Bo Ningen at the Joiners

Bo Ningen, if you haven't seen them live yet, then ensure you do so at your soonest convenience! A friend had enthused about them, I'd heard some bits and listen to a piece on 6 music, where they were described along the lines of a musical apocalypse, so I went along. Nothing had prepared me for the musical onslaught (not in a bad way) that is Bo Ningen. I can't describe them beyond that as they defy description. What I would add is that they happily mingled with the crowd afterwards and appeared to be jolly nice chaps.

Camouflage

The broken dappled patterns along with the many hues of green created by the rich woodlands covering the gorge would make an excellent camouflage.

Gorgeous

After last evenings musical delights and an all too short sleep in Cheddar Gorge, we made for a sunny vantage point and a hearty breakfast. Finding a pull in with views across the levels and out to the Bristol channel, we took in the morning. Still smiling from last nights Sentient gig. Glastonbury Tor was clearly visible in the distance, such a magical landscape, it's easy to imagine that the Tor has always been held in awe, remembering that until more recent times the surrounding levels would have been an extensive mix of wetland and open water.  Avalon would have been an important and significant isle. After, we made our way back to the gorge. Ascending rocky pathways we rose through a bolder strewn woodland of tenacious stands, before emerging atop of the Mendip Hills and were afforded some spectacular views over and along Cheddar Gorge. The difference in environments between the Mendips and the levels could not be more marked. Again letting my my mind wander, I imagined how the Mendips gorges must have been viewed by people in the past; wild and mysterious places full or stories and folklore, places probably avoided by many and maybe sanctuary for others.  For me the gorges and hills of the Mendips are a magical environment I never tire of exploring.

Sentient at the King Arthur

The King Arthur is an unassuming pub in the back streets of Glastonbury, and what a friendly drinking establishment it is and very cool venue to boot; our purpose for being so far from home tonight. Tonight we had traveled to see Sentient, a four piece comprising of Steffe Sharpstrings (of legendary Here and Now fame amongst others) on guitar and vocals, Anand Gary "Subs" (of Dave Howard Singers) on bass, Joie Hinton (of Eat Static, Ozric Tentacles amongst others) on synths and keyboards and Tanya Smart (of the Oroonies) on drums and percussion. I've wanted to see Sentient for some time and had high expectations. The room was empty really, a few people sat about but as Sentient let loose like psychedelic pied pipers preparing to lead a merry dance the edges of the King Athurs back room filled with people drawn by their music. As the band took the audience on a journey through some outstanding magical musical soundscapes, the room quickly filled and folk started, slowly at first, to move on to the dance floor, until it was filled with strangely moving and gyrating people, lost in the music. Imagine, as I did, a Romero zombie film or maybe the video to Thriller but the zombies have been replaced by colourfully clothed, very happy and smiley 'heads' all blissed out on what were some sublime sounds. Made me smile; everybody was having a great time. The band too, appeared to be enjoying themselves, which is aways nice. With plenty of glissando, fine guitar work by Steffe over Joie's wild synthscapes, all underpinned by Subs solid bass and excellent drumming by Tanya, they brought the back room of the King Arthurs to life. Beautiful. I enjoyed every minute of it though was particularly taken a groovy little jazzy number about halfway through, as the Jazz Club guy might say.....niiiice. The band played a nice long set of 2 hours or so, though as with all good things it appeared much shorter and ended far too soon. Bloody marvelous. I said I had high expectations, well I wasn't disappointed, if anything Sentient managed to exceed expectations; what a fantastic night.

Burnt Orchids

A rare treat on Martin Down, coming across a group of Burnt Tip Orchids (Neotinea ustulata) as they begin to flower. These orchids are not common and are listed as endangered.  Only found in a handful of sites across Britain I feel very lucky to have seen them.

Follow the path

Even if your course appears unsure, just follow your own path and you'll get where you need to be. Verdant doesn't go there, this path appeared to disappear in a sea of lush green vegetation, the like of which is uncommon. It reminded me of Ryhope Wood in Robert Holdstocks Mythago Wood cycle of books, wild and magical, all consuming, a place you could lose yourself in. Nature at her most fertile.

Hawthorn

It's May time and the chalk grassland is punctuated with thick clusters of pinky white, these can be seen for as far as the eye can see dotted about the mostly open landscape, the hedgerows too are festooned in the bright blossom of the Hawthorn. If folklore be believed then the area must be rife with fairies, who are supposed to live within. There's no doubt this landscape is magical.  

Purple Orchid

There were a few Early Purple Orchids (Orchis mascula) growing on Grims Ditch today, such cool plants the orchids and always a treat to discover.

Spring Chicken

The first Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus), also commonly known as the sulphur polypore, I've seen this year. I'll come back in a few days to see if there's a dinners worth.  

Roman Bridge

Norden Woods

Long before I can see them or the wood their home, the strong smell of garlic as I approach Norden Wood tells me that the wild garlic there are know in full bloom. Never a disappointment in May, Nordon Wood is carpeted in fresh white star like flowers on a deep bed of rich green; this carpet extends well up the sides of the hill of which the wood partially covers. I pick a couple or so of the flower heads and eat them, the flavour is strong and hot, but not off putting and I eat a few more. It's good to be reminded of how pungent and strong they are, a mistake I made last year was to use far too much wild garlic in a soup and render it virtually impossible to eat. It's early evening and as the Sun slowly lengthens the shadows, golden light streams through the stands, from the open fields beyond the wood Deer spy our passing, whilst all about is alive with evening bird song; nature in full effect. Just to stand awhile amongst such beauty.

A Purbeck evening

I've said it before and no doubt I'll say it again, Purbeck is magic. Even with the encroaching metropolis of Bournemouth/Poole across the harbour, it retains an air of isolation, of being slightly out of the flow of time.....of being an island.

Canopies

I never get bored of the majesty of woodland canopies, always I look up in awe at natures wonders. Clothed in springs new finery, you feel enclosed as if in one of natures cathedrals, looking up at mighty boughs forming a vaulted a roof atop sturdy pillars of Beech and Oak. I can't understand why Christians would choose to worship their creator inside cold buildings, as beautiful as some of them are, when the wonders they believe he created outshine even the most majestic and would appear to have be created for the purpose.

Brolly

Obviously a gentleman out walking, I like to imagine a John Steed type character dressed in hunters tweed, out walking perhaps with a Mrs Peel type character, sat for a moment to take in the views and has alighted forgetting his trusty brolly, left perched against a fallen bough. Or maybe there's another scenario, though I doubt it.

A dappled forest stream

Now days Highland Water runs under the low laying boughs of stream side trees, serene and demure, dappled sunlight playing on its gently flowing surface; no longer the racing torrent is was through the winter months, when its banks could frequently not contain it and it travel where it willed, no, today it chatters merrily as navigates its way over sections of nearly exposed gravel, well with the confines of its banks which now tower above.

Broken Beeches

Too many trees have succumbed to the angry elements this past year, too many mature woodland leviathans lay splintered and broken on the alter of mans inability to control his actions, even in the face of certain destruction. What we do to ourselves is, of course, our own prerogative and stupid is as stupid does, but we are not alone and sadly, if we don't wake up from our malaise, we'll take much of the worlds wondrous nature with us as collateral damage. Leaving future generations to inhabit wastelands.

Mast be spring.

Throughout the forest nature bursts into life, the Beech of Great Huntley Bank are festooned with flowers and young mast, the Beech grows both male and female flowers on the same plant, which is handy for its propagation.  In good years, come late summer/autumn, these boughs will hang heavy with mast or Beech nuts, now mostly forgotten these small triangular fruits were a useful crop well used by previous generations.

Beltane

The cleansing fires of Bel will purify the night and prepare the land and our spirits for the season to come. Where our May Queen, our Flower Bride, passes stem, bud and flower will burst forth with youthful vigor, symbols of purity, of new growth and of renewal; where she treads new life burgeons as fertility floods our lands. Blessed be and happy Beltane.

Green

It's that time again when the woodland closes in on itself, dressed in the lush green finery of springs new growth, the vistas of winters nakedness are all but gone and the woods are places of secrets glades filled with magical mystery once again. I think I love the trans-formative season of spring and autumn, best of all.  

Beetle

A beetle, beetles are cool.

Pentridge Hill

Grey clouds scud across the sky casting their fast moving shadows as Penbury Hill, an Iron Age Fort, stands guard over this ancient land as it has done for 2000 years or more. Cranbourne Chase is a landscape shaped by man and loved by man, a landscape of ritual significance to our ancestors and littered with their monuments. When walking its chalk downs and woodlands you sense its timeless nature and feel the presence of the past, without conscious thought you walk with reverence, this land is sacred.

Bluebell Wood

The Chase, always beautiful, is particularly fine when decked in Springs blue robes. Martin Wood is resplendent, carpeted for as far as the eye can see with Bluebells.

False Widow Spider

Although a lot bigger than I had imagined, all reputable sources suggest this spider is not dangerous and will give little worse than bee sting. Though the red tops and the media in general have whipped up a storm suggesting your leg might fall off or your head may explode if bitten. Still, I aired on the side of caution and removed it.

Mark Ash

Deep in the woods spring stirs. From the tree tops the birds eager songs ring out, a rallying cry to action, deer congregate amongst the stands, wary of danger they eye the forest for threats, ponies graze the lush greenery of the shades and all about the undergrowth is alive with movement as the woodland creatures awake and prepare for the season ahead. The forest is a place of wonders.

Birch

The Birch, always the first to begin to dress for spring.

Apple blossom

I look forward to the apple blossom, so fragrant, so sweet smelling, for me it embodies spring and all the potential there in. Sadly, some people are desperately thick and have allowed, nay encouraged, their hounds to vandalize some of our local apple trees, their lower boughs scared at the least or ripped off at worst. To me another indication of humanities increasing separation from our planet and a deepening lack of understanding of nature and her value; the apple is a symbolic fruit and a versatile food source, to willfully destroy it surely shows ignorance.

Hollow trees

Three hollow Oak trees all in a row.

Cowslip

You've got to love cowslips.

Natures door

A thoughtful dry stone waller has left animal accesses, which was nice. 

Blossom

Blackthorn blossom fills the hedgerows and shrub, the first of the thorn blossoms to show its flashes of white add a freshness to the landscape.The way to differentiate between Blackthorn and Hawthorn, whose flowers are almost, if not entirely, similar is that the Blackthorn flowers before it show leafs, where as the Hawthorn shows its leaf before flowering.

Bluebell dell

With such sad drooping heads, Bluebells should cut forlorn figures amongst the still bare stands, yet oh contraire, forming thick flowing carpets, their swaying purple blue heads bring the woodland dells to joyous life.

Forgotten bridge

Usually as you cross the small streams and rivers which cross the countryside, crossing is afforded by roughly hewn wooden bridges, made for function rather than form. Though, down in the Corfe valley, tucked away amongst the wooded fringes of the Corfe river we came across a beautiful stone hewn bridge.  Although, now suffering from time and neglect, it's clear that this bridge was made with beauty as much as function in mind; this bridge stuck out as rare. Its location and the absence of any well used trackway or significant occupation gives no sense of why such a well build bridge was built here, so it's a bit of an enigma.

Ramsons

The subtle smell of garlic fills Norden Wood. Ramsons cover the woodland floor, a carpet of green for as far as you can see, it wont be long before they burst into flower and their scent will be smelt long before their flowers seen.

Oil Beetle

Apparently this is a very rare Oil Beetle, or so a very enthusiastic fellow was telling everybody who passed him on ridgeway path near 9 barrow down.  Apparently, it they called oil beetles as when threatened they release an oil called hemolymph from their joints which is a poisonous chemical which can cause blistering and swelling, making them unattractive to predators. 

Corfe

Three views of the once mighty Corfe Castle, favoured bastion of Kings and former royal treasury, now a favourite with holiday making families and schools.  The castle is no doubt merely the last thing to be built on the strategically significant hillock set in the only gap in the Purbeck hills. I would imagine that the hill has, since prehistory, been viewed as significant by local populations and may have been the focus of ritual activity in those times. Although, it's unlikely we'll ever know as any past occupation or activity would have likely been erased by the castles building.  

A day at the Dormy

A vast complex of abandoned buildings covering an extensive plot of land; a huge hotel, a leisure center and spa, bars and ballrooms and all associated maintenance and staff buildings, are all that remains of one of the areas premier hotels. I can remember going there in the 1990's, at the time it had the deserved reputation of being rather swanky. In the early 2000's it ran into financial trouble and soon after by left vacant, youth and such like took their toll culminating with a fire in the main building. The site is now fenced off, though access can be achieved and it's still popular with the youth.  A great, and I must say in places scary, time was spent creeping about the ruined buildings and investigating; still more left for another visit.

Lichen

Studland evening

The later evenings facilitate a greater variety of walks. This evenings walk was through the Studland dunes and back along the beach and it was bloody marvelous.

Old coppice

As with so many others, the old coppice, once the scene of seasonal activity, traditional practices and craft production, lays in decline, abandoned and forgotten. Its products no longer required as new materials and techniques have overtaken the old ways, seen now as redundant. How far wrong we have gone, so separated from nature and her cycles. She once provided all we required and we were grateful to her.  No longer though. They call it progress I believe?