Markway

Hawkhill

It's a damp grey day, light rain blow through the forest. Smoke drifts silently off amongst the remaining trees of Hawkhill Enclosure (1870) a substantial pyre of woodland detritus crackles and pops as the flames take hold; flames lick out driven by swirling gusts. The dense woodland now reduced to neatly piled trunks lining the nearby gravel track. This section of Hawkhill is being stripped bare, returned to a semblance of its past self, open heathland; there are several massive heaps waiting to be ignited and in two or three years, if undertaken well, no sign of plantation will remain.

Burley Old Enclosure

Corfe Castle

Birken

The forest is radiant this morning, as a rider put it 'the best morning of the year so far' and you can't argue with that; the light is clean and the air fresh, the juxtaposition between the warm spring sun and the light chill hanging amongst the trunks and along the stream all combined to create an atmosphere of serene beauty. It feels like spring proper. The forest wildlife know it too; the tree tops ring with myriad bird calls, whilst nearby large herds of Fallow Deer graze in numerous sunlit glades. Winter has been drier than usual and the streams reflect this; Highland Water burbles over exposed gravel banks, a more common sight in late spring / early summer. Still, the gentle sound of water winding its way through woodland is therapeutic in itself and never fails to move one.

Hunting lodge

Buried in wet woodland on the fringe of Fletchers Green and truncated by the straightened 18th century course of Fletchers Water are the banked and ditched remains of one of several medieval royal hunting lodges scattered over the forest. Situated shortly before the confluence of Fletchers Water and Highland Water, this lodge is considerably bigger in area than others such as Studley Castle or Church Place. These sites represent temporary accommodation to be used whilst on hunting trips built in 1358 during the reign of Edward the third (1327 - 1377), historical records suggest these buildings would have been simple plastered wood constructions with possibly a Purbeck stone roof; evidence of Purbeck stone has been uncovered on these sites.

Equinox

The young sun grows in potency and the earth awakes; the Goddess of spring is abroad. Bathed in light the land warms and new life stirs in hedgerow and field, along sparkling streams and through wooded glade. Amongst still bare boughs birds fill the air with song, amongst the root stock sap rises to feed bud and stem, whilst in between all life anticipates, a time of preparation, a time to plan; the burgeoning will soon begin. A point of balance, of equilibrium between night and day, of peace.

Groyne

Notable or notorious?

Notable or notorious? Buried deep amongst the shady confines of Knightwood enclosures coniferous plantations, the Eagle Oak stands as if hidden away in shame. The Oak itself is innocent of any crime, although it was the site of a most shameful event when in 1810 a forest keeper, for reasons hard to fathom, shot the last Sea Eagle in our land which had shelter amidst the boughs of the afore mentioned Leviathan. Eagle Oak, one of the true ancients of the forest, is weathered, many of its branches know little more than ragged stumps; still, steadfast, bruised and battered by the elements and time this ancient tree endures as does the Sea Eagle who has tentatively, 200 years later, been reintroduced in to the UK.

Jurassic high point

Swathed in gentle mists rolled in from the sea, the Purbeck Hills exuded an air of tranquility and beauty; although in juxtaposition, the land's alive, rustling in the hedgerows, bird song filling the eager boughs of soon to bud trees, the sounds of activity everywhere, all bathed in spring sun. From Swyres Head, at 203m the highest point of the Jurassic coast, westwards, the hills and shore towards Lulworth and beyond remained shrouded throughout the day.

Carbon Grey 1

Carbon Grey is a new Image title, beautifully drawn and exquisitely rendered, with the possibility of a good tale to boot. Set in a future present post WW1? alternative reality type world of automatic weapons and airships, where Germany appears to project a powerful presence; this first issue is fast paced, opening with the brutal assassination of the Kaiser, setting the scene and introducing the sisters Grey. The art is something else, the style, the lines, the expressions and the colours; the colour pallet is well chosen and fantastically deployed. Certainly a title to keep an eye on.