Blackthorn blossom

 

Where ever you look the Blackthorn are in blossom, bringing hedgerows and woodland fringes to life, and it's now that you realise just how common this thorny shrub is. Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) comes into flower throughout early spring, though really comes into its own around now.

Camel Green

 

Bathed in spring sunshine Highland Water wends through Camel Green, the stream through here was restored to its' former course some years back, the landscaping scars from which have almost vanished, almost. It's a lovely stretch of river. For my money Highland Water is by far the most consistently attractive stream in the forest, from Ocknell where it begins to where it becomes the Lymington River. 

The opportunist

Nature, the great opportunist. How long do you reckon it would take for nature to completely obscure the works of man if left unchecked. I'd wager not so long.

Elcombe Down Holloway

 

After Sundays' walk I returned home minus a piece of kit. I thoroughly searched the car and thoroughly searched my rucksack, then thoroughly searched them both again. Nothing. No matter how forlorn a hope I make a point of searching for any items I loose, and the Gods are often kind. So we where back in Cranborne this morning walking with a purpose. Sundays' walk had been just over 13 miles, so there were plenty of places to look, and a handful of distinct possibilities. Halfway through we made our way along the holloway snaking up Elcombe Down to one of those possibilities, the spot we'd stopped for lunch. Nothing. In fact nothing all round, and I returned to the car empty handed and disappointed. I really do hate losing things, though sat in the car I accepted it as a lesson I obviously needed to relearn, and hoped someone found my piece of kit useful. Then for no conscious reason I reached into the door tray, where surprised I pulled out aforementioned missing item. I had to laugh.