St Leonards Forest, West Sussex

A boxing day walk with my father and sister; the forest is near the town where both my mother and my father grew up. They both went there as children, my father every Sunday with his aunt and my grandma. The walk was a really nice way to imagine what my parents' childhood was like; walking can lead you back into the past and reveal histories and heritages, but as you walk on you become aware of the futures and legacies set by that past too.

There's a legend that a french vagabond named Leonard roamed the forest for years, but a dragon lived there too. After years he finally managed to slay the dragon but he was injured, and where his blood fell God made white lilies grow. This is the patch in the forest where Lilies of the Valley can be found. 

There is another legend that a local smuggler called Mick Mills was once visited by the devil who told him to give up his soul for his crimes. But Mick challenged the Devil to a race, and if he won he would get to keep his soul. Mick did indeed win and there is a mile long track through the forest known as Mick Mills Race.

Snoz finds a mushroom