By jiminy, a cricket!

Bat cave

I'd not visited the Bat caves at Winspit for some years and was concerned to find the grill blocking access to the former quarrying caves has been ripped off. The caves are home to several species of nationally rare bats.

Kings Hat

The only fungi that appears to have done well this year is Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus), which has been more abundant this season and in larger clumps. This group is growing on a might Oak in Kings Hat.

No shroom

It's mushroom season, although you wouldn't know it. I've ranged the mushroom roams I'd usually frequent without success; it's not merely the edibles which are missing, it's any mushroom. The search goes on.

Blackenford Brook

This section was Blackenford Brook was one of the first stretches of stream I can remember being remodeled as part of the wet woodland restoration program. It was some years ago now and the woodland has healed well, looking more natural every year. When they altered the brooks course, the trees were also thinned, creating a far more open environment, developing a type pastoral woodland which was once common in the forest and maintained through grazing. It's an area where you can just sit awhile and watch the forest go by; time well spent.

Anderwood

The tranquil grassed landscape around Anderwood car park belie previous industrial activity of some kind. The lumps and bumps (an archaeological term), 4 large iron fixings set into substantial concrete bases and another concrete feature suggest some industrial activity took place here, possibly associated with war work. Further investigation required.

Pecker

Sawdust around the base of this Holly suggested a branch of two had been removed, although on closer inspection two perfect holes had been drilled, in to what transpired to be a hollow section of the trunk. The work of Woodpeckers never ceases to amaze.

Little Tranny

Tired of the weight and size of my trusty 25 series tranny for day to day use, I've started to use the smaller military Trangia. Compact and more ergonomic, it is easier to pack, lighter and more suitable to day missions; even in high winds the meths burner will heat .5lt of water in just a few minutes.

Barton Sunset

Nice.

Arish Mell

Pausing on the steep climb to Flowers Barrow we are afforded a fine view of Arish Mell, with Bindon Hill and Mupe Rocks beyond. You wouldn't know it, but the tiny cove of Arish Mell is the site of the waste pipe from Winfrith 6 miles inland, the site of a number of experimental nuclear reactors. The last reactor went off line in 1995.

Cockpit Head

The climb up Cockpit Head may have been intense, but well worth while as the views were immense.

Black Rock

In an attempt to avoid the calf burning climb, and knee pooping decent, of Cockpit Head we scrambled around the cliff base between Mupe Bay and Arish Mell, over the boulder strewn remnants of the major landslide of a few years ago. Beyond the slide the matrix of the beach is sub angular flint and rounded chalk, and the sea has a milky blue hue due to the chalk. Quite magical. Our exploits were without success though, as we were thwarted by the deep water around Black Rock.

Highland water

Highland Water lazily weaves a course through Great Huntley Bank under magnificent spreading canopies of mature Beech and Oak. Between fleeting clouds, dappled sun breaks through the crown of rustling leafs, warming the stands, reminding you Autumn not quite with us.

Beetle

Rose bay willow herb

Rose bay Willow herb has two common folk names, fire weed and bomb weed, and used to be mainly restricted to woodland glades. Its seeds require high temperatures to germinate and land clearance and bombing during World War 2 created the right conditions for it to thrive and expand its roam. It's now found frequently on waste ground and verges.

Mupe

Stonewood

Laying within the military ranges at Lulworth this Fossil Forest represents the most complete example of a fossilized Jurassic forest anywhere in the world; further remnants of the same forest can be seen in quarries at Weymouth and on the Isle of Portland.

Clouds

All aboard

No trains have passed this way since 1964 when the station closed under Beechings axe. Holmsley station opened in 1847 and was known as 'Christchurch Road' until 1862 when it took its current name. Although the platform at Holmsley has seen no action in 47 years, it looks like with a little clearing back, it would be ready for action again. To my memory it has changed little in 30 years, other than the trees, it used to be far more open.

Brinkin

Purple reign

Heather (calluna vulgaris), Bell Heather (erica cinerea) and Cross-leaved Heath (erica tetralix) form vast swathes of purples, lilacs and pinks across the heathland areas of the forest and are a joy to behold, contrasting magnificently with the rich greens which abound.

Beef Steak

A small Beef Steak (Fistulina hepatica) erupts high in a Oak, this bracket fungus is quite a common sight and can make a tasty treat. Best collected young, as they can become tough with age, they have pinky red flesh which resembles raw meat, sometimes they even bleed.

Pennington Marsh

And how the sunset looked behind me.

Pennington Marsh

A sunset veiw across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.

Water Mint

Through July to October, Water Mint (mentha aquatica) is commonly found in the forests wet places and along stream banks, highly aromatic with tightly clustered, lilac pink flower heads it is easy to identify. Water Mint has several Culinary and Medicinal uses. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and have been used to flavour hot and cold foods. Infusions of Water Mint leave have traditionally been used to treat fevers, headaches, digestive disorders and as a mouth-wash / gargle for sore throats, mouth ulcers and bad breath.

Bridge and ford

A view which epitomizes the New Forest

Changes

Climate change is no respecter of borders, continents, national boundaries mean nothing to this global phenomena, set to change everything. Frequently portrayed as being 'over there', in the past it's been easy for folk to ignore; melting ice caps, deforestation, drought and flood, have tended to happen somewhere else. Though, this year climate change has visited upon us a taste of what's to come. Change has become very tangible; alternate drought and flood, greater frequency of high winds, plant failure, landslides, all have taken their toll much closer to home. The more you look, the more you'll see. For example. This year I've had reason to lament the loss of too many mature trees, 200/300 years old, all healthy, many would would still be standing if it were not for deteriorating climatic conditions; drought and deluge weakening roots tenure and fierce gusts ripping through leafy canopies combined to devastating effect.

Is this to be our punishment? That we should watch the places we love deteriorate, piece by piece, tree by tree, until they're no more.

Sloe down

Last year at this time the Blackthorn boughs hung low under the weight of a healthy crop of sloes, the fruit of Prunus spinosa; this year all the trees I've seen are barren or bear solitary fruits. Usually this is the time to be planning Sloe Gin or Vodka, although I fear this year the picking will be meager and alternative fruit sources required. Blackberry Vodka I think.

New course for Highland Water

The restored/altered course of Highland Water, as it runs out of Camel Green, is very sympathetically done, with a pleasing gently meandering course. The work was done swiftly and with a great deal less destruction than I had anticipated; I shouldn't imagine it will not take too many years to heal and equilibrium return to these most beautiful woods.

Spy Holms sunset

Clavell Tower

No longer the shady ruin which stood close to the edge of Hen Cliff, overlooking Kimmeridge Bay, the repositioned and restored Clavell Tower is born again. Originally built in 1830, used for picnics, courting couples and as a coastguard lookout, Clavell Tower fell out of use and into the slow decline leading to dereliction after the First World War. As time went by the towers condition worsened as did the stability of the cliff on which it stood. In 2006 the remains of the tower (16,272 stones) were dismantled and along with 298 new carved stones was rebuilt 25m inland; securing the towers future for years to come.

Charnel and Broad Bench

Brinkin Wood

"Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises." -- Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Clearbury Down

A large area of Clearbury Down has been left to chalk grassland and the abundance and diversity of wildlife, both flora and fauna is phenomenal. Dozens of plants, of all colours and form, create an attractive environment to all things flying, butterflies, hoverflies, bees and others navigate their way between blooms, above birds swoop and dive, whilst higher still majestic birds of prey patrolled their roams. It was a privilege to spend time with nature in such a vibrant place.

Clearbury

Perched on a hill top above the slowly meandering river Avon, Clearbury Rings commands stunning views over rolling chalk downland and rich pastoral land flanking the Avon. It's Iron Age earthworks remain impressive, with the rampart measuring over 6m from bank top to ditch bottom in places and 2m or more from bank top to the occupied area within. In the period before 43AD in would have been a Durotriges stronghold bordering lands controlled by the Belgiae.

Harvest

Lughnasadh just passed and the rich agricultural landscape of the Avon Valley reflects this with fields ripe for harvest.

Stick shelter

I spied this particularly well made stick shelter amongst the stands of New Park enclosure. With some minor additions it would provide a serviceable, warm and comfortable overnight shelter.

Down by the riverside

A lazy afternoon attracts large numbers of ponies, young and old, and cows to Mill Lawn. Drawn by lush green grasses and a cooling stream, they appear happy with their lot.

Red Rise

Between racing clouds, dappled Sun breaks through the canopy of Red Rise to create magic.

Lughnasadh

Rejoice today and enjoy the Sun;
for harvest time has now begun.

John Barleycorn, transforms from green to gold;
his time's now come, as tradition has foretold.

A time to feast, a time for fun;
But be assured there's work to come.

Though Summer days seem never ending;
the path of the Sun is fast descending.

Now pause a while, look about and take stock;
the Goddess gifts us such a lot.

Reflect, that Autumn's still to come;
with two more feasts, till harvest's done.