The Grand Crohot Forest - A Love Letter to the Forest That Shaped Me

It is with a heavy heart that I write these words.

If you've been following the news, you've probably seen the devastating wildfires sweeping through the southwest of France, where I live. As I write this, the flames are only 9 km (5.6 miles) from my home.

Watching this unfold has been heartbreaking..not only because it is happening so close, but because the places being lost are woven into the fabric of my life.

For more than twenty years, the Landes Forest and Grand Crohot have been my sanctuary.

This is where I escaped when I needed peace. Where I wandered beneath towering pine trees, listening to the song of the cicadas and watching tiny birds disappear into the canopy. Where I would simply lie beneath the trees, looking up as they swayed gently in the wind.

It was here that my mom and I shared countless picnic lunches. Simple afternoons that never felt extraordinary at the time, yet today have become some of my most treasured memories.

We would time talking in the forest before walking to the beach, surrounded by the scent of pine, warm sand beneath our feet, and the sound of the Atlantic Ocean.

These places taught me to slow down.

To observe.

To breathe.

To appreciate the quiet beauty that nature offers when we take the time to notice it.

Over the years, I brought my camera with me more times than I can count. Many of the photographs I have shared—and many that inspired my paintings—were created there.

It became a place where creativity came naturally, where ideas flowed effortlessly, and where I always felt connected to something much bigger than myself.

Seeing these landscapes devastated by wildfire is something I still struggle to process.

It is difficult to accept that a place that held decades of memories can change so dramatically in such a short time.

The forest I knew will never look the same again.

Yet, while the landscape has changed, the memories remain untouched.

Today, I wanted to share a few of those memories with you. Not only to remember what was, but to celebrate everything this extraordinary place gave me.

I also hope this serves as a reminder that nature is never something we should take for granted. It quietly shapes our lives in ways we often don't realize until it changes.

Finally, I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has been protecting these landscapes.

To the firefighters risking their lives on the front lines.

To the farmers who stood shoulder to shoulder with them, using their tractors, their knowledge of the land, and incredible courage to help stop the flames.

To the volunteers, emergency crews, and local communities who have come together during this unimaginable time.

Thank you.

Your strength, generosity, and solidarity remind us that even in moments of profound loss, humanity has an incredible capacity to come together.

As I share these photographs today, I hope they preserve a small piece of what this forest was—a place of peace, beauty, and wonder.

And perhaps, one day, generations from now, the forest will tell a new story.

With love

Naïma Namaste