Beltaine

For the last few years Beltaine atop Glastonbury Tor had been a windy grey affair, not so this morning as we ascended the Tor under clear skies, the remnants of last nights stars still visible.  A fair group had gathered on the summit, all waiting for the rising Sun, now heralded by a growing glow at the eastern horizon. Shortly, Rollo appeared, a circle was formed and the Beltaine ceremony began with the sound of a horn; sadly not Rollo blowing, but another. Rollo's  trumpeting never failed to raise a smile. Rollo led the ceremony, with a nice woman called Suzanne performing the roll usually taken by Donna. Ritual over and circle closed, folks attention focused on the horizon, where slowly at first, then with noticeable speed, the Sun rose into a clear sky. Beautiful! Beltaine is one of my favourites, come rain or shine, it never fails to uplift and fill you with joy. I took some film which I shall put on soon.

Spring skies

Receeding watering hole

Wood Sorrel

Rising from a carpet of rounded heart shaped trefoil leaves, masses of delicate white five petalled flowers, covered in tiny purple veins, adorn a long fallen mossy trunk deep in Huntley bank; Wood Sorrel. A beautiful little plant, common through the deciduous areas of the forest in April and May, has leafs and petals which at night fold back on themselves, returning to open during the day.

Bowed but not out

Vinney Ridge has about it the air of ancient, some parts of the forest do, gnarled moss covered trunks of mature Oak and Beech, stunted and gnawed Holly, a winter staple for the ponies, trees and boughs bent and distorted into myriads of unusual shapes and forms by time and the elements. But there's something else too in these places, something that's hard to qualify, these places feel like they're the real forest.

Dead bough down

The ancient Oak of Huntley Bank has dropped a bough, thankfully it was a dead bough.

Mudeford Spit

Mudeford spit with the Needles in the distance.

Resource Woods

Spring continues to assert herself, here in resource woods spring flowers carpet the under-story.  Resource Woods, not the woods given name, rather a name given by me for a wood of boundless bounty. I've been coming to this wood for over 20 years, gathering resources including food plants, nuts, wood, mushrooms and berries.  A veritable 'shamansburys' as Naboo would say.

Purbeck paths

We followed paths old and new across the Purbecks on today's walk. Down quiet winding lanes, sunken between banks blanketed in fresh greens and bursting with spring colours. Up steep rocky pathways through avenues of ancient gnarled trees, shaped by coastal winds, set amongst thickets of nettle. Followed small meandering streams, newly emerged from nearby springs, through hidden coombes bedecked with bright furze and budding Elder. Along lofty coastal ramparts, atop the mighty limestone bulwarks on which restless seas ceaselessly break. In every direction and at every point, a view of outstanding beauty. The magic of the Purbecks is tangible.

Chapmans Pool

Warwickslade Spring

You can feel Spring is slowly edging closer.  Although it still feels as though it's, one step forward and two steps back, with the weather and temperature swinging as a pendulum. Plants though are starting to push through, Daffs and Primroses add welcome colour and birds fill the stands with hopeful song; hope of better to come. 

Domestos

At what point does rubbish become archaeology?

Well!

Another poet leaves their mark in the forest.

Stuck on the cusp

Nature appears stuck on the cusp of spring burgeoning, so ready to burst forth, yet kept restrained by the elements. I feel for the forest, frustrated, eager to be getting on with things, I think it's how we're all feeling as this endless drab dankness continues to hold change in check.

Woodland oddity

Communications Bunker

On the high ground of Godlingston Hill  were three underground bunkers associated with World War 2 radio communication masts, one remains visible and in use, the other two , which used to be accessible, have in recent years been buried. Now the only accessible feature of this World War 2 site is located at the base of Godlingston Hill, above Knitsom Farm. Probably some type of control building, being larger and more complicated than the hilltop sites. A flight of stairs leads to a brick and concrete building, a corridor with two rooms to the side leads to a large underground room with corrugated iron shuttered re enforced concrete roof, this room accommodated several smaller rooms, although there has been considerable damage done post war and only a small section of central dividing wall remains. One end wall has been exposed and removed, opening up the building and allowing cattle to shelter inside. Exposure to the elements has not helped this sites preservation, although many interesting features remain making it worth a visit if you're into this type of stuff, in fact, this area of the Purbecks is gifted with several unique World War 2 structures.

Brenscombe Hill

How perfect the Purbeck hills.

Anderwood Craters

In Anderwood enclosure (1811) there are 3 curious circular features, 6m or so in diameter and nearly 2m deep, they look mighty like World War 2 period bomb craters to me.

Black Water Spring

Burley Old Spring

The calm anticipation of the forest is overwhelming, the woodland and heath just waiting for their moment to burst forth. For the first time in a long time the Sun illuminates the stands and spring appears a little closer.

Knowlton

Equinox ritual

The Dorset Groves open Spring Equinox ritual at Knowlton Rings, like the Clan of the Pheryllts, may have taken place in less than spring like chilly conditions but the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. The Dorset Grove always put a lot of time, effort and love into their open rituals, rituals which are multi faceted, today's included a Spring play, buns, cakes, chocolate, a Yew Awen coin, meditation, a piece of Apple wood, a seasonal sprig as well as a Shaman, along with the more familiar ritual aspects. Which was nice.

Here and Now, Live at The Bruton Castle

It happened that the legendary Here and Now band were performing a free/donations warn up gig in the Somerset backwater of Bruton on good Friday. Well, it would've been rude not to have attended. We first saw the Here and Now band 30 yeas ago supported by the Cardiacs and were blown away, since then I can't remember how many times we've seen them, or in how many manifestations, their albums (or live stuff) rarely far from the stereo.

Now, Slim Verhoef, Here and Nows guitarist, had posted 'get there early!', so filled with the fear of arriving only not to get in, which we remember experiencing in the 80's when going to see the band in Bristol, we arrived at the venue sometime before 5 O'clock. A bit previous perhaps; though better safe than sorry. The Bruton Castle pub was empty of punters, although we were afforded the pleasure of hearing the band rehearse, which was nice :o)  The Bruton Castle is a great little venue, friendly bar keep, nice beers, nice food, potato and leek soup only £3!, no complaints there. So we settled back and as the bar slowly filled we enjoyed a laugh, the locals banter and smiled as they bothered the band for a go on the drums, whilst a sleepy Keith the Bass, head resting in hand tried for a nap, and we waited for the bands performance. Just before 9.30 the band vanished from the bar area, our que to make for the back room.  

The band opened with a fantastic sweeping psychedelic jam which set the tone nicely for the rest of the show, followed by tracks including 'Floating Anarchy', 'Opium for the People' and a beautiful rendition of 'Ali Baba' from their 1978, 'Floating Anarchy' album, 'Jacques Cousteau', 'secrets', 'Fantasy shift' and 'So glad you're here' off the 1983 'Fantasy Shift' album, 'What you see is what you are' and 'Little things' (encore) from my favourite album, the 1979 'All over the show', plus a couple I couldn't remember the names of, finishing as is their way with 'So glad you're here', bloody marvellous, all played with vigour and enthusiasm. Man, what set! Keith The Bass (Bass), Mark Robson (keyboards), Andy Roger (keyboards) and Slim Verhoef (lead guitar) were joined on drums by a guy called Mike Giri (Normally it's Nik Nimbus on drums), now bearing in mind this chap had a mere 3 hour rehearsal and apparently had not even heard the encore track, he played a blinding gig (they all did), really knocking it out, fair play, man.  All in all, it was a fantastic evening, a memorable evening. The gig was a magic hat affair and I really hope that folk participated in the magic as the band had certainly done their part in creating some magic. As always, Here and Now never fail to leave you smiling and wanting more.

If you've never seen Here and Now, what's wrong with you! And more to the point, where have you been? Look them up, get to a gig and get blown away, you'll never look back, but you'll certainly be back for more :o)

Glastonbury

Glastonbury Tor in Somerset never fails to impress, no matter what the season or weather, it's easy to see why it has inspired people through the ages. An area steeped in history, mystery and magic.  During prehistory Glastonbury Tor would have risen  from what would have been a vast wetland environment of open water and expanses of reed, a rich and productive environment and one popular from the Neolithic to Iron Age and beyond until draining the land began in the Roman period.  As you climb the long path which rises up the spine of the Tor, you are afforded views which extend for miles in all directions. The weather was cold and windy today otherwise we'd have stayed a while and really taken it all in, rather than descending as quickly as we could after are arrival at the summit.

Nunney Castle

What?

What?

The Avon Valley

It's easy to imagine the Avon valley in prehistoric times, when the Barrow building cultures of the Neolithic and Bronze Ages build the funerary monuments on the high ground bordering what was then an extensive estuarine wetland, which from the Iron Age had the impressive fortified settlement and important trading hardour of Hengistbury Head at its mouth.  When the weather is wet, areas of the landscape revert to their former prehistoric state and standing water is common for several months of the year.

Wetland

Storm clouds race over a forest wetland.

Pony

Born in the forest, a life in the forest and a death in the forest, the New Forest ponies, so much part of the forest. You see them throughout all seasons; enduring the harsh winters with ice on their coats, bearing foals in spring, seeking shade amongst the woodland fringe from the bright summer sun and gathered in great groups for tail marking in the autumn drifts. The most sturdy of equine breeds.

Help!

This lifebuoy, once positioned at the rear of the coastal path, now finds itself in need of saving as the fossil rich sticky clay landslips at Barton envelop it in their attempt to return to their watery birthplace.  The engineered slope of the cliffs here once had its base a meter or so behind the lifebuoy, with the shoreline 10 meters beyond, now though the slides have reached the sea and are eroded away at each high tide. It's only now, several weeks after the initial slump, that you can tentatively walk over the clay slides as they've dried a touch, although extreme care is still required if you wish to avoid loosing a boot.

Touchdown

Blue grey clouds, dark and menacing, sweep across the skies, hugging the horizon and periodically touching the deep blue as the weight of moisture became too much, merging withe sea, rejoining the endless cycle.

Scoured Sands

Although the Sun shone brightly, it afforded little warmth as Arctic winds scoured Studland beach. Fine sands, dried by the wind, raced across the intertidal as streamers of white fluffy cloud raced through the azure skies above us, far from shore white horses were driven landward; the elements were rioting, nature was flexing her muscles and it was a mighty fine day to be walking through it all.

Godlingston Heath Bunker

Godlingston Heath has 3 uniquely designed pillboxes situated on small knolls. They are semi sunken variant pillboxs with sloping fronts. This example has 3 stepped loopholes cover south, west and north, with a covered entrance. It has a red brick skin with re-enforced concrete fill construction, a re-enforced concrete slab roof, still exhibiting marks indicating position of wooden shuttering on inside and screed on outside. Access is through a covered entrance, there is the No 21 painted in white on entrance wall interior. Concrete loophole fillers incorporating steel handles present, the central loophole is blocked whilst the other 2 are open. On either side of the loopholes, 1 steel retaining hook remains. This pillbox remains are in very good condition, the interior is mainly clean and dry. The exterior is in reasonable condition; there is though a hole in the roof although this causes no problem and evidence of small arms fire on sloping front. One of a series of defenses responsible for denying access to South Haven Point and the beach from airborne (or other) attack from inland. Pillboxes in this area appear to have had different uses through the war, primarily to defend Studland beach from airborne (or other) attack from the rear and later possibly as range observation bunkers or targets. Documentary sources report a large number of military exercises taking place on Godlingston Heath and Studland Heath and this structure no doubt played its part. Interior rear wall shows small arms damage, with projectiles still lodged in wall by very good or lucky shot. Associated with site are extensive trench works, which form a defended hill.

Hordle Range

The tide was out at Hordle cliffs, exposing the wide flat sandy beach, overlaid by steep banks of pebbles which abut the cliffs. Amongst the pebbles are the eroding remains of massive concrete slaps, their reinforcing bars protruding and rusting. These are the remains of a military gunnery range used in World War Two, and began their journey to the sea from high above on the cliff tops, where a few platforms still remain. On the slab in the foreground you can still clearly see the what's left of the bolts of a gun mount, occasionally a .303 cal. case, badly decayed, can be found. It wont be long before the sea claims these artifacts, the remaining slabs slide slowly down the cliff face, before too long the site will vanish from sight and memory; a testament to our planets fluidity and the transience of human existence.

Grey

 I know it's very English of me to say, but, oh how I'm bored of this perpetual grey damp weather, oppressive, depressing, bland and so, so, boring.

Mistified

A view down the ramparts of Hambledon Hill, Iron Age Hillfort, through skeletal stands of waking trees, down into deep vales shrouded by silent mists.

Ancient pollard

Ridley wood is ancient woodland. For 500 years at least, trees have held tenure of the place, during the 1500's parts were managed woodland, pollarded trees with under-story grazing, this probably continued until 1698 when the practice was banned to create better quality timber for the navy.  This mighty Beech is representative of that latter period, a pollarded tree left to grow out, hence the multiple trunks, several of which have now been slighted age and the elements.  The old woodland of the forest holds a wonderfully deep sense of tenure on the land, histories swirl through the stands and to weave their paths is to walk through time.

Deer

As spring moves towards us the deer are stirring , more small groups, along with the occasional larger group, have become far more visible.  Alert to our presence, they don't bolt at first, they way us up, our potential threat. The stare off continues for a couple of minuets before the stag turns away slowly, listening intensely, pausing for frequent back glances, just to make sure, and finally the family leave the copse they were grazing in and disappear into an undulous mass of deep heather and scrubby gorse.

Mill Lawn Brook

One of the two forks of head water from which Mill Lawn Brook flows. 

Watering hole

Throughout the forest there are permanent pools, many may shrink some through the summer months, but they endure. Some sited in woodland, others in the open heath, but most on the interface of those two environments. I'm not sure how many are natural, many are most certainly the result of aggregate extraction during previous periods, all though create vital watering holes for a myriad of forest creatures. Signs of their activity are visible all around the pool edge.