Nuts

Some of the Hazels are heavy with burgeoning fruits and it's easy to think of bumper harvests, but we've been here before, often the season looks promising but the weather or the squirrels leave little to collect. Still, you never know, it could be a good year for nutters.

Breamore Down

Oats

The time is fast approaching for John Barleycorn to take his leave, his job well done, he can return to the womb of mother Earth for a well deserved sleep and to await his rebirth next spring.

Breamore Church Yew

An ancient Yew, one of many to be found at Breamore.

Cloud blanket

In the summer time when the weather is high.  You can stretch right up and touch the sky. Mungo Jerry

Avon Causeway

It's like cycling through a living Constable.

Cotton Grass

Clumps of Common Cotton Grass crowd the wet patches amongst the rough heathland below St Catherine's Hill, looking like the fields of a cotton wool farms. Although the plant is not really a grass, it's a sedge, whatever, it adds colour and texture to the wet heath environment. I must investigate whether the cottony heads can be used as tinder, like Cat Tail or Rose Bay Willow Herb.

Hell Stone

The Hell Stone is sighted on the edge of the Dorset Ridgeway's escarpment above the village of Portersham. Re erected in the late 19th century, it's doubtful that the current form and description are correct; the site called a 'cromlech' and does look the part, although this form of burial monument is more commonly found further West. I think that the site was more probably a chambered long barrow, there is  evidence of a mound aligned, East West.  What ever the Hell Stones true form, the site has a pleasant ambiance and, as with the Grey Mare, is well worth a visit if passing these parts. 

The Grey Mare and her Colts

With fantastic views from the South downs which borders the Dorest coast, the remains of the Grey Mare and her Colts represent a fine example of a Neolithic chambered long barrow. The mound has been truncated, although still remains to a good length, the large facade stones at the front of the monument indicated that originally this monument was substantial, whilst to their rear multiple stones of varying size represent the collapsed remains of the burial chamber or chambers. The site was excavated in the 19th century when quantities of human bone and Neolithic pottery were recovered. The site is well worth a visit for those interested in archaeology. 

Reflections

The Sun's work now done for they day, it slowly slips below the horizon to shine on distant lands, but as a parting gift it floods the sky with rich warm colours which compliment perfectly a warm Summers eve.

Ford

We came across a strange juxtaposition in the forest, it's the ford which crosses Fletchers Brook which now holds the water rather than the stream itself which is bone dry, it's gravel bed laid bare to the baking Sun. The result is that you have circumnavigate the ford to avoid the water. It's a funny old world. 

Ponies

Forest ponies gather to drink amongst the shady reassesses of Ober Water and who can blame them.

Apples

There appears to be plenty of fruit on the Apple trees this year, both the eaters and the cookers, though we'll need some rain at some point to ensure that we have good sized fruits by harvest.  

Harbour Nights

Say what?!

What is it they want me, or don't want me, to do? Is it a gender specific route, the figure on the 'no entry' sign does look male. Confused, I continued on regardless.

Under White Nothe

I sat for a while just under the summit of White Nothe and took my fill of the splendid views I was afforded, I didn't look down much though, that view is somewhat terrifying. 

Ringstead Relics 2

Another visit to Ringstead Bay and some more wartime relics. Top, with White Nothe in the distance, is a brick and reinforced concrete searchlight position which would have raked the approaches to the important harbour at Weymouth. Sadly, the base of the monument  is fractured, with the front section sinking forward, which doesn't bode well for the sites survival. About 30m to the rear is a unique, if not very odd, pillbox position of brick, reinforced concrete and ironwork. I have never seen a monument of this form before and can find no reference for the design; this is not uncommon, often during the Second World War defences were constructed to suit local needs or availability of resources, though this one is on the bizarre side. The Ringstead area certainly needs further investigation, I know there's more to discover.

Cairn

Poxwell cairn stands on a prominent ridge overlooking the approach to Weymouth Bay and when constructed would have been a visible landmark, a high status monument, a message both to locals and outsiders. The remains represent a Circle Cairn or Ring Cairn, which is a burial monument from the Bronze Age, a round barrow with stone bickering and was probably the site an imported tribal elder.

Bascombe Vally

Bascombe, not to be confused with Boscombe; well, you can see how that mistake could be made.

Holworth

Carrion birds fill the sky above the grassy lumps and bumps of the deserted medieval village of Holworth. I know the site is old, first recorded in 933 as belonging to Milton Abbey and was probably deserted in the late 15th century; the site was partially excavated in the 1950's, where an astounding over 14,000 sherds of pottery were recorded, but other than that I know little more. 

Green World

Green!

Hurry on Sundown

Hurry on sundown, see what tomorrow brings.

Pyramid Orchid

The Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis) is quite commonly found in dry chalk and limestone grasslands in the south of Britain, often in fair size groupings.

Heaven scent

This time of year warm evening walks are filled with the heavenly scent from the masses of honeysuckle which commonly climb and swamp many a shrub. Their perfumed flowers fill the senses and lift the spirit, a magical plant for sure.