Fletchers Winter

Damp mists fill the stands of Fletchers Thorns (1829), sweeping amongst the trunks, through the naked canopy and along the course of the recently remodelled Fletchers Waters; Fletchers Water, now shallower, with restored meanders, flows vigorously towards its destiny, swelled by melt water and recent rain. As intended, the remodelling of the stream has encouraged water to flow beyond the banks, spilling into the surrounding woodland, filling any shallow gully or hollow and creating a new alien landscape. Changes necessitate frequent and awkward diversions from my chosen path along the bank in order to negotiate the newly created watery obstacles. Above a pure white Egret glides through the canopy, using the stream to navigate deep into the forest hinterland; their presence a testament to the improving water quality of the forest streams and the increased fish stock there in.

The light is fading, it's easy to forget how quickly the darkness draws in. If you allow your mind to wander, which is easy, the mists, the silence, coupled with the unexpected obstacle set in a once familiar place, now so foreign, lend themselves to the creation of a eerie atmosphere.