of astronomical, cultural and spiritual significance -  when this is combined with intention the things we feel, see and experience are supercharged.

'There's a magical quality about being in silence in a group that just brings, like, some sort of, like, reverence.'

'It was the birds behind us, that was... They were the loudest.'

'It was good to not thave this kind of separation of

nature, good, traffic, bad. It's just, like, it's all, it's all here -

all part of this experience.'

'like I feel way less kind of societal pressure or like, that I should be a particular way or that.'

'I have this really warm, open hearted... feeling, and, yeah, I think it's... not just about appreciating this place, but appreciating it with other people, I think, is really, really powerful.'

'I felt grounded. Nothing or nobody to compare myself with or too.'

'I feel calm, and my mind quietens.'

If we’re honest, the minute itself isn’t the important bit, rather it’s noticing and acting on what it leaves behind. A minute is fleeting, but the awareness it sparks doesn’t have to be. So as we get ready to leave the spot we spent with nature, new reflections come to mind to carry home.

'I think how it is always changing, with the seasons,

with the visitors, I am excited to see what comes next.'

'I take a full 360 view of the land, soak in the details, and check for

anything any guests of the land have left.'

'[I think about how] it was pure escapism & pure connection to the land.'

'Those same feelings and thoughts about why this place is important are

applicable elsewhere, as well.'

'I love how forest, mountains, Lake and village life all converge seamlessly.'

'Unfortunately the baby partridge can’t tell them and so I will carry on

picking single-use pollution up as I see it.'

Spending a Minute with Nature, at any time of year provides us with an opportunity to remember we are not separate from the places we move though, we are part of them. When the minute ends we can choose to carry with with us, into how we run, ride and roam in these places. Protecting these places doesn’t start with grand gestures, it starts with paying attention and choosing again and again to take care of them. One person, one trail at a time.

Thank you for taking part!