Red Aspen leaf gall

They say it's been a good year for insects, and what you're seeing out and about this year would certainly support that. The amount of buzzy things still around our autumn sun drenched flower beds is noticeable, the huge quantity of Knopper gall's, the horrific numbers of wasps about, and I noticed the Aspens are covered in Red Aspen leaf galls too, from which Harmandia gall midges will emerge. I like the Aspen (Populus tremula), you always know when there's an Aspen about, you can hear them, they're the most talkative of trees.

Christchurch Priory

I was reminded today, whilst walking into Christchurch across Stanpit Marsh, how impressive and awe inspiring ecclesiastical buildings must have been to people who, say, lived in the middle ages (or even much more recent times) and only really knew modest wooden or cob thatched buildings, beyond that of their small local church. They're still very impressive buildings today, though now too often ecclesiastical buildings are surrounded by imposing modern buildings or smothered in a sea of urbanization, which detracts from them. From a mile out, approaching across the marsh, you're afforded an opportunity to glimpse what the priory might have looked like in an age before development.

Holmsley

And he painted matchstalk woods, which were filled with matchstalk trees and shrubs (to the Brian and Michael tune). The uniformity of planned forestry.

Burley Old

Autumn's not coming, autumn's here! You can feel it and you can smell it in the air. The tall mature Oak and Beech stands of Burley Old know it, they're grateful for it, it must have been a hard year for them; a relatively dry Winter/Spring followed by a scorcher of s Summer. The weather over the last few years has been a strange and unpredictable mix, often jumbled up, you know, not what you'd expect from the season you're in. For a long time now, I've felt the seasons are changing, shifting. Summer comes earlier in May, and is shorter, Autumn appears in August, and lasts longer, Winter, again, is shorter, and Spring comes early and like Autumn lasts longer. I don't mind that, so much, at least the seasons remain definable, although I must admit to concerns as to how these shifts will affect our native flora and fauna, and their finely meshed interactions. Of course, the overriding concern is whether these changes represent natural fluctuations in seasonal cycles (which is cool), or more worryingly, that we're seeing the tangible effects of climate change, which could lead to all sorts of wrongs as natures pieces become jumbled and out of sync. What can I do if is climate change? Nothing, I suppose. That's what. I have no power or agency to change anything beyond my own behaviour and my own little piece of world, and even the latter has restrictions. I imagine t+hat's all any of us can do. Tea with a Druid (specifically Philip Carr Gomm) this week had a simple and realistic approach to worry; two circles, one containing all our concerns, and within it a smaller circle containing those things in the bigger circle which we can actually affect, a Venn diagram of sorts. It basic principles are spot on, we have to put to one side those things we can't change, for me the big problems, and focus on those thing which we can change. Simple and obvious, really, something we all already know, though something we easily to loose sight of.

Ceps

Another seasonal fungal first for me today, the first Ceps (Boletus edulis) I've seen this year. They looked good and felt firm, though experience suggested that they'd been up for a day or two (experience, and that's when it last rained), they had that faded dry look to them, and sure enough on cutting they were riddled with maggot holes. Still, it's early in the season and there's more rains coming, we're told.

Seasons first

I say 'seasons first', well, they're the first I've seen this season. A clump of lovely fresh Parasol mushrooms (Macrolepiota procera) nestled together in a woodland opening. More commonly they're found outside of woodland, in our area, that's on the forest's open holmes or on our coastal hills and cliff tops. When seen on mass they're quite a sight, and incidentally, they're a very tasty shroom. Though as I'm at pains to remind folk at this fungal time of year, never touch, pick or collect any mushrooms you are not a hundred and ten percent certain of, and even then check again!

Stump tower

Though not seen leaf for many many seasons, this old Beech still harbours and sustains life.

GL36

It would appear GL returned to Fox Hill in May 1936, this time specifically, one Monday in May 1936. For all I know there are other GL graffitis to be found around Fox Hill, maybe they visited every year for years or maybe only the twice. I'll keep looking. How can I be certain that these cuts are made by the same GL? Of course I can't, although on examination of the 2 pieces, they do share striking similarities in style, striking. So I'm fairly certain it's the same GL. I wonder if I'll find more.  I also wonder how I must appear to other walkers as I carefully circle to examine each appropriate tree I pass. Appropriate trees being those with easy to carve smoothish bark, Beech and Holly for the most part.

GL33

GL passed this way in May 1933, and stopped long enough on Fox Hill to carve their initials on this venerable Beech.

Path?

You'd never believe that only a couple of years ago a well used path went through here. Why the path fell out of use to the point that it disappeared I can't remember, I suppose all it takes is a short period of neglect to see a path disappear.  

Autumn's coming

Day on day, the colours of Autumn are forming in the forest.

Up, up and away.

Always remember to look up when walking in the woods, the patterns created by the boughs and branches of the canopy are lovely and quite absorbing. The best way to enjoy their patterns is to take some time, lay down, relax and loose yourself for a while.  You'll be surprised at the depth of what you'll see looking up through natures kaleidoscope.  Go on, you know it makes sense.

Tanglewood

Changing forestry practices over the years have, of course, had an effect on the forest's woods and how they look. In the past fallen wood would have been collected by the commoners and locals for the hearth, and to a lesser degree that still happens, though now much more of that fallen wood remains on the woodland floor, and as it returns to the earth it creates homes for wildlife and bolsters the woodlands diversity. Another consequence is that it makes walking of the tracks a more interesting, if not a slower, affair. Which is no bad thing, as the slower you move through the forest the more you'll see, the more you find, the richer your woodland walking experience. 

Seedy

We've a well established Fennel plant (Foeniculum vulgare) growing in the garden, it must have been there for 4 or so years now, and this year has reached the magnificent height of about 8 foot, with myriad seed heads. Such a lovely plant, and with plenty of uses too. Used in cooking, especially fish or egg dishes, it's filigree leaves add a distinctive aniseed taste, whereas its seeds, are a well used spice in middle Eastern and Asian cooking, fennel was also one of the three herbs used in the production of Absinthe. The seeds have practical uses too, chewed as breath fresheners or as a digestive. Nature provides us with so many useful plants, though for the most part they go neglected and their bounty uncollected.  I'm hoping to collect and dry a good quantity of seed this year.  

Ebble

There's nothing like a chalk stream, crystal clear waters which are always refreshingly cold and teaming with life.  The river Ebble is one such stream. Running through the Chalk Valley, the Ebble's always a pleasure to stroll along, its banks as filled life as its waters.

Faulston Down

A badly stitched panorama, I know, the photos weren't taken to create a panorama. Though I think you still get a feel for the rolling expanses in areas of the Chase, and their beauty, something that reaches deep inside you. This is Faulston Down as viewed from Throope Hill near Coombe Bissett just west of Salisbury. Lovely. I've not been able to get out over the Chase since Geoff's arrival, him not being up to the long walks required.  So I jumped at the opportunity today, and it was marvellous! As I made my way along hidden trackways thronged with hedgerow shrubs bursting with bounties, up onto the exposed downs, I felt a connection to the land, it felt right. A smile spread across my face whilst the worries and pressures of modernity in our failing nation ebbed away.  What they say about walking and well being are well founded, I felt a different person after my walk.

Knopper Oak Galls

More acorns have developed that I thought would this season, although for the most part they're smaller and fewer than last year. What I have noticed is that there are a huge number of Knopper Galls about this season, many many more than I've ever seen before. I first noticed how many were about over the common (Chewton) and thought that might represent a localized increase, though now I've have seen them throughout the forest. I don't know if that's something to be worried about, you see the Knopper is a recent arrival, first appearing in the 1960's, though only really becoming established and widespread in the last 30 years. I don't know if they have any predators to control their spread, or if left unchecked they could be another threat to our tree population. We really don't need any more threats to our trees. Knopper Oak Galls (Andricus quercuscalicis) form on acorns distorting them into the above distinctive form, they're caused Cynipid gall wasps creating a safe home to lay their eggs. I've seen plenty of Knopper Oak Galls over the years, though never seen (to my knowledge) a gall wasp.  I read somewhere that all round it's been a bumper year for insects, and what you see out and about would support that.

Windy out

An old familiar returned to today. For the first time in weeks, it was windy. Living near the coast wind is usually an ever present feature any time of the year, this summer though, it's been noticeable by its absence. This is far as I got along the foreshore under the Barton slides, the tide was up and the waters licked at the base of the slowly eroding the Eocene horizons. I sometimes feel I neglect the coast, I live so nearby, though go through long periods of not visiting. I think it's just that we're spoilt for walking opportunities around these parts. That, and you can sometimes overlook what's right under your nose. And, for part of the year the foreshore is crowded with people seeking communion with the elements. Still, I really should try and get down here more frequently.

Minty

Watermint (Mentha aquatica) currently fills the air along the banks of Avon Water below Holmesley Tea Rooms, which is handy, as watermint, like other mints, makes a lovely herbal tea and is easy to identify and collect. In contrast to the dusty toned, mostly desiccated forest, the stream sides are corridors of verdancy. Flowers bloom and berries fatten fed by one of the forest streams which keeps flowing, even in very dry weather.

Sign of the times

We're nearing summers end, and as I mentioned yesterday, autumn's coming, and it's outriders are already arriving. Beefsteak fungi (Fistulina hepatica) typically appear in late summer, staying until mid autumn, to me they're a sign of things changing and summers twilight. I've eaten them in the past (although probably not cooked them as effectively as I should have, and they weren't young ones like this), young ones are best for eating and need to be cooked well (particularly so as they age and toughen), they tend to look a touch gammy as they get older, a bit slimy, and as it's name implies, a bit meaty. When young and fresh it has quite an alien appearance, as it ages it takes on a more familiar bracket appearance. It's one on my 'safe-ish' list, edible and hard to wrongly identify. That said, remember, never collect and certainly don't consume ANY mushroom you are not 110% certain you've identified correctly. 

A hint of rain

A hint of rain and the Oysters are out. Well, probably out yesterday, they're still good, although are taking on a rubbery aspect with their rims drying and are not going to make the pot.  The forest felt fresh again today, still summer, sure, though autumn stalks the stands and you feel its reach extending. 

Sunset strip

Sunset strip

You ain't seen me!

You ain't seen me. Right!

Crabby

The forest's Crab Apple Trees (Malus sylvestris) are festooned with small fruits, like over zealously decorated Christmas trees. It looks like it's going to be a good year for crab apples. Thing is what to do with them? I know there are things you 'can' do with them, jelly for instance, it's just they're so damn tart, and with even the smallest bite is capable of extracting all the moister from your mouth, should you. I used to think no, Crab Apple jelly was as far as I'd go, good, though with limited application. Then I discovered there was more to Crab Apples than just jelly. You can also do a Crab Apple gin/vodka style thing with them, make tiny toffee apples, pie filling, fruit leather and syrup from them. I read you can even pickle them! Well, that's opened up a whole world of possibilities, man, bring forth the appleocalypse. 

Misty mornings

These dawn perambulates really are quite uplifting on a fine morning such as this, and at Lughnasadh too. This year is going so fast, isn't it, or is it that just me. Harvest time already, wow. Whatever. Lughnasadh's blessings y'all, I hope first harvest finds you beginning to reap what you have sown and nurtured. Flags, Flax, Fodder and Frigg.