Racists!

The nature of the scaring suggests 1970's / 1980's, the names tie in with that era and the NF suggests they were racists; NF representing in style and form the monica synonymous with the national front, for runner to the BNP. Racists visiting the forest! It's almost like they were human! Obviously though they're not, merely thick, misguided or just nasty bastards.

Kimmeridge Bay

By the Gads!

Gads cliff towers over the western end of Kimmeridge Bay, beyond the cliffs lay Worbarrow Bay and the deserted village of Tynham and on the horizon Portland can just be made out. The beach below Gads cliff is always out of bounds due to the areas use as an artillery range and presumably hasn't been cleared; it's always held an allure as possibly the only place I've not walked on the Purbeck coast....one day though.

Gnarly Beech

Broken and bent, twisted and deformed, nestled on the ridge of a slight escarpment about wet heathland this gnarly Beech refuses to yield to the forces levelled at it and against all odds continues to soldier on.

Hold on it's coming.

Spring approaches and heralds are sent forth to show us seasonal change is on its way.

!

Another graffiti masterpiece 'Fuck ! Sex' what's it all about? Surprise or dissatisfaction, that must be the question.

Chair

Don't ask me what's going on, I was bemused myself when I passed this chair in a field last week, it was still in the same spot today, so I thought I'd take a photo. I wonder what was going on?

Boiler

Just beyond the intertidal the cylindrical form of a ships boiler is all that remains of a ship that grounded here sometime in the early 1900's, local recollect it being there in the 50's and 60's. The boiler is visible at low tide and particularly so at spring tide. I don't know much more about the remains but will endeavour to find more information.

Sealed pillbox interior

Oh, Dr Beeching!

Once part of integrated public transport system that connected our land in a fashion unimaginable in today's piecemeal public transport mess, this section of former railway, its tracks removed under Dr Beeching's destruction of the railways in the 1960's, now forms a waterlogged wildlife haven, where grass snakes can regularly be seen swimming in the summer months.

Secrets

Tucked in the hollow folds of a tree bole was spied a white container, on examination it contained another container which contained a note book and a rubber stamp; obviously part of a geocache type forest walk. It belonged to the 'Medway Well Wishers' and had last been visited in 2009, they were wished well and the pot returned. It's in Burley Old enclosure, good luck.

Homeward bound

The cliff erodes into the sea or rather, is eroded by the sea. The muddy clay is packed with a myriad of sea creature fossils, laid down when the area was a vast warm shallow lagoon, make their way back to the waters from which they began 40 million year ago.

On white horses

WW2 American graffiti

Another World War 2 period piece of graffiti found in Burley Old Enclosure; it comprises of what appears to read 'NY VE USA 44' and is about 300m from the other 2 examples from the area.

Highcliffe Castle

When in the 1980's we used to visit the fenced ruins of Highcliffe Castle, burnt down, a dangerous playground for local youth, overwhelmed by bramble and climber and looking beyond redemption, I never envisaged it would, or could, be restored to its former glory. But today the faux castle is well on the way to complete restoration and a popular local amenity.

Snowy Birch wood

I've been reading 'The Bone Forest' a mythago cycle book in which events are played out in part in a winter Birch wood; today Great Huntley Bank was blanketed in a shallow dusting of light snow, complimenting the trunks of a Birch stand and bringing the book to life.

The Run

Red Rise Brook Iced

The winter's been mild and Jack's presence has been infrequent to say the least, today though the brooks frosted edges were a reminder that winter's not past yet.

Studland cliff icicles

Studland Walk

Imbolc

Imbolc

Where Brigid walks new life now spouts.
Summoning tender growth to banish doubts.

With the first signs of life renewed.
Our hearts with light and love imbued.

Our Sun returns with glowing rays.
Proclaiming the approach of better days.

Prepare your plans, let fly your desires.
For seasons move fast and time really flies.

A hope for you, a hope for me.
Our dreams in due time will fruition see.