Ogden's Purlieu

 

This mornings' long walk was spent mainly roaming some of the forests' plains. The plains are exposed and windswept, an open landscape of heather, bracken and gorse heathland, and of waterlogged hollows and wetter valleys. An environment that can become difficult to negotiate, though affords the determined walker superb views. It's a funny thing that in our imaginations the forest is just that a 'forest' all trees, whereas in reality at least 50% of the forest is wild open heath and bog. Above is the view across Dockens Water and over Ibsley Common and Ogden's Purlieu, with Hasley Enclosure on the horizon.

Woodford Bottom

 

Woodford Bottom

Hasley enclosure

This is the first morning that you've really been able to feel Spring's in the air. The growing young Sun and fecund maiden Goddess have begun their courtship and nature hums with anticipation. We started out from Mogshade Hill, and ended up doing a tidy 8 miles, it was a lovely day for walking. At our furthest point we found ourselves over Fritham Plain way; I've not walked this part of the forest for years, and it was good to be threading the tracks here again...the views are smashing. This is a distant Hasley enclosure seen from the edge of Sloden as we made our way up and along towards the plain.