Cabin in the woods

 

I don't know how long this, what was a, fantastically well constructed shelter had been hidden amongst the stands, some time I reckon. I first clocked it back in 2018 and was immediately struck by the time and effort that had obviously gone into it's construction; it was sturdily built and fairly weather proof, which is not the case for most of the forest's shelters, in fact it was unique amongst them. Once Burley New Enclosures grand design, the finest shelter in the forest; more recently a woodland bong house; today I was disappointed to find it had been completely flattened by the forestry, you could see the tractor tracks. Shame really, I always favour leaving these and other woodland creations to fade naturally over the years, it adds to the woodlands aesthetic. 

Stag Break

Sunbreak over Stag Brake.

No show Sloe

One of the fruits of the forest that hasn't done so well this year, not around my roams anyway, is the Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Most years the forest's Blackthorns are well laden with plump juicy fruits, Sloes; not so this year though. Many of the shrubby trees have been completely barren, some fruited poorly way too early in the season and now harbour only shrivelled fruits, whilst the occasional one that does bear good fruits are only very lightly covered. I don't think you can necessarily put this down to the climate, a lot of the fruits of the forest do appear to cycle through good and poor seasons with regularity, it's natures way; although of course you can't wholly discount climatic effects either, they may well have contributed.   

Red Rise Brook

 Red Rise Brook above Markway Bridge; a lovely spot.

King of the edible shrooms

I have to admit to being pleasantly surprised by the profusion of mushrooms popping up throughout the forest, I'd imagined that the arid nature of our summer would've possibly put the kibosh on a mushroom season. How wrong I was. It's amazing that a species you'd imagine to be delicate and fragile could force it's way through ground which remains quite hard, and seemingly overnight too. All manner of fungi are beginning to appear, including the king of the edible shroom the Cep (Boletus edulis); it's still early doors though, but fingers crossed, here's hoping.

When I wake up

 ''When I wake up in the morning, love; and the sunlight hurts my eyes.''

Autumn equinox

 

I'd intended we get up and out early doors to observe the autumn equinox sunrise, although the heavy rain that greeted me when I looked out of the window, told me there'd be no sunrise to see today, encouraging me back under the covers. Later though we made it out into the forest to observe Mabon, a transitory point of balance before we enter the darker half of the year, and the was forest was, as you'd expect, glorious walking. And, what better way to celebrate the autumn equinox and second harvest, that with a feast of autumnal forest fruits; nature kindly provided some Ceps (Boletus edulis) which I appreciatively harvested.  I wasn't greedy, I only collected what I need for a couple meals, and I gave thanks to the forest and the elements, grateful for their bounty. The days are getting shorter now as the year is winding down, one more harvest then we're done for this cycle. Equinox blessing to y'all /|\

Hip hip

 

One of the wild fruits of the forest that appears to have done really well this year are the Dog Roses (Rosa canina), their bright fruits, or hips, can be seen throughout the forest. Rose hips are packed with goodness including high levels of vitamins C, B and E, along with a wide range of other beneficial compounds and have long been utilized as a consequence. During world War Two Britain relied on Rose Hips for their Vitamin C; school children, Guides and Scouts, and Women’s organizations were encouraged to collect the hips, which were subsequently sent for industrial processing; in the autumn of 1941 200 tons, or 134,000,000 hips made 600,000 bottles of rose hip syrup. We could do with re-learning many of the foraging skill of our elders and ancestors; really, we should never have abandoned the suite of foraging/bushcraft skills that sustained us for millennia.

Moo

I don't remember cattle roaming the forest as they do today when I was a child; today they're everywhere, on the open in heathland, in the wetland bottoms and amongst the unenclosed forest stands. I don't remember ever walking through woodland and coming face to face with a solitary cow like we did this morning. I'm sure they didn't, and that the cattle have been introduced, or re-introduced, in recent decades; or if they did the practice has become far more widespread. They may have been about and I just remember them, or the forest like that; I'm not infallible. Don't misunderstand me, I’m not complaining either, I welcome increased animal diversity out here. I'm just saying.

Git orf moi land!

I've noticed, or maybe I've just perceived, a slow decrease in the volume of people in the forest this year; the Covid years 20/21 saw visitor numbers explode, as the forest suddenly became everybody's favourite place. I'll admit to being worried about that, the consequences on nature, damage to the infrastructure (for what it is), and the ambience of the place; as well as, if I'm honest, my own selfish interests. After all, this is my forest; git orf moi land! Of course it's not, I'm just being silly, but I'm sure you know what I mean; we all enjoy a very personal relationship with the land we're connected to, so it's only natural to fear that land and relationship jeopardized by change, especially when you see it threatened, and the forest did see increase wear and tear, damage, animal issues as well as rubbish. I understand that a lot of those negative behaviours were through much of society's lack of socialization to the natural world, but negative they were nonetheless. Although as the opportunities of the wider world opened up again, and the reality of the winter forest became apparent, for many the glamour of the forest wore off; lightweights. There's still more folk about than there used to be, and that's cool, I'm not really a 'nimbyist'. I imagine many of those folk have had their hearts stolen by the forest too; it feels like they're kindred spirits if you will, rather that encouraged here as a 'tourist destination', or through convenience or lack of alternative. Anyway, again Geoff and I can walk for miles amongst the stands rarely seeing another soul, and between those we do pass a knowing smile is shared, kindred spirits like I said. I would like to reiterate though..... git orf moi land!

Dyer's Polypore

 

Dyer's Polypore or Dyer's Mazegill (Phaeolus schweinitzii) is a weird looking velvety/felty skinned, irregular capped brightly orangey/yellowy coloured fungi which favours the roots/base of conifers, it's parasitic and eventually will be the death of the host tree. As I say, it's a weird looking fungi; this is a young example, they can look very different when mature, Turkey Tail fungus-ish (only ish), though larger, thicker and velvety. The name 'dyer's' originates from it being used to dye yarn,  depending it's age, the mordant used, a fabric to be dyed, various shades of yellow, gold, orange, green and brown can be achieved. 

Parasols

All over Spy Holms at the moment Parasol mushrooms (Macrolepiota procera) are appearing amongst the heather.

Autumnal chill

Autumn has properly arrived in the forest, for the first time in a long time you could feel the early morning chill; it was also the first time I've needed to layer up for our walk since spring. Lovely out though; we ended up doing a 14.1 mile route, and were back before midday.

Highland Water

 

Our walk this morning was from Millyford Bridge out along Highland Water as it winds it's way through Holmshill and Highland Water enclosures, and back. Highland Water throughout it's course is probably the finest riverside walking in the forest, and definitely my all time favourite; and today in the fading warmth of the autumn sun the walking and scenery was simply stunning. Soul food.

Beefsteak

Beefsteak mushrooms (Fistulina hepatica) are popping up all over the forest; distinctive in colour and soft fleshy appearance they're easy to spot growing most predominantly on Oak and Chestnut; many you'll find are quite small, although they can grow to a fair size; they're so distinctive that you're unlikely to be able to misidentify them. They're also edible cooked or raw, though I'll be honest they're not to my taste, too weirdly sour. Remember, never collect any wild food you're not 100% sure of it.

Mornin'

 Mornin' m'deer.  

Solace

Cultural modernity is draining, man, the constant hum of the human world is omni-present and insistent; opportunities to mentally over stimulate oneself are boundless, and rarely manifest feelings of well being or inner tranquillity; an endless projection of anxiety or anger generating 'news and views' is available 24/7, negative emotion by design. The forest has long been my antidote to cultural modernity, my green prozac; and walking is my daily rehabilitation and re-armouring before returning to the world of man. I know I can't be alone in my views on contemporaneity, nor in finding solace in the arms of the green world.

Black Water

On this morning's walk it was a relief to see Black Water flowing again; what a difference a couple days make, eh. Geoff certainly approved. Of course, it's nowhere near maximum flow, and still easy to cross via numerous gravelly patches, but still, good to see.  

Lost and found

Archaeology is rubbish the title of one of the Time Team's books reads, and of course a lot of the time it is, other times it's things that are purposely deposited or more often though lost. I can't remember the number of knifes I've found in the forest (and I've lost a few too); often quite degraded and well beyond use, they were once a persons beloved and much used tool. I came across this example today just beyond the bank of Red Rise Brook, in a spot I've passed hundreds of times; yet I've never noticed this old knife lying there, and it's clearly quite old judging by it's condition. I suppose it's well camouflaged colour wise which may explain why I'd not clocked it previously, that or it may have been recently disturbed by animals from the nearby undergrowth. It's an odd looking knife, with a blunt rounded tip like an Opinel No7, I can't make it out; I suppose it could be a razor or similar. Left exposed it'll not make it to become a future archaeological find, that said even buried in these acidic sandy soils it wouldn't last beyond an ephemeral stain. Interesting find though; I'll keep my eye on it.

Black 'still no' Water

Well, the rains have done little to fill to the forest's streams; and I was right to question whether the flow I saw up stream in Blackensford Brook would've made any difference down stream...it clearly hasn't. I first noticed that most of the forest's streams were bone dry gravel back in July, now into September I'm searching my memory to remember a season like this, where gravel bottom were on display for so long. Although there are watering spots in the forest, they're few and far between, I can only imagine how the woodland inhabitants have navigated this drought. Here's hoping for the clouds to deliver something more substantial.

The Wounds of Mata Hari by The Locker Room Cowboys

 

The Locker Room Cowboys (much in demand bassist Andy Budge, renowned multi instrumentalist John Garden and psych legend Icarus Peel) return with the release of 'The Wounds of Mata Hari'; what would best be described as a 5 track mini album, or maybe a extended single? Either way it's more of what we've come to expect from the finest psyche/rock band you've probably never heard of, The Locker Room Cowboys, top quality original music with an engaging and unique sound. Now I could, a have been known to overly wax lyrical about bands and releases I like, often turning my posts into superlative synonym soup; always with justification I may add. Still, nobody needs that. So, simply put these fellows have again done what they do best, created a nice set of diverse sounding tracks; all well written, perfectly crafted and performed, along with being tidily produced they're literally music to your ears. Cracking stuff! Get over to Bandcamp toot suite and buy 'The Wounds of Mata Hari'; whilst you're there fill your boots with everything else they've released, it's all good. Why this band aren't better known is a mystery to me and an affront to music. The Locker Room Cowboys first album 'The future came and stole our dreams' dropped during the pandemic and was criminally overlooked as a consequence, criminally I say!  In my opinion it remains one of the best albums I've heard in years, always a welcome and rewarding listen; wade through my review here. 

Burley Old

Burley 'very' Old; in fact one of the oldest enclosures in the forest.

Red Bolete

 

I'll admit to wondering how much of a mushroom season we'd enjoy after our arid summer; though I've been pleasantly surprised by the range of fungi forcing their way through the hardened forest floor; of course a few mushrooms does not a good season make. On one of the broad grass tracks which cross Burley Old we came upon a cluster of small red boletes; I didn't want to disturb them after what must have been a heroic effort, though I think they may have been either boletus pinicola or boletus versicolor.  The grassy track bisects coniferous and broad leaf blocks, pinicola favours the former whilst versicolor the latter. That said, they may have been another variety, as I didn't examine them and so could not give a definitive identification.

Autumnal heathland

The wheel turns and it's that time of year again when the forest's heathland begin adopting their autumnal hues. I love all the forest's seasons, why wouldn't you, though of the four it's got to be autumn with it's vibrant radiant colours that really stirs the soul; the greens endure though slowly fading through myriad tones; the bracken steadily browns through yellows and oranges as it bows out; and throughout the heath clumps of imperial purple heather add majesty to this picturesque landscape. This is just the beginning of the march to fall.