Reflections 11th September

On my Mind

The Understorey

I've always found the understorey to be a powerful metaphor, not least when walking in ancient woodland with people who know what they are talking about way beyond intellect.

Understanding that whatever tall tree in the canopy that fails, for whatever reason, there is always a host of those waiting patiently for a gap to appear that gives them access to the light. Unlike in carefully managed monocultures, its hard to know what will take the place of the fallen - it depends on so many different parameters. Those in the understorey have to be patient, but when their opportunity arises, they are ready and grow at astonishing speed. There's a poetry to it. When a tree in the canopy falls it just plays it part as its life and history feeds those in the understorey.

Paying attention to the understorey.

The metaphor founds it's way into my attention as I reflected on the changes we've seen this week as, in a welcome change questions in Parliament were answered clearly, …