Haibun: Restoring Nature

Cairngorms National Park

two whippets in winter jackets on a heather-covered hillside
two whippets in winter jackets on a mountain trail

We are so grateful to hike in the National Park and breathe the mountain air. The higher ground is covered in snow, adding to the freshness. Ground-nesting birds rest on cushions of grass and moss, beneath the heather. We stick to the trails and pace ourselves.

Further ahead, young trees and seedlings are slowly re-greening the hills. For the first time since we moved here, neighbouring land managers and conservation groups are working together to create one seamless, natural landscape. A landscape for the wildlife, and for the people who live and walk here too.

a cuckoo’s call
flowing in and out
of the forest

© Xenia Tran

a blue and white whippet in a winter jacket on a mountain trail

We are very excited to see the beginnings of Cairngorms Connect, the biggest and boldest conservation project in this area so far.

Wishing you all a happy Monday and a peaceful new week,

with love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Settings: f/4.5 – 1/1250 s – ISO 500, f/5 – 1/1250 s – ISO 400 and f/5.6 – 1/1600 s – ISO 400.

PI Poetry Prompt: Cushion

Earthweal: Restore Our Earth

Author: whippetwisdom

The stories, poems and photographs on this blog are the original creative work of Xenia Tran. Inspired by life in the Scottish Highlands and in awe of nature she gives voice to the wisdom of her adopted and fostered whippets.

46 thoughts on “Haibun: Restoring Nature”

  2. The Cairngorms is such a beautiful place, especially how you describe it, Xenia and will remain so, as the people who visit seem to be respectful and care about the environment. And how wonderful to see the ‘young trees and seedlings are slowly re-greening the hills’. I have yet to hear a cuckoo this year.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Kim, it’s so lovely to see the young trees and the way local people and organisations care for the landscape here. I hope you will hear a cuckoo’s call soon too 💚 xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Lois, it is so beautiful here and we’re so happy the landscape will be here for future generations to enjoy too. Wishing you a happy Monday and much love to you, Parker, Piper and Pumpkin from all of us here 🤗💖🐈 xxx

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  5. I love your poem and photographs and am thrilled that in your area, land managers are tending to the earth for the benefit of all. You must be in an enlightened area. This is good news. (I love your whippets!)

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Sherry. We are blessed with this beautiful natural environment and with local people who care passionately about conservation and restoration these amazing projects are truly possible 💚 xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Cathy, this is an amazing project and we’re so happy with their long-term vision for this beautiful area 💚 Wishing you a wonderful evening and much love from our house to yours 🤗💕🐕 xxx

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  13. Such a wonderful celebration here and so apt for Earth Day.. I loved the point at the end of the Cairngorms Connect conservation video (beautiful!) that we should be conserving the abundance, not the scarcity. Here in Florida its almost impossible to save the little that’s left. Thanks so for sharing at earthweal. – Brendan

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      1. Thanks Xenia – When they say the future is here just unevenly distributed, that’s so true with climate damage and planetary conservation. Florida is the flooded beach of a fleeing mind.

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  14. Love this, Xenia. The photos are stunning and the haibun is encouraging. I hope you don’t mind but I shared it with the women in my writer’s group. Yesterday when we met, I offered the prompt to write a haibun and no one had heard of it. I thought your example was beautiful and I hope it inspires some of them to try this wonderful poetic form. Hope you are well.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Luanne and please feel free to share – I hope it will help inspire some lovely haibun in your group 😊✍ All is well here, we’re easing out of lockdown and are grateful to be able to go on longer walks in nature again. I hope you and your husband are keeping safe and well too 💗 xxx

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Ingrid, this is a huge project that will support a natural balance in this area for generations to come and there are smaller scale conservation projects taking place in other parts of the Highlands 💚 We hope it will be an inspiration to others and that you will have an opportunity to hear a cuckoo’s call again too! 🤗💜

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  18. Call In the Forest Death of
    A Friend From Covid-19
    In India my Travels

    Slowed A Bit

    Oh Goodness
    Now 10 Poems
    Behind almost
    All Your Current
    Stream of Poems

    On Sidebar Dear Xenia
    Belated Mother’s Day Wishes
    to All Women Who Nurture Light
    in Life Loving Nature of All As You

    Do As Well
    too in many

    Paw Prints of Love..:)

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  19. Pingback: Looking Back at 2022 – Thank you for the Love – Tranature

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