After what feels like several minutes of me tentatively putting one foot in front of the other, Nico suddenly yanks off my hat. ‘Over there,’ he whispers, ‘a rabbit.’

The little guy is up on his hind legs and appears to be eating something, probably an acorn. He nibbles away, his eyes firmly fixed on us as we remain still. Even when a bird flies overhead, he continues eating until he’s done. Then he turns and disappears into some thick bushes, seemingly content we pose no threat whatsoever.

Easing my shoulders back, Nico releases me rather awkwardly, clearing his throat. We’re going through the motions but neither of us is really taking this as seriously as Pierce intended.

‘I think we can tick that one. This is a sensory thing, isn’t it?’ He looks at me and I nod in agreement. ‘Okay. Number two. Shall we take a seat over on that huge log?’

‘If you like.’

It’s sad to see what was at one time a sturdy tree, now lying on its side. Whether it was hit by lightning, or the roots failed because of rot, it’s hard to tell. But it’s been here a long time and the trunk rises a good three feet off the ground.

Nico gives me a boost and I sit astride it as he hauls himself up.

‘Eyes closed then. You go first. This is a test of your sense of smell,’ he says.

‘Ugh, rotting wood, for sure – that’s very strong. Mushrooms. Ooh… woodsmoke, do you get that?’

‘Hmm… yes, it’s getting stronger. Someone’s only just lit a fire. Burning leaves, I think. I’m getting that earthy smell, I wouldn’t say mushrooms exactly, more like well-composted peat. As for rotting wood, I think that smell is wild garlic that is going over. It has a bitter, dank odour to it.’

‘Oh, I didn’t know that. It’s a bit fishy, too.’

Nico laughs.

‘What’s next?’

We open our eyes at the same moment, and he gives me a warm, intense smile.

‘It makes you stop and think, doing this, doesn’t it? The things around us we take for granted and cease to notice.’

His eyes are combing over me and I feel a little uncomfortable, so I look away, pulling Pierce’s instruction sheet from my pocket.

‘Point out a natural feature that looks like something else.’

We gaze around for a few minutes.

‘See that tree trunk over there?’ Nico raises his arm, pointing. ‘There’s a big knot on the left-hand side just before it branches up. It looks like a witch’s face. Two eyes and a long, beaky nose.’

It takes me a moment to see what he’s talking about, but once I’ve got it, he’s right.