Mark ash Wood

This part of the forest used to be a regular haunt, although of recent years it appears to have frequently dropped off the walk radar. The trees here have grown tall and proud, many over 3m in circumference; sadly though, the exposed yellow orange subsoils indicates another victim of the winter weather and in this section of Mark Ash several mature trees have succumbed.  The land undulates, gullies and shallow valleys stretch like fingers up from the lower ground surrounding the wood; seasonal watercourses flow through them, becoming permanent wet bog areas as they reach the lower stretches where they feed into one of the many tributaries, which themselves feed the woodland brooks and streams.   The land here feels old, the woods appear eternal, no uniformity found in the enclosures, even the old ones, just natural beauty.  Deer frequent the wood and several small groups are seen browsing; I creep up on a group of 3 deer and I'm doing well until a poorly placed foot brakes a fallen stick and the deer are gone, their white rumps disappearing into the thicket.