Noot

 

Noot '25. 

A31 subway at Upper Lazy Bushes.

Subway graffiti

 

A new graffiti piece in the Picket Post subway.

 

Busy Graffiti

A new piece of graffiti in the underpass at Picket Post, well, new to me anyway, we've not been this way in a while. I like it, it's very busy. I like the palette, and it's flourishes. Very nice.

We Hate Scum!

 

They 'hated scum' in 2024, and undiminished they've renewed hatred of scum in 2025. That's commitment. Who or what they mean by 'scum' is left to our imagination, though I'm sure we all have culprits in mind.

Witch Mark

In amongst well weathered graffiti of unidentifiable date, and nearly fully obscured by a broad scar in the bark, you can just make out what remains of a Witch Mark.  Concentric circles, doubled V's and Daisy Wheels or Hexifoils (as above) are the most common, although they come in other forms too; they're thought to have been carved since at least the early Medieval period and were still being cut in the 1800's, and a tradition that no doubt continues today. Believed to be examples of protective magic, apotropaic symbols to ward off bad luck or the evil eye. They're a fascinating insight into the world as our ancestors experienced it.

Surprise graffiti

This piece of graffiti is off the beaten track, and quite close to a forestry property too. The canvas, a water metering station I think. The piece, a anemone like tentacle releasing what could be luminescent spores. Simple, but effective. I recognise the artist, I've seen their work in a subway between Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst. A nice surprise. I love a bit of graffiti, and I applaud the effort.

Witch mark?

 

I'm wondering whether this piece of graffiti set of a beaten track, or at least away from current beaten tracks, could be a simple 'Witch Mark' carved for protection; or I've seen a similar piece described as a carving to trap demons. If a Witch Mark, maybe it could be unfinished, left missing the central hexafoil or daisy wheel. I reckon it's got some age to it, mid 20th century, quite possibly earlier maybe.

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.

The 902

 

All the graffiti you find has a story to it, rarely though is it revealled to us. If you're lucky there may be clues which could hint to their possible origins. Take this boxed 902 on a beech in the Ocknell enclosure, what could its story be? Ocknell is on the edge of Stoney Cross plain, the site of one of the forests major World War Two airfeilds. So. Could there be a connection between the airfeild and 902? Possibly. The site was used by the USAAF 9th Air force and 387th bomber group, and there are other examples of Second World War American grafitti in the enclosure. The 902 could refer to the 902 Military Police Company (Aviation), a guard squadron which would have been present where the USAAF were stationed.  I reckon it's as good a thesis as any.

Graffiti

As much as I enjoy the big statement art graffiti pieces like those on the water tanks atop St Catherines' Hill, I do have a fondness for classic subway style graffiti. There's some nice pieces in a traditional style through the Picket Post underpass, I like the forms and colour employed, it's a shame they've got dirty so quickly. Dated '24 it must be fairly recently too, as we were only walking this way back in spring.

Ch ch changes.......or not.

Carved 95 years ago, so what's changed since CB made their mark on this mature beech in 1929. Well, what was going on in 1929? It was the beginning of the Great Depression, the beginning of a devastatingly period of poverty and decline, there was violent conflict between Jews and Arabs in Mandatory Palestine which saw hundreds dead and injured, across Europe nationalism and fascism on the rise, and around the world change bubbling up. Well, they do say history repeats itself don't they. They also say if we don't learn from history we're condemned to repeat it, looks like we weren't paying attention, eh. Is that proof of the Strauss-Howe hypothesis?

MM 1944

 

There are those in the nature loving and pagan communities who'd pour scorn on folk who'd scar and mark trees, and in some circumstances I've got a degree of sympathy for that. Though I have to say that for the most part I enjoy graffiti. Be it profane or mundane or profound, someone had been moved enough to spend time and effort on it's carving. Fair play. One type of graffiti that never fails to move me is wartime graffiti, and particularly that of American servicemen here only fleetingly during World War Two. I've often wondered the fates of the carvers. To me the imagine of young men thousands of miles from home, fully cognisant of the possibilities ahead on the eve of the unknown wishing to leave some mark before they go, no matter how ephemeral, is a powerful image. MM did just that in 1944, no doubt just before D-Day. There used to be ten or so pieces of American WW2 graffiti I knew of in Burley Old, though as the years go by they're slowly being reduced by time and the elements. 

Why twice?

 

I'm puzzled by this. Two pieces of graffiti, same name, same date and clearly carved by the same hand which read 'John Jan 1 1978'. Why twice? Why would you do that?

The bladed scribe

 

Some trees more than others attract the attentions of the bladed scribe. This once smooth Beech (hence it's attraction) at Standing Hat has drawn the attention of so many graffiti 'artists' that in many cases their individual works are lost in the creative melee. What you can make out though, is that the 80's appears to have been a popular period.

The Sanctuary

I noticed some relativity new graffiti on a young Beech at Burley Old's bird sanctuary, RIP. I hope it's not connected, but I haven't seen the architect and creator of the Sanctuary, a guy named Stephen, for quite a time now. That said, the site remains in good order and the birds well catered for as far a seed goes, so maybe the graffiti is unconnected; though I did consider that maybe the accumulated handy work of many others small acts maintain the Sanctuary.   

Old track

I love this avenue of Beech trees flanking the Faulston Drove as it descends into the Ebble Valley from Faulston Down. The drove is the course of a Roman road, quiet possibly a trackway long before that, one which has seen continuous use right up to present day. The graffiti scribed into the drove's venerable trees have stories to tell too, of loves and lives in a rural setting, and broader events of national importance, such as the coronation of Edward the VII and the sinking of the Lusitania. It's a veritable walk through the ages; and on a morning such as this morning a sublime one.

The night conceals

 

'The night conceals the World, but reveals the universe.'

A lovely thought; and apt for the forest sky too.

Hot pants

The forest's graffiti comes in all shapes and sizes, here the shape is comely if not somewhat exaggerated, and the size is quarter scale-ish. It's a weird one for sure. No doubt a fantasy image of a woman, although the way the carver has proportioned the body and something in the stance lends the graffiti a strange masculinity. It's notoriously difficult to age tree carved graffiti, so many factors at play, though I'm going to suggest 70's/80's by the style of hot pants. Another carving I'll never know the story behind and another addition to what's becoming quite a collection of images.

CFC Canadian Forestry Corps?

I stumbled upon two interesting pieces of graffiti on the same tree, and both similar are in nature; J.Liafe CFC, and on the opposite side W. (the other initial lost to bark scaring, although possibly a T, as part of the top remains) CFC. CFC, eh? The nature of the graffiti gives me the impression that it's a good few decades old, and the fact that both CFC's are carved in the same unique style suggests that they're contemporary with each other.  After an internet search I came to the conclusion that CFC may well stand for the Canadian Forestry Corps; the corp was active in Britain (mainly Scotland) during both world wars; the nature of the graffiti ie. how it's stretched, scared and aged is very reminiscent of other Second World War examples. The Canadian Forestry Corps, nicknamed the 'Sawdust Fusiliers', was a corp of the Canadian Army who although given basic training were not expected to participate in combat, all things forestry and timber was their bag. There was a saw mill close by in Denny Enclosure between 1939-1945 which was said to be the only mill in the forest capable of handling 'large diameter timber', so although primarily stationed in Scotland, it is conceivable that Canadian Forestry Corps members with their experience and knowledge of dealing with large timber could have been employed in the area (I know some were stationed in Surrey). More research would be required to confirm that any members were stationed in the forest, and of course it could also be they were just passing by* or on leave. 

* During a cursory search I did come across this interesting reference:  'After the landings in Normandy in Jun 1944, ten companies eventually moved to the Continent to continue operations there; 77 square timber rafts and 54 round timber rafts had been created in Southampton to moved timber across the English Channel with them.' www.canadiansoldiers.com/corpsbranches/forestrycorps.htm  

So say we all.

Well indeed; though the chances of Mr Putin seeing this out here in the forest is unlikely; although I think we can all heartily concur with the sentiment. The Azov battalion symbol on the other side of the trunk, not so much though; before being integrated into the Ukrainian National Guard the Azov battalion originated as a nasty paramilitary militia with open and forthright xenophobic Far-Right and Neo-Nazi sympathies; we appear to have forgotten that. There's never circumstances in which we should have time for Nazis; even when they're our enemy's enemy.