Drying up

The forest has changed massively since the restoration program, old water courses filled in, even older water courses reopened and renewed, and overall the stream environs becoming wetter and more seasonally lush. The main reason for this is that the streams flow slower and the woodland now retains the seasonal waters for longer. It's changed how you can traverse the wet season forest, making some areas impossible to navigate without wellies. Though, at this time of year though the waters are receding, with many of the more ephemeral water courses are returning to their 'wadi' (dried seasonal stream bed) state, only flowing for a few months a year. This is nowhere more apparent than in Brinken Wood, which in a particularly wet season can be near aquatic for months, with even the dry looking bits actually being sodden underfoot. To me it's the season of the old tracks, the routes I traditionally wandered throughout the year before the restoration. I like the changes, mind, it adds to the forests magic and seasonal differences that define the wheel of the year. If you were to dig into these seemingly dry 'wadis' though, you'd find some will continue to flow underground throughout the year, a good bit of survival knowledge to have, as even in the driest season  digging a 'gypsy well' may supply you with much needed water. The forest has much to teach and much to offer in the way of resource.