🌳 Evening Walk in Tervuren Park

Misty McAnally
Oct 10, 2025
3 min read

📅 Date & Place: October 3, 2025 – Tervuren Park 👥 Group: Griffin Troop (scouts) – 18 scouts, 4 leaders, plus me

🌦️ Weather & Mood: Early autumn evening, light rain, 11 °C, southern wind. Cool, damp, and quietly alive.

🌿 Walk Overview

I had been invited by another immigrant friend to practice guiding in English for her scout group and to share my philosophy of kinship with nature while introducing them to ObsIdentify and Merlin — two free apps that help recognize species by photo and sound.

Together, we explored a small area of the park and practiced identifying what we found. Even in the drizzle, there was so much life to notice — trees heavy with seeds, birds gathering at dusk, fungi softening old wood.

🌳 What We Observed

🌰 Trees & Seeds

The ground was carpeted with acorns, beech nuts, chestnuts, and horse chestnuts — clear signs of a mast year, when trees produce an abundance of fruit and seeds. We talked about this mysterious phenomenon and its role in feeding wildlife populations. One of the adults suggested there might even be a link to planetary cycles — something I’d love to explore further!

🐦 Birds & Amphibians

A great flock of carrion crows gathered for their evening roost, their calls echoing over the pond. We also heard coots, mallards, and a great crested grebe. Among the reeds, a few frogs and one common toad made an appearance — tiny reminders that even in the drizzle, life carries on. One scout gently held a toad, who melted contentedly into her hands, warm and still. Watching that quiet exchange reminded me how easily children recognize kinship when given the chance.

🍄 Fungi

Bracket fungi stood out against the tree trunks — Trametes gibbosa, Fomes fomentarius, and a few Armillaria. I’m still cautious about mushroom identification, but I love noticing their shapes and colors.

🌤️ A Moment of Wonder

As dusk fell, I noticed many scouts letting their eyes adjust naturally rather than turning on their torches. The darkness seemed to tune us in to subtler details — rain on leaves, the smell of ivy flowers, the ripple of wind through grass.

💬 Reflections & Takeaways

I hesitated before going — I had an ear infection and wasn’t sure an evening in the rain was wise — but I’m so glad I went. The warmth of this group and their curiosity lifted my spirits. I finally had a chance to introduce myself in English my way, speaking about a worldview that sees nature as something that’s reaching out to us, too.

That toad-in-hand moment captured exactly what I mean: when we stop trying to get in touch with nature and simply allow her to get in touch with us.