Frolicking Through an Enchanted Autumn Forest!

Earlier this week we went on a day trip to Hanmer Springs, a gorgeous little alpine village famous for its hot springs here in Canterbury. Before indulging in an evening of soaking in the hot thermal water we decided to explore the Hanmer Forest, and my oh my what a treat that was! 

I am sure that we stepped right into the pages of a Beatrix Potter book! It was the perfect setting for Peter Rabbit and his friends; Silver birch, pine needles, toadstools and blackberry bramble galore! It really was an autumn wonderland! I could have quite happily existed here for forever! 

A word of warning; I indulged in two very high risk activities in the forest...

1: picking up toadstools with my bare hands.

2: Entering and even sitting in a toadstool fairy ring. If you are a fairytale connoisseur/ 7 year old like myself, you will know how dangerous this is!  

I wouldn't recommend you try this at home kids! However, I appear to have emerged the experience unharmed, and stepping into a fairy ring was definitely worth it for the beautiful photographs!

While on our forest walk, we found a huge clearing full of blackberries, which were the prefect woodland snack! My favourite part of the walk is where I found a little grotto made of blackberry bramble, with the perfect little arched entrance I could imagine some kind of forest critter crawling into for a nap (which I tried out for myself as you can see!)

While I am an "adult" I really do try to make the most of any moments I find whimsical or fantastical that bring me back into a state of childhood, where anything and everything can be magic! I think living like this is good for the soul! Not to mention it's so darn fun! Do any of you have times where you feel free to exist like a child again?...It seems to be forests that really do it for me!