Fry

It's amazing how resilient the forests' inhabitants are. I find it astonishing that fry can thrive in the shallow ponds and headwater streams, even with ice framing their homes. Beyond their hardiness, their presence is testament to the forests' streams going from strength to strength, and the scale of their presence is testified to by the increased numbers of Herons and Egrets frequenting the waterways.

Frosty out.

Lost in the blinding whiteness of the tundra. Well, not exactly, through the forest was dusted throughout with ice, and its' puddles well glazed. Jack Frosts' last huzzah as spring fast approaches maybe. I read that the temperatures over Europe have been a degree or so higher than average, that surprised me. I'd felt that it had been colder than in recent years, more frosty mornings and all; turns out England has been enjoying cooler temperatures that average, and that of Europe. Apparently it's all to do with La Nina. I'm not complaining I enjoy a cold winter. Feels proper.

Black Science vol1: How to fall forever

Black Science vol1: How to fall forever. Anarchist scientists and egos, a scientific breakthrough which could unlock every thing, every idea, every cure, technological advance, every desire and advantage that humanity could imagine. A door into all conceivable and inconceivable worlds and possibilities. What could go wrong. Well. Lets start with the test run. Our hi octane introduction to Grant McKay etal sets a  tone which continues throughout most of this volume, it's a hell of a read.  A real page turner of a tale.  For my money Rick Remender is one of the best writers the genre has, the complexity of his characters, the believable worlds and scenarios he creates never fail to enthral. He always collaborates with the finest artists too. Matteo Scalera being a good example. Wow. What a fabulous artist, fantastic imagination, lovely line work, wonderfully expressive too. His lines are complemented perfectly by the beautiful painted art of Dean White.  All round a top read. (collects issues 1-6)

You shall not pass

It became clear as we approached Red Rise Brook that we would not be passing this way this morning. I knew it, Geoff knew it. The flow of the engorged brook expanded way beyond the bounds of Red Rise and well into the furze break beyond. The bridge up stream was inaccessible too. It was a mistake to have come this way today, I should've known better, the speed at which the forests' streams can ebb and flow after a downpour is remarkable.

Ramsons

 

Ramson (Allium ursinum) shoots started poking through a few week ago, the early birds now sporting well developed leaves, and today I spotted my first flower buds forming. Ramsons really come into their own towards end of April into May, when they'll carpet woodland for as far as the eye can see. It's a beautiful sight. If you've ever stood in a ramson filled wood on a sunny spring day you'll know what I mean, it's magical; and if you haven't you really should. We live a country full of small wonders which for the most part goes unseen or ignored, most certainly not valued as it should be.

The broad arrow

 

Traditionally the mark of government property, the 'Broad Arrow' is the most common form of graffiti you find in the forest. A symbol in use from the end of the Middle Ages right up until the 1980's. The 'Broad Arrows' of the New Forest represent 'Admiralty Marks' or 'Kings' Marks', marking trees for future use by in Royal Navy shipyards. Times changed though, as did the needs of the shipbuilder, and by the middle of the 19th century iron had replaced timber and these marked trees never made it to sea.

Backwood paths

 

The forest is criss crossed by neglected tracks, forestry and older fallen from use and memory, innumerable animal trails and countless backwoods paths. The gravel forestry tracks are good for covering distance or speed, and definitely a wise consideration through the wet season, but to really meet the forest you can't beat taking those paths less trodden.

14 pebbles

 

14 pebbles, the saga continues. Someone, maybe the original creator, has reconstituted a circle in rough stones (bar a single pebble) on the ancient hollow trunk. Whoever it was stole a march on me. 

Cervus elaphus

A sizeable herd of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) loiter on the edge of Brinken Wood, there must've been 50 or so of them. Lovely sight to see. They're big, our biggest mammal I think, majestic too. Though even here in the open they seem to blend in, part of the forest, and once in woodland they can quickly disappear; they're much better camouflaged than the other deer species in the forest. 

Gnarly

It's said of the majestic oak, that they take 300 years growing, 300 years being, and 300 years declining. In that last trimester some appear to have shrunken like shrinky dinks, developing intricate patterns and textures which draw the eye. 

Fruit of stupidity

Not a season passes without the forests' trees bearing the fruit of stupidity. People, eh.  

Low Vol 2: Before the dawn burns us

 

Low continues to enthral.  Volume two: Before the dawn burns us collecting issues 7-10, sees Stel continuing her mission to the surface in pursuit of hope fulfilled, a returned probe to an Earth running out of time. Her optimism tried, though intact. With Stel the others who'd escaped Rolns' arena, a motley crew, all with pasts of their own. Rick Remender's one hell of a writer creating a believable world, a scenario with strong echoes of our own and interesting nuanced characters you get invested in; and as for Greg Tocchini art, well, it continues to be something else, dynamic and expressive lines bringing Remenders' world to life vividly, in a lovely rich palette capturing the mood of different environments perfectly. A graphic where you battle between hanging on a page for the art and turning it for the story. A great read. 

South Oakley

South Oakely enclosure

Morning has broken

 

The weather wizards had forecast that the morning would see the best of the day, and they weren't wrong. Still early doors, a bright sun hung low over the horizon, diffused through a thin mist which clung in the hollows and stands casting a lovely soft light across the forest.Worth getting up early for, for shore.

Resemble not

Quite.

Studland

Geoff and I had the beach between Shell bay and North Beach to ourselves this morning, not a soul in sight. Morning walks like this are elevated to spiritual experiences, opportunities to commune with nature.

Down but not out

I'm not certain how far up the cliff side this Type 25 pillbox was originally sited, but I do remember it sitting above the level of the orange/yellow sands back in the late 1970's. Along with other structures around Studland it was built hastily in 1940 by the Directorate of Fortifications and Works (FW3) to offer some defence against the believed imminent German invasion. Necessity driven by war meant that around the country not all structures were completed to a high standard, clearly 85 years exposed to the elements and still standing ready suggests this one certainly was.

Rhinefield Bridge

 

Rhinefield Bridge, a classic New Forest scene.

Twisted

There's a hell of a tree on Vinney Ridge, all twisted and bent, a symbol of defiance and endurance. Throughout the forest there are countless of these trees who've battled against adversity to survive being knocked about by the element; but survive they do, if not thrive even. Isn't nature a wonder.

Imbolc

 

Sundown saw the arrival of the festival of Imbolc, the festival of retuning light, the first festival of spring. Springs' floral herald the Snowdrops have been bursting forth for a week or so. As winter enters its' final trimester the first hints of spring are becoming apparent, nature's on the move. Above, though still young, the sun is developing tangible warmth. If you haven't already, it's time to prepare. Remember. The wheel turns fast. We're at a point of potential and possibility, and we wont reap the harvest if we don't plant the seed. Blessings at this time of new beginnings. /|\

Gorse flowers in the morning sun

 

Somewhere in the forest there's always gorse in flower.

14 pebbles no more

 

For over a year and a half a circle of pebbles ebbed and flowed on a great hollow fallen trunk in Burley Old. Maker unknown, it was tended to by many, including me. This morning all the pebbles were gone. Not a trace, man. Even the spare pebbles I'd collected in a hollow amongst the buttress were gone. Very deliberate. People, eh.

Pre sunrise

 

A mauve and gold pre-dawn sky over Wilverley Plain.

Holmhill passage

 

Holmhill passage had all the qualities of a 1960's horror movie.

Wilverely Plain sunrise

 

Our walk at sunrise this morning was magical.

Open gate

 

Of late, eight out of ten gates we pass through on our forest walks have been left open. Whether genuine or contrived the civility we'd cultivated and took pride in as a nation is on the wane, increasingly we're a ill-mannered and boorish people. I know it's only a little thing, a gate left open, but all the little things, man, they add up. People, eh. 

Black water

 

Black Water

Stag

The Deer are quiet out in the forest, seen mostly in pairs, you do see the occasional small group. They're definitely laying low. The ones you spot are wary, alert and suspicious, watching from a distance and ready to bolt at a moments notice. Damn straight too, Geoff and I are clearly apex predators. I don't know if the forests' deer had a particularly rough rutting season, but we've seen quite a few deer carcasses about this winter. More than we'd usually expect to see.

Rockford Common

 

I liked the subtle early morning light on these mature Silver Birches on Rockford Common.

Whitefield Plantation

Across the mist filled valley, through which Dockens Water wends, the coniferous clump of Whitefield Plantation stands proud up on Ibsley Common. Planted as an ornamental landscape feature by some toff in 19th century, Whitefield Plantation is a small 20m by 160m banked enclosure comprising mainly of Scots Pine and Maritime Pine, along with some re-naturalizing Silver Birch. Small as it is, it's still by far the largest clump of trees on Ibsley Common.

Another red sky

 

Over the years whenever I'd risen early to greet a sunrise marking a spoke on the wheel, I'd always say 'I must catch more sunrises', though of course I never did. I do now, and we've enjoyed a fair few gloriously hued sunrises as a consequence.

Janurary full moon

 

The first full moon of the year, the 'stay at home' moon.

 

Camel Green

Winter holds the forest tightly.

A little nibble

No, not the White tree of Gondor slighted by Orcs, but a fallen holly tree with every accessible centimetre of succulent bark systematically and deftly nibbled off by hungry ponies. The seemingly ever increasing number of hungry ponies in the forest will seek out any opportunity for a meal during the thin months of winter. Feasting on an already downed and doomed tree is one thing, though when taken to extremes as I've seen in previous years, it's a behaviour that can quickly take out a veteran tree.