Bolete

A grand example of a Bolete.

Patterned Bark

Beautifully patterned bark on a mature Sweet Chestnut tree. Way cool. 

Mosssssssyyyyy

So mossy, man! It was firm and felt like a type of exotic luxury fabric, or a short haired dogs face, or something. Whatever, it was weird, Nature's so cool.

300 by 300 by 300

Although they can live much longer, the Beech (fagus sylvatica) has a lifespan of about 1000 years or so. There's an old saying with regard to an Oak is 300 years growing, 300 years living, 300 years dying, (though again they can live much longer) and I think that old saying may work similarly for the Beech. I know this huge Beech has been down and blocking an old trackway for over 25 years, though recently it was cut in two to clear the track.  The bark has all but gone, but the wood below that is still rock solid, you'd never imagine the tree had been 'dead' for so long.

X marks the spot

X marks the spot on the sky pirates treasure map.

Woodland camp

This old camp has been in Brinken wood for some years now. When I first came across it, it had recently been created and evidence of its use was apparent by signs of a fire, or fires. Since then though, either it hasn't been used or the people using it have been concealing their actions better. Respect if it's the latter.  Every year I've spent some time repairing the stockade which encircles the camp site, adding to it, to keep it alive. I intend to camp there, though it's a damp wood so the opportunities are limited. In the meantime I take time to sit there and chill, listening to the wood around me getting on with what it gets on with. It's a nice spot.

If you go down to the woods today......

If you go down to the woods today......you'll be in for a big surprise. No shit! Autumn is definitely dominating the forest now, though by the actions of those out in it, you'd think it was spring. It was one of those days out walking today. Walking the less walked path can often lead to the unexpected. So it was this afternoon, no more than 20 minutes out and as the path turned, boom, there was a guy getting a blowy of his partner, and filming on his phone it too!  I saw him, he saw me, I saw her, she saw me, they flinched, I put my head down and walked off at speed, not looking back. I hate it when that happens, I always feel so guilty. Hang on, I hear you say....'always'? Yeah, the number of times I've accidentally interrupted or at least had to abruptly alter course to avoid disturbing people getting it on in the forest in recent years is nearly in double figures. Awkward. Indeed. Obviously, more for them, than me.  As I say, I always feel guilty, but I can walk on, though it must be hard to keep in the moment after some one has walked by. And forest love being such a beautiful thing, too. I continued on my walk, and lovely it was; the forest was exuberant, as seasons change always are. Walking alone you get lost in your thoughts, your mind drifts as ideas ebb and flow. It was about this time when I caught movement out of the corner of my eye, and my focus was brought sharply back to the present. Was it a 'mythago*' forming, no, it was some guys arse moving at speed. Yup, it was a couple going for it on a river bank behind a large fallen trunk. I spun on my heels, and was pleased to hear their continued moaning as I made off. At least I didn't ruin this couples day. Like I said, it may be autumn though folk are acting like it's spring. 

* A reference to the minds creation of mythagos, archetypal folklore figures uniquely imagined by the individual, leading to a wood where multiples of the same figure existed, only each slightly different to the other, in 'Mythago Wood' by Robert Holdstock

Oi, cheeky!

I swear this tree was sticking his tongue out at me, cheeky bugger!

Autumn lady’s tresses

That delicate herald of seasons change the Autumn lady’s tresses (Spiranthes spiralis), are beginning to show. Called 'Autumn', they usually appear in August and September, although I usually spot them in the latter month. Only one or two, though it's still early doors, in a good season they can carpet their roams.

Rolling

A group of ponies trotted up onto the open expanse of Spy Homes from Red Rise. One by one they took turns in rolling about, before standing looking nonchalant. What's their game? Ay?

Burley Old

The years of weather damage show on Burley Old. The hollowed trunks of those felled by storms of yore, and the shattered boughs of recent years, lay intertwined in deaths embrace, in their return to their origins...the earth. A jumble. A mass. A mess. I often lament the changes I see in the forest. If they felt natural I'm certain I'd feel their loss less. Though they feel unnatural, I can't help but feel I'm witnessing the effects of man's recklessness, and know I'm part of that, as disenfranchised as I feel. Through really I think it may be my fear of change, and desire for security, that I feel. Some things, should, in my hind, stand eternal. Though of course, that's not how it is.

Ling

There are three types of heather in Britain, all commonly found in the forest: Ling Heather (Calluna Vulgaris), Bell Heather (Erica cinerea) and Cross Leaved Heath Heather (Erica tetralix). Out of these Ling is the most abundant in the forest, it's the one you'll see the most. Usually just referred to as 'Ling', it's the one of the three heathers most commonly seen in the forest, its delicate soft pink flowers bringing swathes of colour to the heathland and are quite long lasting. It's hardy and durable, living for over 40 years, with woody stems and small waxy leaves, able to tolerate extremes of weather.  The flowers have been used to flavour wines and ales, it's still a common bee plant, with ling honey being priced for it's taste.  You'll often see hives placed amongst the shelter of the heathland gorse to exploit the heathers. The forestry regularly cut heather back to promote vigorous and healthy growth and to stop the heather becoming too woody and a fire risk. They bale it, you see the bales used around the forest for various things, particularly in waterways. Everything gets used in the forest, as it should be.  The heather does look lovely at this time of year.

Hedgehogs are here!

Added to the fungi role call today, and for the first time this season, the delightful, the delicious and the impossible to misidentify (huzzah!), Hedgehog mushroom (Hydnum repandum). A favourite of mine, and a welcome and tasty addition to the pan.  A lovely mushroom, often found in good quantities, in linear groups and usually maggot free and clean. 

The Neighbourhood Strange @ Angola 76 Shaftesbury 12.8.2017

We'd not visited Shaftebury for a gig before and I was very interested to check the place out, and was looking forward to The Neighbourhood Strange who always do a good turn. The Angola '76 is set in a side street in central Shaftesbury, and is a small bar/gastro type affair, with an upstairs seating area, with eating, drinking and performance area on the ground floor, as well as a good sized partially covered outside courtyard. Nice place, great for intimate performances, with friendly staff and really friendly clientèle; we'd only been there 5 minutes and people were chatting to us; that says a lot for a place. Yeah, really friendly folk.

The Neighbourhood Strange are a five piece: Marcus on guitar and vocals, Mark on guitar, Bob on organ, The Dazman on bass and Will on drums. Lead singer Marcus remarked that he had been a Mod in his youth, and you can definitely hear mod sensibilities in the bands sound, not just that warm 60's mod sound, but also the sharper sound of revivalist modernism of the late 70's early 80's. I was a mod too, and feel a particular love for those sounds; they resonate. The Neighbourhood Strange's sound is a perfect and skilful blend of both mod periods, at the introduction of acid and the psychedelia that spawned; it's a really great sound they've created and they dispense it perfectly. Every track worked, 'let's get high' has a solid early/mid 60's feel to it, and sounded really tight, which songs like that need.  Whereas 'Wythes Sky' is a nice mid 60's west coast flavoured guitar and organ number and has a much more fluid vibe to it. And then there's 'one last chance',which is loaded with late 70's mod/post mod feeling, (it's  got a real 'Squeeze' quality to it). Their tracks are short and direct, well layered and packed with depth, not mention nice portions of psychedelic flare. Very listen-able, the audience were loving it. Short tracks mean lots of tracks in a set, which I dig just as much as hour long jam track, The Neighbourhood Strange performed 17 tracks, each masterfully delivered by a band of talented musicians who obviously love the music they perform. And why would you, it's freaking good. A top quality gig all round, I thoroughly recommend them.  

The bass player was saying they were hoping to gig with legendary Californian psych rockers Cartlon Melton next spring, which when last we saw the on the same bill was a splendid evening of music, and certainly one for the diary.  The band have also got a single out in autumn and an album out next year, both things to look forward too. The bands last 2 singles (both released on vinyl, which was nice) are excellent, and worth giving a listen here. I've seen The Neighbourhood Strange a few times now, they started off good and have kept on improving. Check them out, you'll have a good night. And if you're in Shaftesbury, check out Angola '76, it's important to support small venues. 

Winkelbury

Winkelbury Hillfort is a simple univallate fort situated on a high spur jutting out from Cranborne Chase's chalk hills above the village of Berwick St John. It looks to me as if was never finished (it's not unknown).  The ramparts and ditches are fairly well defined on the hill end of the spur, where an unusual 2 entrance affair is going on, though even here both are unsubstantial really. Whereas the further out along the spur you go, the patchier the rampart and ditch becomes, being hardly noticeable in places. The also appears another fainter, and very ephemeral, bank and ditch crossing the enclosed area, maybe evidence for a smaller fort first being marked out before being enlarged. The site has a pleasant vibe to it, especially in the sun. An the views! Man! Positioned as it is sticking right out from a long snaking escarpment, the views, both east and west are spectacular. Staring out, picking up the details in the undulating landscape, you loose yourself in fantasy imaginings. I experience the deceleration of time until it goes in reverse, as I imagine the hedgerows returned to break up the the large fields, see the tracts of woodland expand, and peel back the layers of time to wonder what this landscape looked like in centuries past.  Still, I can't hang about much longer as it's off to the local metropolis of Shaftesbury for a gig.

Drain

I've posted about the bog woodland restoration program and the returning of the forests streams to their pre-Victorian meandering courses. I usually post an image of the restored meanders resplendent in diversity, now here's an example of what many of them looked like before. As you can see, a far more sterile environment. Notice the steep cut banks on which for the most part little is growing and where stuff is growing there's limited diversity. Notice the bare gravels, dry and lifeless in the summer season, where as the flow in restored streams may decline, on the whole they continue to flow and sustain plant communities. These drains may well have been functional and served their purpose, though as you can see didn't make too good an environment of diversity. Nor are they aesthetically pleasing as the gentle meandering stream. 

Sunset

Mmmm, night falls.

Himalayan Balsam

Attractive as these are, and on mass they really are, Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is a non native invader of some veracity. It's a couple of meters in height and will quickly colonize and choke small waterways and wetlands. Once established it can spread at some speed either water-born or through its explosive seeds.  It's a shame, what with it being such an attractive plant, tall and elegant, with it's beautiful flowers, but it must be controlled for the good of our already endangered wetland plant communities. The forestry regularly clear stream banks of it, though it pops up again or pops up elsewhere. Control really is the word, rather than eradication, which I think would be a far harder job. As long as it's managed as it is and not allowed become dominant, it's nice to see it's colours at a time when other plants have already flowered. Hey, it's not as environmentally destructive as  rhododendron say, which must be eradicated at every opportunity, so destructive is it to our environment.

Crab Apples

It's been a good year so far for some fruits. Some of the Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris) trees in the forest are well laden. These fruits can vary widely in size and hue, though if you intend to use the fruit for jelly or some such, you could do worse than a tree like this whose fruits were of a very good size. So much so that I wondered if this example, not too far from habitation, was a hybridized example.  It's that time of year now when thoughts turn to harvesting and preserving nature wild and cultivated bounty, and this year could be a good one.

Parasol Mushroom

Back at 'the ponds' to check out the areas I've yet to explore. Up slope from the ponds themselves, up beyond the orchard area, is an open rough grassy area through which several parasol mushrooms were poking. Parasols are the largest of our 'standard' mushrooms, with by far the largest caps. Though when they're young their caps are still quite conical and resemble the thatched roofs of Iron Age roundhouses. I wonder if that's where people got the idea for their roofs from, watching the water run off these conical caps and seeing the ground beneath remaining dry.  Anyhow, they're a tasty treat. When the cap has opened if you collect a couple, clean them (they're usually quite clean anyway), cut them into wedges like a cake or pizza, dip them in a batter and fry them. Lovely with a dip or on their own.  Remember though, only ever collect and consume mushrooms that you are a 100% certain of, or you could die!

The ponds

I've come back to that neglected orchard I discovered recently to have a better look around. My suspicion that there were ponds further on beyond the fruit trees was correct, there are numerous little ponds and two much larger ones. I don't know what was going on here, though something was. There are small fences around each pond, and what appears to be shelters, possibly for wildfowl or similar. A nature reserve of some kind? Several of the ponds also appear to be connected by piping, allowing water to flow between the ponds higher up the site to those lower down and eventually the two larger ponds, this may have been to prevent flooding and the surrounding ground becoming waterlogged, which is now becoming the case. Whatever was going on here it must have stopped some time back, as the fencing and other wooden features are decaying through neglect. A number of the ponds have become overgrown with flora and invasive trees, covered on the whole by that bitty type of really green weed can completely cover pools and ponds, some are now little more than swamp and bog. In one of the larger ponds there's a small island connected by a most rickety and decayed bridge, one you'd have to a braver man than I to chance.  This must have been some place at one time.  And, still more to explore, and more to find no doubt. I'm going to call this place 'the ponds'.

Fruits of the forest

The fungi are fruiting early this year.

Outstanding natural beauty

When people talk about loving their country it's too often abstract, defined by flags, institutions and ideas of nationhood. I don't get that. What stirred in me today was love for my country, though in a wholly different context, through a feeling of deep connection to the land, it's flora and fauna.  I was out walking with an old friend amongst the hills and woodland of Cranborne Chase. Chatting bollocks, as old friends do, after I'd had too few hours sleep really to be out walking and still bathed in the warm afterglow of last nights fantastic psychedelic extravaganza, I drifted through the landscape as if in a lucid dream. The world around me appearing just that little bit more magical than usual. In every direction were stunning views that stir something inside of you, all around nature in full effect. Now this is the country I love. They're not wrong when they say Cranborne Chase is an area of outstanding natural beauty. It really is!

Cary Grace Band & The Luck of Eden Hall @ The King Arthur, Glastonbury 4.8.2017

It must be a rare occurrence that the two bands who produced your two favourite albums of the last year would appear together at the same venue, though that's exactly what happened with the wonderful The Cary Grace Band ('The Uffcolme Variations') and the awesome The Luck of Eden Hall in the shape of Gregory Curvey ('The Acceleration of Time'). So we found ourselves back on the road to our not so local local, the renowned King Arthur in Glastonbury. Traffic tonight was a nightmare and as the cars crawled along I have to admit to becoming increasingly anxious that we'd miss the gig in part or completely, or find it sold out. Fortuitously, the deities who oversee the musical world, in their benevolence, ensured we arrived in time. Now, when I said two bands, it wasn't quite like that, what we had was a merging, a melding of both bands to form one super band, lets call them - The Grace Curvey Collective. The Grace Curvey Collective were: Cary Grace on analogue synth and vocals, Gregory Curvey on lead guitar and vocals, Victoria Reyes on keyboards, Oboe, and vocals, Andy Budge on bass, David Payne on drums and Andy Thompson on Mellotron and synth. This was going to be good.

So, it was to be an evening of two sets, one dedicated to each band, and first up was The Cary Grace Band. And I thought that their set this evening was an inspired choice of tracks from the bands back catalogue, and one which gave Cary the opportunity to really utilize her voice, which has a stunning range. Cary's vocals are distinctive, powerful, strong and clean, yet diametrically delicate and magical, perfect for delivering her well constructed poetic lyrics, and, man, can she hold a note!  It's not just notes she holds, it's your attention too, there's an intensity in her delivery. As I've mentioned before, she's a mesmerizing artist. The set felt different in style to the ones we've been used to recently, with more tracks and those chosen were shorter, punchier and delivered in a harder rockier style.  I'm not complaining, mind, it's all good. The opening track 'cyanide', is off the fantastic 2015 'Tygerland' and is a powerful number with an air of menace, and one that allows Cary to show of her manifest vocal talents. Cary's voice was complemented on the harmonies when joined by Victoria who also has a wonderful voice.  On tracks like 'Without a trace', one of the bands most recent releases, their combined vocal talents blend sublimely, it's like honey to your ears. Victoria's doesn't just deliver wonderful vocals though, no, she's fabulous on keyboard and even found time to add some oboe to the mix. On drums David is a regular powerhouse who, whenever we've seen him perform, has fair beat the crap out of those drums to blisteringly good effect, and this evenings performance was no different.  The rhythm section is the foundation of a band, upon which beautiful things are built, and in the Payne/Budge combo the band have a rock solid construction platform on which to build. Andy B, as is the way of the master bass practitioner,  looks cucumber cool most of the time, vibranium fingers plucking out groovy licks and riffs with clear intent. Tonight though he was totally rocking out, clearly loving the chemistry and enjoying every moment of it. The whole band looked like they were really enjoying performing, as much as we were enjoying the performance. David and Andy B heavily contributed to whole 'rockier' vibe to tonight’s show. One of the magical elements of The Cary Grace Band is hearing how guesting band members effect the sound, putting a unique flavour to familiar and well loved tracks, crafting one off magic moments.  This evening there were two guest faces, on Mellotron and lead guitar. Andy T was on Mellotron (lovely sounding instrument) and synth, he made a groovy addition to the mix, adding nicely to the overall musical texture of the evening which was deep and richly woven. On lead guitar Gregory was faultless, his rendition of TCGB's tracks was perfect, as if he'd always been in the band. Whereas, this was only their second live performance together! That my friends must be the mark of a great guitarist! Gregory too definitely added to the rockier feel this evening, and along with Andy B and David formed a potent rock trinary. The band delivered every track beautifully, the sound was tight and clean. It was a real treat to hear tracks from earlier albums get an airing (check out that back catalogue, man, it contains gems). The set finished with an interpretation of the Stones 'Paint it Black', which did justice to the original by bringing new dimensions to it. The audience showed their appreciation for what was all round a fabulous performance of the type we've come to expect from The Cary Grace Band who never fail to deliver; tonight sprinkled with added Thompson and Curvey magic.

During the intermission there was an opportunity to chat to band members, all lovely folk, all having a fun time, and happy to chat to their gibbering fans. The intermission was short and it was soon time for The Luck of Eden Hall set. 

Now, I'm ashamed to say, I'm a late arrival to the Luck Of Eden Hall party, 'The Acceleration of Time' was my first album. Though what an introduction to a band, the album is an absolutely sublime listen (an extensive, and rather groovy back catalogue is also available). So, imagine my joy to hear some of those tracks included in tonight's set. Like Cary, Gregory is a wonderful lyricist, who's words are well chosen and often convey  pertinent topics, take 'The Happiness Vending Machine', as an example, is definitely a song for our times. The quality of his writing both musically and lyrically are right up there, each track is beautifully crafted. Gregory's a really fine guitarist who undoubtedly knows how to get the best out of a guitar, and he's versatile too. During the TCGB set his style was clean and rocky, as the tracks required. Though now on musical home turf you could really hear TLOEH's familiar warm, more psychedelic, guitar sound coming through.  As with the first set, the Payne/Budge combo remained in full effect, to great effect, constructing firm footings for the others to build on. The rock trinary was still strong. Victoria's keyboard work was perfect, and along with Cary who twiddled and fiddled studiously with her analogue synth to stupendous effect, and Andy T's mellotron magic, crafted a fabulously rich tapestry of sounds and textures, through which Gregory's guitar could flow and dance. And Gregory made that guitar sing magnificently, whilst delivering some of his wonderfully insightful lyrics. For me the highlight of the TLOEH's set, had to be a live preview of the the bands forthcoming single, the totally epic, 20 odd minute long opus, 'make way for the mighty machines'. Man, epic is just what it is, so many different elements at play, so many diverse musical styles blended beautiful to create a fabulous whole, it's horizons huge. Elements of psych rock and punk sensibilities flowed through undertones of prog grandeur, it's a vast canvas and every inch bathed in a myriad of musical colour and flavour. I see the track as an anthem for positivity as disobedience to the prevailing negative mainstream narratives as projected through a corrupt corporate media, a rallying cry in the face of the developing storm born of capitalisms failings. It's immense, in sound and in scope, it's message salient. Our culture needs more musicians who give positive focus to our feeling of disenfranchisement, 'we're the resistance, we wont give in, to corporation blight' one lyric goes. It's a bloody musical masterpiece, man! Well, that's how I see it anyway. Even at over 20 minutes, it was over all too soon, as, sadly, was the whole set; time must have accelerated. Rapturous applause followed and was well justified; the audience had loved that. Gregory then kindly performed a solo number as an encore, which he'd arranged for his acoustic set in London next week. Lovely. All members of the collective delivered stellar performances, magic was created in that back room tonight. In both sets there was a tangible chemistry between all musicians. And, the quality of said musicians was testified to by their ability to, not just play the others music, which must be hard enough, but to be able to do each others music justice. I'm sure you'd agree, no mean feat, though one they appeared to have taken in their collective strides.  In particular I doff my cap to TCGB for their parts in 'make way for the mighty machines' were outstanding, kudos all round. What a performance, a unique evening to remember. If a recording was taken, I'd have a slice of that, just saying. Big thanks y'all.

If you've not yet, you've got to catch The Cary Grace Band, you really must, they're group of consummate musicians. We seen a few gigs now, and I can honestly say, I have never been disappointed. In the meantime you can pick up the bands releases here.  As for Gregory he's soon back state-side, though hopefully he and The Luck of Eden Hall will be returning next year, and be assured, they'll be gigs not to miss. In the meantime check the bands bandcamp page and pick yourself up a copy of something groovy, like 'The Acceleration of Time', a real must have album. Thanks for coming over and playing Gregory, man.

Again, massive thanks to the King Arthur for consistently putting on the finest of bands and events. The sound's always great, the atmosphere's always great, great staff and clientèle, have I mentioned it's great? My one complaint (a recurring one), where was everybody? Two great bands, a respected musician comes all the way from the states to play for us, and although the room was by no means empty, and all who were there were appreciative, it should have been rammed, man. We need to support bands and small venues, or we'll lose both and be the lesser for it. Anyway, thanks to all involved in creating this most memorable evening.

Fun guys

Left it late for a ramble today, the light was fading (which is how I'm going to excuse my crap photo) and an eerie silence muffled the stands, silent except for the occasional alighting bird disturbing the canopy and odd sounds of movement    It's only just first harvest and already it feels like autumn, and has done for a while now, that's not right. All over, fungi have taken advantage of the warm dank weather to stake their claim to the land, a bit previous if you ask me, still. I've seen dozens of types about, including parasols, boletus (a couple of types) and a whole plethora of others whose names I don't know. Though by far the most numerous are Chanterelles (Cantharellus cibarius), you see them all over the place. Hey, I'm not complaining or ought, they're very tasty. 

Lughnasadh

The wheel appears to turn at lightening speed these days, the seasons rushing past, it's quite alarming really, and now Lughnasadh is with us, already! It's astounding, it only seems like yesterday we stood on the cusp of spring. Now is the time of first harvest, the grain harvest, when we begin to gather in the fruits of our labours, as our plans sown as seeds in spring start to come to fruition (if we're lucky). Some of my plans have come to fruition, others are yet to bear fruit, while others came to nought. This has been a good year on the land, at the allotment the crops keep coming, tomatoes, potatoes, shallots, beans, greens, peppers, fruits and of course courgettes, so many courgettes.  Out in nature the first blackberries are out, apples are bowing their boughs, the nuts are swelling, mushrooms are poking through, and across the countryside the fields of grain stand golden. Fingers crossed, our harvest bounties continue. Lughnasadh blessings y'all.