The days are getting longer and I feel myself wanting for spring to hurry up and arrive already. We've had some snowy storms here in the West of Ireland lately, but today sun suddenly bursted through the darkness and turned an early February day into spring. I had this urge to escape the woods in search of fresh air, sparrowhawks, and some time to reflect on life.

My favourite spot is in the Clonbur woods, we call it 'sorrel woods', because there is wood sorrel growing everywhere. This place is very special to me. This is where Ed and I watched a pair of sparrowhawks and their chicks in the nest two years ago. And since my granny died in April last year, I come to this place to walk, to think, and to clear my head.

This magical woodland has become my secret 'forest bathing' spot.

'Forest bathing', is an actual thing. In Japan shinrin-yoku, meaning 'taking in the forest atmosphere' or 'forest bathing', is part of Japan's national health programme. The benefits from getting a regular dose of woodland are numerous. I personally love how woodland affects all my senses, making me feel more alive and well.

I love the gentle sent of damp mosses and smell of misty air filled with old cobwebs. There are fragile young fern shoots unrolling slowly among tree stumps, they are so tender and they feel lovely and cool.

I love lichen's prickly texture too, and spindly brambles that always want to catch me for a hug. They slow me down deliberately, "no need to hurry here," they whisper.

I hear blue tit calling close to me, and there is a quiet scratch of a tree creeper as it makes its way up the tree in search of tiny bugs. I find plucked feathers neatly left on a fallen tree by a sparrowhawk after a hearty lunch. Wherever you look closely and listen carefully, you will see life happening on a microlevel.

All my senses are tickled. I close my eyes, take a seat, and allow my face and my whole being be bathed in the balmy sunlight.

I am fascinated by all the things we don't see when we are out in the woods. A sparrowhawk flew very close past me while I was busy checking my phone for messages. I got a quick glimpse of his slender brown back as he hurried silently into the woods. Encounters like these can be significant and healing - like a bit of wild magic to lift those long winter blues.

After long dark nights and oh so many days spent indoors under artificial lights my internal colour compass needs serious recalibration. My favourite early spring fungus, the Scarlet Elf Cup (Sarcoscypha coccinea), is such a bald splash of colour, that it gives me goosebumps. It is such a brilliant thing to see to get that sense of brightness back in me. Its shape too is so awesome.

Two years ago, while looking for sparrowhawks in the woods, I met a chef from Ashford Castle in Cong who was gathering this fungi for his table. Despite looking so deceptively non-edible, this fungi can be fried or pickled.

It looks gorgeous raw.

And then there are those beautiful shapes and lines you encounter while walking in the woods. The way sunshine illuminates, and creates shadows and reflections is just delicious.

More 'forest bathing' stories soon. x