HeyJaredThe Dappled Path
Reflections on nature, conservation, and the seasonal shifts of family life from the edge of an ancient woodland.
- Indexed issues, last 90 days
- 9
- Latest publication
- Sep 10, 2026
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- Jul 7, 2026
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Field Notes from the Summer Holidays - The End / The Beginning (opens the original)
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Tuesday 1st SeptemberWe meet friends at an adventure trail, nestled in nearby rolling hills. The views are breath-taking but they are accompanied by the screams of kids and the shouting of parents. We will never see this place in the quiet of termtime. Two young buzzards wheel and call together, enjoying the thermals.My boy’s school shoes have still not been delivered.At teatime he asks if we can go on holiday.<a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch
Field Notes from the Summer Holidays - Week 6 (opens the original)
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Week 6Monday 24th AugustThis week’s playground is conveniently attached to a large café, where I meet up with an old friend. She chases after her toddler and I’m helping my son on the climbing frame while stopping my girl from toddling towards the fishing lakes. We don’t finish a conversation.Tuesday 25th AugustWe’re still in our PJs at 10am. We make a story den beneath a blanket, between sofas. We have second breakfasts of peanut butter sandwiches, and third breakfasts of watermelon and pineapp
Field Notes from the Summer Holidays - Week 5 (opens the original)
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Monday 17th AugustMy son’s long birthday weekend continues with sunflower fields. Swallows zip overhead and young buzzards mew from the nearby wood as we pick the best flowers to take home. Snipped with the crunch of secateurs and held in both my boy’s hands - a top-heavy handful of summer.On the way back from pizza with family, the car is filled with excited over-tired singing. The clouds stretching over our estate look like a rippling ocean.<a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" href="ht
Field Notes from the Summer Holidays - Week 4 (opens the original)
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Monday 10th AugustThe playground is surrounded by acres of grassland and woodland. A heron settles on the opposite side of the pool as we arrive. We kick a football on the hard ground and the grass crumbles to dust under our footsteps. My son has brought his new litter picker with him. He is picking up crisp packets as the council worker comes around to empty the bins and both are very pleased to meet the other in action.A painted lady drifts through the garden.<a class="image-link image2 is-vie
Field Notes from the Summer Holidays - Week 3 (opens the original)
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Monday 3rd AugustThe playground is small but varied, with swings that go high, to my boy’s delight. But it is hot. As we sit on a shaded bench, eating our sandwiches, he goes through all of the symbols on the playground sign – no dogs, no bikes, no bottles. And he asks why there is litter on the ground next to the sign, which clearly states no litter.I’m hanging the washing up when it suddenly strikes me that there is a noticeable absence of screeching swifts from our skies.Tuesday 4th AugustA s
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