All along the watchtower

Although the march of Autumn continues, the appearance of the Sun returned the woods to Summer, if only momentarily. The combination of the Sun and the recent rains have breathed new life into the land; everything was verdant green, from the trees and ferns down to every blade of grass and clump of moss. We took a while to rest at one of the increasingly rare 'shooting positions', once there were many all over the forest, nowadays they are few, most being dismantled as the methods employed in the management of Deer populations has changed; the Deer population has increased tremendously since annual culling ceased. Our elevated view through the trees aforded a different perspective on the woodland, tracks, which I beleive to be tanks training in the 1940's, can easily be traced crossing each other as they snake amongst the mature Oaks of Brinken Wood; a Red Deer sounds in the near distance before breaking cover and moments later disappears again amongst the jumble of fern and shrub, whilst the new meandering course of Warwickshade Cutting is clearly visible.

Autumn rolls closer

Agents of Autumn increasingly stalk the woodland and heath, slowly slowly they encroach on summers tail, although Autumn has been lurking for some time, it's only now it makes its move. Damp percolates up through dry ground, moisture returns, mists fill the evening valleys and you know soon the forest will change.

Cep

Hold on they're coming, I said hold on they're nearly here :o) The Autumn mushrooms season rolls into view, found more than a dozen 'golf ball' sized Ceps and more smaller, spread out through Red Rise shade.

25

A Type 25 Pillbox, circular, reinforced concrete, corrugated iron shuttered, 3 firing embrasures, 1 small entrance; this example is on the cliff edge half way up Flowers Barrow Hill, it's badly damaged with an section of wall and roof missing as well as being half filled with debris.

Punk graffiti

PIL, Public Image Limited, formed in 1978 by John Lydon along with Keith Levene (guitar), Jah Wobble (bass), and Jim Walker (drums).

Worbarrow Bay

Tynham Village

Great Expectations

Or rather...unrealistic expectations, based on previous experience. Should have known better!

Kimme ridge

The path to Townley Shentons seat was shrouded in a thick blend of low cloud and sea mist, all but a short distance in front of you was obscured; no view today. Still a beautiful and exhilarating place to be.

Bratley Wood

1970's?

'Lay Chics, Not Eggs' Yeah man, right on!

Kayak

Blackwater

Spatterdock

The meandering stretch of Ober Water between Markway Bridge and Puttles Bridge is flanked by clumps of deciduous trees and shrubs, which cast dappled shade over the stream, through these shaded meanders the stream flows lazily , almost motionless and amongst its bends yellow Spatterdock or yellow water lily flourish.

Dama dama

Perseids

Just returned from the forest after laying watching the Perseid meteor shower for an hour or so. The view from the flat expanse of Spy Holms was broad and open, silhouettes of the surrounding woodland still visible in the distance; after initial mottled cloud cover the sky cleared for a long while, with no clouds the myriad of stars which make up the Milky Way were clearly visible cutting a jewelled swathe through the moonless sky, supported by numerous other celestial bodies, several satellites raced about their business, criss crossing the globe and, of course, loads of meteors, some good sized and bright, leaving long visible trails as crashed through the atmosphere, others smaller but nevertheless impressive.

Bramshaw Woods

Even though today was mainly overcast, blanketed in grey cloud, occassionaly the sky cleared allowing the sun to break through. Bramshaw Woods nestled under this blanket, any warmth created, trapped by the cloud, mixed with the residual moisture of recent rains resulting in a sticky, close and humid environment; luckily juxtaposed with this were occasssional light breezes, chill and sharp, stopping the humidity becoming uncomfortable. A walk through Bramshaw is decieving, your mind occupied with the beauty of the vistas about you, it's not until you stop that you register the height of your decended; the woods being on the slopes at the Eastern edge of the centeral high plateau of the forest. An Autumnal feel, is noticably barging into the summer scene, yellowing leafs adorn several trees, particularly the Silver Birch, the bracken too shows signs of the coming season. Still we continue down through the woodland. The woods here have a feeling about them, another juxtaposition, this time between familiarity and unknown. The woodland is damp, rich green moss covers the bases of mature tree trunks, fallen limbs too lay cover in lush moss, whilst ferns crowd the numerous dank gullies which tread thier way amongst the the trees.

Older Graffiti

Old graffiti

Heart of Hush

Hush is back, set during the nights before Batmans demise, Tommy Elliot is back in town. Still quite mad and quite deranged Hush embarks on frenzied series of actions, finally being caught be Catwoman and handed over to Nightwing and Robin, who keep him captive in order to retain their secret identity. A great story, well written, with effective art, a real treat.

Bog Woodland Restoration

Restoration of bog woodland has been an ongoing project in the forest over the past few years. The New Forest contains important bog woodland environments, environments which were adversely affected through drainage for forestry activities over the last 150 years. Restoration has been through returning water courses to their previous channels, encouraging seasonal flooding, and removal of invasive shrub and tree populations. Here on Avon Water, between Holmsley Bridge and Wootton Bridge, which is adjacent to a extensive strip of open raised bog wetland, the process is beginning to bear fruit with the return of these vital and rare habitats, their flora and fauna.

The encouragement of seasonal flooding in this area and the recent rains have combined to sustain the moist environment, creating a lush and verdant swathe of greens and a wide and diverse range of niche plants. Accessible now, as even though retaining moisture it's firm enough under foot to traverse, when autumn arrives and with it the rains, this environment will become inaccessible to humans (unless prepared to become very wet and jeopardise their safety), creating an oasis for forest wildlife.

Indian Balm

Invasive Indian Balm has colonised small strongholds along the stream bank, a non native and although sporting beautiful flowers through the spectrum of pinks, it's invasive and will need to be kept in check as the years go by, as with the Western Skunk Cabbage which also has small strongholds along this section of stream.

Sweet spot

There are some stretches of the forest streams, some sweet spots, which are different from the others, these places will be unique to the individual; but what they'll all have in common is a perfect mix of features creating an idyllic, idealised picture of what a small woodland stream should be. Just a small amount of rainfall has invigorated the woodland streams, flushing the tired waters from the isolated pools which have endured the recent dry spell; refreshing these tough habitats, life flowed over the exposed gravels again. The water of life. Among the deep pools, covered by lush overhanging foliage, beneath the shaded banks of Red Rise Brook, Brown Trout, some as big as 10 inches, darted away on our approach. Above the bubbling brook, Hover flies massed in such numbers they created the illusion of a distant motor racing track in full swing.

The small amount of rain and fresh life flowing through the streams has given the woodland wild food a boost. Apples on the common, both wild and wild/domestic hybrids are filling out, bowing their boughs. The Blackberry bushes, densely packed along sections of the brook, are covered in fruit, large yet still green, are the focus of myriads of Butterflies, Hover flies, Wasps, Bees and the frightening appearance of a Hornet. Small quantities of Mushrooms have appeared throughout the forest, mainly bracket type, Oyster, Beefsteak and alike. The ground, still being tough and compacted, yields little and allows only a few of the most determined mushrooms through.

All around the march towards Autumn continues, it's tangible, the smell, the feel, the air, all have changed; the wheel turns continually, the cycle of life is never still, everything has its time and a time for everything.

Soarley Beeches

Mark Ash Woods

Blackenford Bottom

Fluffy clouds of white and grey raced through the azure sky, casting shadows over Blackenford Bottom as the passed by on their travels eastwards. The air today was fresh, cleansed after the heavy rains of the previous night, the streams dry beds given a temporary reprieve the waters running off the land bubbled happily; the forest was a picture of beauty.

Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh and the wheel turns once more, crops in the fields ripen, young born in spring find thier feet, while the first fruits of the forest begin to bow their boughs, plants which burgeoned forth in spring now drop thier seed for next years shoots and although noticeably the sun begins its transit into winter and the nights begin to draw, we rejoice in the first harvests, reaping what we've sown and gratefully gathering favours from the wilds.