Bodlondeb Woods, which extends down to the edge of the estuary, has been providing sustenance and shelter for the Conwy community since Neolithic times, though the species here may have changed over the years.

The woodland we can walk through today was mainly planted in the 1700s by the Holland family. They set formal footpaths through the woods and purposely planted quite exotic trees such as the rhododendrons and laurels for game cover. Their house, which was rebuilt in the 19th century, now forms part of the Conwy County Council offices.

Entering the woods near Aberconwy School, you'll see a stand of beech trees. They drop a small, four-leaved, bristly little thing which falls to the ground and opens up to reveal a small nut. The nuts can be salted, roasted or ground up to make beech nut oil.

Then you'll find broadleaves such as the cherry, oak and ash where you might come across oyster mushrooms. They look very dark, a little like candle wax, and can be used as cinders to help create fire. Ash wood is also good for making hammers.

The oak's acorns can be roasted and grounded to make acorn coffee. You might also be lucky and find sweet chestnuts - the ones which are roasted at Christmas.

You could also come across the shaggy ink cap fungus, which can be used to make invisible ink.

There's a meadow which butts up against the woodland and is great for red and white clover, meadow buttercups, docks and dandelions, all of which can be used in salads. There are also nettles, which are great for making teas and soups.

Down near the estuary, the shallow root system of the Scots pine helps this tree cling to the rocky, acidic soil near the sea. Their bark has been used for centuries to make plates and other carrying vessels. The Scots pine also bleeds a sap which is great as glue.

The woods used to be full of wildlife, like boars, otters and rabbits, which had been introduced by the Romans; all very useful for their skins, furs and meat.

For a small woodland of just 7.5 hectares, Bodlondeb packs quite a punch for the variety of species thriving here, and there's always something to enjoy throughout the seasons.

Of course the seasons aren't quite right anymore, but generally speaking, we have snowdrops pushing through in February. Then they make way for a beautiful carpet of bluebells in early spring, along with the wood sorrel and wild garlic, which looks a little like nettles with a white, delicate flower. Lesser celandines are pretty little yellow flowers which hug to the ground and dog violets are a lovely violet-purple colour.

Late Spring sees the fat, succulent leaves of the foxgloves begin to push out the bluebells before their purply-pink, tubular flowers blossom in the summer.

Then it's time for the changing of the leaves in Autumn before we reach blackberry-picking season and the chance to gather nuts to roast for Christmas.

The council do have a leaflet which can help you make the most of what grows in the woodland; to identify what might not be suitable for eating, or which plants are protected. With this, you can get out there and make the most of what our countryside has to offer, just as they've done for hundreds of years. Lesley Lawson