Fiskarsinmäki, a small paradise close to home
One of my local nature reserves is a small nature reserve at the bottom of the bay. I've been here alone and with my children countless times, in all seasons, and always found something new.
The nature trail, which runs for about a kilometre, first passes through a meadow, where cattle often graze in the summer, creating a traditional landscape. As you approach the beach, the trail dives under tall, old deciduous trees into a magical forest with a mound in the middle. The hill has a tree you can go inside.
Stepping into the forest is like entering a vast hall where birds are singing. In spring, the floor is a sea of white foxes. You feel like wrapping your arms around the tree and sighing - can anyone see? The transition to the forest space is a humdinger. I'm home again. A smile comes to the corners of my mouth, my feet want to keep going towards duckboards and the bird tower.
As you approach the shore, the tall reeds rustle and sway. From the tower, you can see the bay, where you can see a wealth of birds. A familiar pair of swans catches the eye this time too.
When I've had my fill of the sounds of birds and waves, I continue my journey towards the river mouth. Every now and then I have to stop to look at a woodpecker, or use my phone app to identify a singer's voice, or take a photo of some detail.
The path leads across duckboards to the river bank. The river is quite wide at this point, just before it joins the sea. Large trees grow along its banks, making it pleasant to lean on, watch the water glide by and the trees and sky reflected in it. In the eddies of the water, a leaf or a twig can be seen. The flow calms the mind. A few more hundred metres through the grove and I'm at the starting point. What a variety of sensations can be packed into this little gem of nature.
