Chewton Common

 

The common is really coming alive. We're lucky to have a magical space of such diversity on our door step. It's a haven for innumerable bird and beast, foxes are common, deer are regular visitors, and a dog person told me he's seen a badger recently.

Bare bones

We're not out of spring and already the streams of the forest are showing their  bare gravelly bottoms. I know this is the way of many of the forest streams, but it seems to come earlier and earlier each year, it used to be I'd be making these observations in June/July.

Avon Water

Wandering the meandering Avon Water this morning I took a moment to marvel at the streams growing diversity, post restoration. It's genuinely amazing. I remember when the old straight drain Avon Water was all steep cut sides and bare naked gravel bottoms, look at it now, sporting an ever increasing range of aquatic and wetland freshwater flora; and of course all the life that thrive there.

Last look

 

I cycled out via Guss Common (Burton Common) this morning to find change is afoot. Watery Lane has always afforded a pleasant route down into Christchurch or up onto the common and the wider countryside beyond - all that is about to change. Some years ago there were plans of a quarry mooted, a new access road and large sign on the A35 stating Quarry Entrance suggest it's about to happen. Watery Lane will still be here, you'll still be able to use it, but views like this wont be.

Southern Marsh orchid

It's that time of the year when the Southern Marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) dominates the flora of the wetter meadow at Ossemsley Ford.

May blossom

 

It's been a fantastic year for Hawthorn blossom.

Bluebell

 

So indicative of spring woodland the humble Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), a dainty drooping beauty which smells as sweet as it looks. There's an open stand of mainly oak alongside the course of the old Brockenhurst to Ringwood line near Osmonds Bushes, it's peppered with Bluebells, the scent as we passed this morning was heavenly. Their presence here indicates that the stand represents a pocket of ancient woodland.

Ebbor Gorge

It's been a few years since I last visited Ebber Gorge. Tucked away in woodland on the Mendip Hills, Ebbor is a lovely spot, less well known than Cheddar, and in many respects better for it. A compact 350 million year old limestone gorge engulfed by woodland, it's a wonderful place; very Robin of Sherwood. The gorge has been popular with humans since the palaeolithic, with evidence of later Neolithic occupation and possibly Bronze Age too. It must have been a special place, being on the edge of two worlds, of the Mendip hills and the wetland world of the levels. In more recent times the gorge has been blighted with Ash Die back (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus), resulting in the loss of trees; fortunately the natural aspect and atmosphere of the place are little affected, and it remains magical walking. I read that the Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is fighting back, with saplings growing in some infected areas developing a degree of resistance to the fungi. Here's hoping, eh.

Beltane

 

Climbing the pre-dawn tor the sound of drumming from inside St Michaels Tower gets louder, hypnotic beats echoing through the night, heralding sunrise. Beltane has always been my favourite festival of the eight fold year, and bar a handful of occasions, since 1989 I've seen the morning in here. This morning had it all going on, atop Tor a broad diverse group of folk drawn together from the quarters to mark sunrise, Rollo leading the traditional Druidic ceremony, and the Cam Valley Morris dancing in May. Perfection. The sun rose to the hoots, howls and cheers of we gathered observers, who where treated to a magnificent sunrise. Beltane blessings /|\