Forest bathing at Happy Valley

Happy Valley is a woodland garden in the parish of Stenness, planted by Edwin Harrold, who lived here for more than 50 years and welcomed visitors to the trees and flowers he grew around his house and along the Burn of Russadale. After his death in 2005 the land passed to Orkney Islands Council, and it became a Local Nature Reserve in 2017. Sycamore is the backbone of the wood, with copper beech, Turkey oak, Japanese cedar, monkey puzzle, lime, yew and sessile oak among it. In a county with so few trees, the shelter and green light are striking.

It is small, under three hectares, so this is a place to sit rather than to walk far. A boardwalk and short paths lead from the parking bay on the track along the burn, past small waterfalls and the bridges Edwin built, to two stone benches. In May the woodland floor fills with bluebells. Ravens breed here, so keep noise down and give them space. The Friends of Happy Valley look after the site and have planted more trees in the field next door.