Wilverely

Wilverley 1775, like many of the older enclosures, has seen many harvests and is now a patchwork of deciduous and conifer blocks, over the years of forestry activity there are some blocks where needle and broad-leaf merge and blend becoming one, though mostly the blocks are clearly defined. If you're canny you can thread a path through either only deciduous or only conifer woodland blocks, covering the whole enclosure and several miles. Two entirely different walking experiences in one place...sweet!

Samhain

I hope last harvest and the end of this cycle finds folk having achieved at least some of the things they'd set out to at the beginning, and that the new cycle will be better again. Samhain blessing y'all. 

Burley Old

The forest looks, for the most part, something like this at the minute.

Carlos

I'm beginning to wonder if Carlos Bastardos might not have been a more appropriate name for Geoff. No, he's good really for one so young, though he loves water and, well, mud just trips him out, man, he can get liberally covered from the most insignificant hollow. People just laughed at us as we approached, still, it's nice to make people smile...I suppose. 

River Walkham

I've been exploring Dartmoor for 30 years, and if there's one place on the moor I've visited more than any other, it would be the Walkham River and Valley. Maybe it's the layers of memory which now overlay it, or maybe it's just familiarity, I think it's more than that though, whatever it is, I've felt a connection from the first time I descended into the dappled Valley and followed the Walkham rivers course. I love it here. I've walked up, I've walked down, I've walked alone, with family and with friends. I've never been disappointed, and I wasn't today. I approached the valley from a different direction than I'd usually, from Merrivale. I followed a moorland track which ran some ways above the river around the hillside, as it entered the wooded valley the track crossed a rivulet cascading down the hillside, a near continuous cataract raced through the woods, downwards towards the Walkham River. In all those years of walking here, I've never seen it before, the cascade was about 50m beyond the point we usually exit the valley. Lovely surprise. I continued down the river, past the old quarry, over boulders, past pools, through the rough fields which flank one side for awhile, there's a camping pod type thing in one of them, and a large metal fire-pit in another.  In all the years I've never met or seen another person along here, although it's clearly someone’s land and they're using it. I continued down the river for about 2km, through woodland a lot more noticeably managed that the woods we walked through 30 years ago. I arrived at Ward Bridge and went a little ways beyond. We'd often park here, though it's not so easy nowadays. Rising up out of the valley I return up stream along the moorland track, until I reached Hucken Tor with it's views over the valley and towards Vixen Tor beyond. What a stunning Walkham walk. Finally, it was off across rough moorland back to Merrivale. I tell you what, it's dry, man, really dry, at this time of year it should've been a much trickier walk than it was.  Still, lovely.

Combestone Tor and the Dart Valley

Combestone Tor and the Dart Valley.

Merrivale

The Bronze Age Merrivale complex was one of the first (if not the first) of Dartmoor’s megalithic monuments that I visited, and all these years later it still fascinates me and still draws me back. Standing Stones, Stone Circles, Kist, Circle Cairns and Stone Rows, this site has them all, and closely grouped too. What a wonderful prehistoric landscape. You can only wonder at what rituals and practices must have gone on here, that's one of the joys of prehistory, you can hypothesize to your hearts content, if the evidence supports it, it's a valid hypothesis and well, if there's no evidence the knock yourself out. Whatever those activities were, they must have been important as, even with the 'on site' materials, a complex of this size and complexity would have taken considerable time (years), effort and manpower to erect. One interesting thing it highlights is that the Bronze Age communities of Dartmoor must have had an abundance of all three, suggesting their farming/hunting practices must have been effective and successful.

Camel Green

Not that it's ever not beautiful, but the autumn forest has a particularly unique radiant beauty. Maybe it's the low sun and long shadows it casts, or the wonderful light that that creates. Maybe it's that we know we're at seasons end, the flowers and fruits are over, the leaves are beginning to fall, and soon the empty months of winter will rule. So we feel that which remains of summer/autumn more keenly, we soak it all up, as if to ensure a detailed memory to hold on to through the dark cold season of natures sleeping. Something to warm our spirits until springs green shoots of hope emerge. Whatever it is, autumn in the forest is a wonder. Soon we'll witness the woodlands last huzzah, the forests magnificently colourful expression of chemical change, make sure you keep your eye out, it passes quickly with no second chances....autumns finale approaches. 

Oh happy day

To paraphrase Sun Tzu, if you wait by the river long enough, all that you seek with float by, and I've been standing on that river bank waiting for this to come into sight for an age now.  Bobby Gentry's 'Ode To Billie Joe'.  I've wanted a vinyl copy of this for years and knew one day (like many others I seek) it would turn up in a charity shop record box. I've searched those boxes regularly. Over the years I've come across two other Bobby Gentry albums, both nice, 'Fancy' (released in the UK as 'I'll never fall in love again') and 'Way down South' (the 1972 release of Gentry's 1968 The Delta Sweete'), and today there it was, a lovely condition, vinyl and cover, 'Ode To Billie Joe' for a quid. Oh happy day!

Burley Old

Burley Old in the morning.

Kangaroo Moon @ The Square and Compass 20.10.2018

There's something about Kangaroo Moon, it goes without saying that they're all amazing musicians, it's not that, I think it's their uniqueness, the uniqueness of their sound, drawing as they do from many wells, some old and deep, near and far, it's the way their music seems to flow effortlessly from them, so naturally. Kangaroo Moon are a band of many, with a fluid line up, and can come in many manifestations, each a slightly different beast, each though an equal wonder, some funkier (the set/line up at last years Avalon Ballroom Weekender, for example), some folkier.  Tonight’s  manifestation is a folkie one, Elliet Mackrell on violin, David Williams on things with strings and assorted stuff, Mark Robson keys, whistle and didge, Gem Quinn on drums and Nick Marshall providing guitar. Their performances are always a joy, and tonight was to be no exception. The band have a certain timeless quality to their music which speaks to the soul, it resonates, it stirs your ancestral dna, I reckon. The way their music touches you is real, you can't help but move and be moved. Elliet's violin grabs a hold and draws you in, and the way David plucks at his string, eyes closed, as if channelling the sounds is wonderful, whenever I seen Kangaroo Moon, these two musicians have me transfixed. As for Gem, is this the same powerfully frenetic drummer who drums for psyche/punk/rock beat combo Here and Now, yes it is, though tonight he shows another side to his drumming, a versatile and talented drummer for sure. Mark (also of Here and Now) is exhausting to watch, always multitasking, singing, keys, twiddling stuff whilst periodically blowing a didge and penny whistle, whilst guitarist Nick looks like the happiest man in the world, beaming smiles as he plays. The band did two sets, both filled with wonderful tracks, beautifully delivered and both sets were received by the audience to rapturous applause. They're consummate musicians, who clearly love their music, and that joy is infectious, and we all went down with it, I don't think there was a foot in the room that wasn't tapping or dancing. The venue too adds to the heady atmosphere, The Square and Compass at Worth Matravers, a public house of fine repute and high standing, though not high ceilings. Now, it's not big, to the point were it's a lot like seeing the band playing in your front room, that's no complaint, mind, and merely adds to the beauty of it all. The Square and Compass is the perfect venue for a musical soiree of nature. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening, it always is. Though as with all such evenings, it's over far too soon. A big thank you to the all the band, the venue and everybody there, for another memorable night of fine music. If you haven't, and get the chance to catch Kangaroo Moon, make sure you do! If you're passing Purbeck be sure to pop into the The Square and Compass. And if you're passing Purbeck and Kangaroo Moon are playing at the The Square and Compass, you'd be mad not to be there!

Red Rise Shade

Autumn morning in Red Rise Shade.

Egmont Rocks

Out over Chapmans Pool with St Aldhelm's Head beyond one way, looking towards the Kimmeridge ledges the other, the views from Egmont Rocks along the foreshore below Houns Tout. Overseen by a defiant sun, above us an expanse of azure sky, the only clouds to be seen were far out on the western horizon, the summer continues. Our autumnal October day walk felt very much like an early summers day walk. Through the night and in the morning though, you know it's autumn proper, and you can feel Jack's icy fingers reaching out and you know winter's fast approaching too.

Agaric world

Probably the most recognizable mushroom in the woods, the classic fairy tale toadstool that is the Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria). Famed in fables and Viking tales, the psychedelic origins of everything Christmas and muse for Arthur Browns 'Fire', the Fly Agaric always represented the danger in the woods. Listed as poisonous it's apparently more complexed than that, it is poisonous and can be nasty, it has psychoactive properties and is used by shaman and recreationally, when detoxified it's edible, with some mycologists suggesting it should be listed as edible with instructions as to how to detoxify it.  Still, I'm not that hungry, and wouldn't suggest it. There's no doubt though they're a beautiful sight, and more so when seen on mass. In a corner of Burley New Enclosure, amongst a Birch wood, I spied well over 200 Fly Agarics in various stages. Stunning. You see Fly Agarics every year, and some years are good years, though never have I seen so many as this year, and never have I seen as many as were in this wood, and I know I didn't see them all.

Ceptober

Ceptember came and went with little fungal action around my roam, though now Ceptober's here and with it the emergence of autumn's earthy fruits.

'The Three Seasons' by various artists, out on Fruits de Mer

Over their first 10 years Fruits de Mer records have gained quite a reputation for quality recordings of distinction, it's a reputation well founded, and one they're sure to cement further with their wondrous new release 'The Three Seasons'...the Spring, Summer and Autumn of Love 66' to 68'. The Three Seasons is twenty seven tracks from the period, beautifully re-imagined by some of the cream of contemporary psychedelia, bands of the highest calibre including The Luck of Eden Hall, Cary Grace, Jack Ellister, Magic Bus, The Honey Pot and Sidewalk Society (who have already showed their credentials in this field with last years fantastic 'Strange Roads' album, also on FdM).  As well as the new kids there are two bands who experienced the cultural shift of 66' to 68' first hand! The Yardbirds and The Pretty Things, yeah I know, cool ay.  Fruits de Mer have taken a different, more interesting, approach to the 'Summer of Love' than that usually undertaken, exploring not just the heady days of summer but the early conceptual blossomings of spring, and autumn's winds of change. It's a fantastic idea, and one that FdM has nailed.

So the context is.... By 1966 the mods had discovered psychedelics and mysticism, the seeds of a Spring of Love were planted, new frontiers were opening up, the world seemed full of possibilities, potential and of promise, you can hear the change in the songs of the period. Anton Barbeau, The Electric Prunes, Kris Gietkowski, Aunt Cynthia's Cabin, Icarus Peel and Mark McDowell tackle this year, which they all do splendidly. If pressed I'd say Mark McDowells version of the Small Faces' 'Up the Wooden Hills' surpasses the original (is that sacrilege? I don't care, it's true).

Then, as 1966 becomes 1967 the heady exuberance of the psychedelically burgeoning Summer of Love is palpable in the music of the year, everyone was out of their gords and loving it, experimentation was the name of the game as was pushing boundaries and excess. The Past Tense, Lovelydove, Campbell Stokes Sunshine Recorder, Jack Ellister, Rob Gould, Moonweevil, The Locker Room Cowboys, The Honey Pot, Magic Bus and The Golden Needles take on the summer, again with magnificent results. You're going to love The Locker Room Cowboys version of the Stones 'We love you', best interpretation on the album, it's fantastic, perfect! Loving The Golden Needles take on 'The Smell of Incense' too.

Sadly, and maybe inevitably, by 1968 the tide was turning, it's the Autumn of Love, no amount of drugs could hide the fact the party was clearly over and with it many of those hopes envisaged in spring. There were new musical paths appearing, time for another change. King Penguin, The Luck of Eden Hall, Cary Grace, Sidewalk Society, Jay Tausig, Proud Peasant, The Green Ray, Ex-Norwegian and Consterdine address this year of flux and realization, and of course the results are electric. I don't think of anybody could've tackled The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s 1983 (A Merman I should be..) better than Cary Grace, contemporary yet respectful, beautifully arranged and with Cary's distinctive voice, clean and powerful, you've a mesmerizing track. As is Consterdine's 'Fly' (J.K and Co.), which again (in my opinion) surpasses the original.

Man, what a lovely listening experience, the tracks aren't arranged linearly by release date, instead you flit about the years, not in a clumsy way, no, the whole album hangs together and flows beautifully.  You're taken on a trip to the mid 60's whilst remaining firmly anchored in the present, the way the artists have combined now and then is a marvel. I can honestly say there's not a weak track on any of the six sides of this gloriously coloured vinyl release (mine are the darker coloured set, a lighter pastel set is also available), every track delivers. A lot of love and attention to detail has been put in to these interpretations, none are mere covers, every artist has brought something of their own to the tracks, and each has done the original justice, and to be honest, most giving the originals a run for their money (more sacrilege?). I'm certain the original artists would agree. Talking original artists, it's lovely to hear The Yardbirds and The Pretty Things still playing. The whole project has an air of reverence to it, present day psychedelic pop/rock/folk-sters paying deference at the spring that's nurtured and fed them, of which they now are a part of. Far out, man! I need to mention that the artwork by John Hurford is bloody lovely, tripped out seasonally appropriate nature scenes in vivid colours, he's the same guy who did The Honey Pots 'Ascending Scales' cover (another great FdM release). The whole package is a lovely thing, and shouts quality.

Todd said 'But a dream lives on forever', and although the sun went down of the psychedelic 60's, what was born during that triad of inspirational seasons endures and even thrives today, as this album of brilliant contemporary psychedelic interpretations attests to. Well played Fruits de Mer. Everyone should get a copy, go on! Oh, and more from The Locker Room Cowboys please, I'd love to hear what else they could do.

Search and you will find.......sometimes.

The gods/goddesses looked favourably upon me today, four great condition records for 50p each!  Oh happy day.  They may look good when you're excited in the poorly lit charity shop, though it's not until you get them home and onto the deck that you find out whether your excitement was well founded....today mine was. Even before cleaning (I like to give them a play before I clean, who doesn't love the before and after...wow, moment) they played, for the most part, without surface noise and what little was there will cleaned off or easily overlooked. Nice finds all.

Oak's off

When the Oak leaves turn, you know autumns full on.

Tiring work

Grubbing for acorns can be tiring work, you know. These two youngsters are enjoying a well earned snooze on full bellies, grunting and moaning as I pass, though making no attempt to get up.  It's things like coming a cross a couple sleeping pigs under an old oak tree which make the forest so magical.

Wooden circle

There's a well defined circle created out of fallen branches in Soarley Beeches, the loose leaves, twigs and nut casings in enclosed area have been cleared and what appears to be an arrow, or possibly an 'Awen' symbol created at the centre. It would have taken a while to construct and clear. It's temping to think a ritual of some sort, possibly Druid (it would work for the location, a prominent tree capped knoll), may have taken place right out here in the forest. Or, of course, someone may just have had time on their hands. I suppose your perspective would be defined by colourfully you view the world.

Down the drain

As I've mentioned before, the New Forest isn't really a natural phenomena, it's by far the consequence of 6000 years of human manipulation and exploitation, even the restoration of open heath or streams to their previous courses only restores the land to another arbitrary point in human exploitation.  Natural would have been the wild wood, and that fell to stone axes. The forest we see today was, and still to a great degree is, shaped by forestry and the production of timber.  Young deciduous trees grow in expansive blocks amongst a filigree of varying sized drainage ditches, which in turn feed the larger drains flowing in to the forests streams. Soon this extensive network, mostly dormant through the middle of the year, will come to life. 

Autumn nettles

Where nettles have been regularly cut, young edible tops continue to be produced a crop. I'm surprised the nettle (Urtica dioica) isn't used more, not just as a leaf veg or as a herbal tea, but as a source of fibres, they appear easily grown and usually present in abundance.   

misty hill

The mist muffles sound and shortens vistas, it's easy to imagine you're further from the hustle and bustle than you are, walking in some wilderness. I like the quality of the light and feel of mornings like this.

Orange Peel fungus

Even though the forest is as dry as a bone, there's all sorts of fungi about (although not in any profusion), and still the favoured edibles are thin on the ground. A Cep here, some Hedgehogs there (an increasing number of Hedgehogs, actually) and some Oysters after it rains. Nothing to write home about, though always a nice addition to breakfast or dinner.  Today's featured mushroom is Orange Peel fungus (Aleuria aurantia), of which a fair amount litter the floor of Burley Old, bringing flashes of vibrant colour the russet hued woodland floor.