Fry

It's amazing how resilient the forests' inhabitants are. I find it astonishing that fry can thrive in the shallow ponds and headwater streams, even with ice framing their homes. Beyond their hardiness, their presence is testament to the forests' streams going from strength to strength, and the scale of their presence is testified to by the increased numbers of Herons and Egrets frequenting the waterways.

Holmhill passage

 

Holmhill passage had all the qualities of a 1960's horror movie.

Holmhill Bog passage

Holmhill Bog passage

Alder carr

 

Alder (Alnus glutinosa) carr is common along some stretches of the forest's streams; take a closer look and you'll often spot that many of these trees show evidence of past coppicing, a common forestry practice. Back in World War Two the forest's Alder was called to national service, and were mass harvested in order to be turned into high grade charcoal for the 40 million gas masks required to protect the nation...that's a lot of charcoal. Charcoal production is one of the oldest of the forest industries, an important activity it was practiced throughout history; a tradition which continues in the forest today, albeit on a vastly reduced scale today at Pondhead.

Alder

You commonly see Alders (Alnus glutinosa) taking this form in the wetter parts of the forest, I can't make out whether they're coppiced or naturally grow in this multi trunked way. And as for the confused nature of the Alders bases, well, they're quite a unique sight.