Sherwood Forest Undressed

Buy A Home Near A Park And Live Longer

      Amid all of the gloom and depressing economic news, there is a glimmer of good tidings for the residents and prospective residents of Sherwood Forest.  According to a study by researchers at the University of Glasgow, living near a park or playing field is directly related to lowered blood pressure and to reducing the harmful effects of stress.  The new park and play field currently being built at the old Woodway Elementary site is, according to Dr Richard Mitchell, going to help us live longer.  In his study, mortality records from 366,348 people in England from 2001 – 2005 observed a link between different causes of death amongst people of differing financial means and exposure to green spaces.  It showed that regardless of what part of the social spectrum, people with greater access to green spaces reduced morbidity rates and that, “The health gap between the richest and the poorest people was about half as big as that in the green areas.”   The report, published in the prestigious medical journal, The Lancet, concluded that, “The implications of this study are clear: environments that promote good health, might be crucial in the fight to reduce health inequalities,” and to promote better health for all.

     So, a glimmer of good news in the gloom; whether in Sherwood Forest in England or in Edmonds, green spaces, parks and playfields are good for everyone’s health.  This bit of cheerful information is brought to you by Blair Leckie, your green and healthy, Edmonds neighborhood realtor.

Hawks in Sherwood Forest

      The Glare

It is a joy  living in an urban environment where green spaces and trees are viewed as welcome and necessary.  The joy is not so much obvious as it is felt.  If one slows down and takes a leisurely walk through the old Woodway Elementary School property, its inhabitants begin to show themselves.  One such inhabitant is the Sharp Shinned Hawk.  It is an exhilarating feeling to be walking and half see and half sense something out of the corner of the eye.  Then, upon looking closer, discovering this magnificent if diminutive bird of prey and hearing its shrill cry.    Essential for the livelihood of this beautiful raptor is the stand of trees separating Sherwood Forest residences, the proposed city park and the land purchased by The Burnsteads .   They make their living feeding on the small birds, rodents and large insects which inhabit the woods in our area.

So, if you get a chance, treat yourself to a leisurely walk around the proposed park grounds.  The hawks are there covertly working the woods.

A Tree In Sherwood Forest

Most residents of Sherwood Forest know this tree.  Sadly, and hopefully briefly it is enclosed by a makeshift chain link barrier.  I don’t know whether this is some inane attempt to keep the glorious nature and beauty of this tree caged in or to keep us, the citizens of the forest caged out.  It has always been, in some way caged.  Earlier in its life it sat as the living center piece in the middle of a courtyard at Woodway Elementary School.  It served its purpose wonderfully by dutifully leafing out and blooming with extravagant blossoms in the spring, bearing fruit for eager birds and ever-foraging squirrels in the summer and dropping its leaves in the fall in preparation for the dormant winter months.   We have been privileged to take pleasure in its performances over the years.

No one knows for certain what the ultimate fate of this beautiful tree will be for it is also caged in controversy.  The elementary school which once surrounded it has recently been demolished.  It was the hope of many of the citizens of the forest that all of the land belonging to the school could be made into a park and a friendly gathering place for the community.  But, school district budgets, politics, fiscal responsibility and the spirit of capitalism have intervened in its destiny.  A developer wants the land to build more houses.  After some hew and cry by the citizens, approximately half of the property was allotted to the developer and half to the park which would surround the tree.  The citizens await the resolution of this controversy, hoping for the day when all of the cages are removed and the tree can at last be free to grow and show and thrive along with the community and citzens of Sherwood Forest.

Homes For Sale in or near Sherwood Forest

Click on the map above to find the locations of a sampling of homes for sale in or near Sherwood Forest in Edmonds, Washington.  I am happy to assist you with any additional information you may wish to have on these properties or any others in which you may have an interest. 

Welcome to Sherwood Forest Undressed

My name is Blair Leckie and my wife, Georgia and I are long time residents of Sherwood Forest - no, not that Sherwood Forest but the one in Edmonds, Washington, a beautiful city just north of Seattle.   I bear no resemblance whatsovever to the brawny arrow slinger, Robin Hood, in the picture.  I am more of a mild mannered Realtor with Keller Williams North Seattle  offering to be the eyes and ears of the neighborhood.   I look forward to sharing bits and pieces about the community, general and whimsical observations, real estate information, local businesses reviews and anything else under the sun which strikes me as blog worthy.   I can be found, usually early in the morning, getting the day off to a great start by walking the neighborhood with my four month old yellow Labrador Retriever, Maizie.  Actually, this walking early in the morning business is more her idea than mine but she’s blonde, gorgeous and I have a difficult time saying no to her. 

So, this adventure with the blog begins and while it may not prove to be the swashbuckling adventure provided by Robin and his band of Merry Men, I will try my best to make it informative, at least mildly entertaining and germane to life in our little community in Edmonds.  Welcome to my blog, Sherwood Forest Undressed.

The Other White House

While being anything but Presidential, which might be construed as a good thing these days, this is the white house in Sherwood Forest where Georgia, Maizie and I live.  It is the headquarters for our various sortees into the community gathering information to share with you.