Walking through time

Green Lanes are a loose network of unmetelled grass tracks which criss cross the countryside and have their origins in the routes travelled hundreds, if not thousands of years in the past. The countryside and land usage around them may have changed, though you know their well trodden route's have not altered for centuries, if ever. If you allow your imagination to wander, you can walk through time along them.

The May Queen wakes

The May Queen wakes.

White's plantation

We followed the green lane which leads towards Beckley and the edge of the New Forest this morning, past White's and Hobbs plantations. It's been a long while since I walked this way.  The old green lane was always sunken and prone to water logging, over the years it's condition deteriorated to the point where it was often impassible, now where necessary the lane is sited a couple of meters to one side, on higher drier ground and the ditches on the remaining low section kept well maintained. It's lovely walking, proper rural, and in the current climate near devoid of the sounds of man, a different world. I laid down, closed my eyes, breathed deeply and escaped into it...glorious. 

Early adopters

It's only a matter of time now, the forests trees are preparing to burst in to leaf. Some of the early adopters are already pushing their first leaves out, ready for the big cover up, when the woodlands close in on themselves. You can feel the lands about to shift into a new gear; the wild inhabitants know it.  The air is thick with bird song, so many different calls, the canopies are alive with activity.If you don't get out into the woods much, make time to do so now, it's electric.