Country diary: walk through woods leads to a spiritual retreat

Launde, Leicestershire: Over the centuries the site has served variously as an Augustinian priory, a country house and a cafeUnder grey skies the air is perfectly still in Launde Big Wood and the space between the grand arching ashes and big solid oaks resonates with the songs of robins and marsh tits. Chipping calls of nuthatches are frequent as they forage up the tree trunks, and in the distance a raven cronks. Continue reading...