Nearly.......

Ramson's (Allium ursinum) are coming into bloom throughout Norden Wood, although not with the vigorous displays of previous seasons. It may be that the unseasonal weather has hindered their growth; I know a lot of plants at the allotment have suffered. Or it may simply be one of those seasons, sometimes nature's like that. I'd say about 60-70% of the flowers are open. Still a wonderful sight by any measure. I'll have to pop back next week and take a gander, see what's on show.

Ramsons

 

Spring must be coming, the Ramsons are poking through. It's a lovely time of year, everywhere you look the land is waking. Ramson (Allium ursinum) is both useful and attractive. An edible plant with a garlic flavour and scent Ramsons can be used as a flavouring herb, in salads or soups and stews, take care though, it's strong stuff and use without restraint can lead to inedibility (I once had to through a pot of soup away it was so garlicy...and hot!). Ramson is a beautiful plant, and when it's white garlicy scented flowers carpet an entire woodland it's really a sight to behold, and to smell too. This time last year I was walking through the top of Norden Wood, for my money the finest of ramson woods, seeing the green shoots emerging and looking forward to Beltane when the ramson flower carpet is at it's most sublime. Lockdown meant that wasn't to be, I'm hoping for better this year.

Nordon Wood

Today's outing over to Purbeck came in two parts, a sort of surf and turf outing if you will. The turf part took us up and along the Purbeck ridge west of Corfe, with it's glorious views in all directions. It was exactly a month ago we wandered these parts, though this time I engaged my brain and kept to ridge, avoiding the misery of the lower mud clogged tracks. I wanted to check on the progress of Nordon Wood, see how it's Ramson carpet was developing, and by all accounts it's developing nicely.  Compare this photo with the shot I took from the same place in February, and you can see how well they're coming on. What with one thing and another, I missed the Ramson carpeted woodland in it's prime last year, I don't want to do that this year.

Purbeck

The sky was a glorious blue as we approached the Purbeck Hills. It's been a long time since we've been out this way, too long, and it looked like we'd chosen a good day to return. The walking was fantastic, though early on I did make a rookie mistake by attempting to negotiate the section of path running along the bottom of the ridge between West Hill and Church Knowle in winter, it was foolish, and the Corfe Valley rang with the my shouts of profanity. Whilst Geoff acquired a distinct Purbeck mud plimsoll line. Though once on top of the Purbeck Ridge the walking became much less laboured and fraught. And the views!  Well.  From high path you can see along the entire curved length of the ridge, as well as fabulous views along the Jurassic Coast and across the world's second largest natural harbour towards one of the south coast's largest conurbations...that juxtaposition never fails to amaze me.  One of my favourite parts of this particular walk is the path which runs along the top of Nordon Wood. Bare Ash now, soon enough the steep hillside wood will come alive and the woodland floor will become a carpet of Ramsons, Dogs Mercury, Bluebells and Spring Orchids. By April/May to walk the path along the bottom of Nordon Wood is to walk through a pungent sea of Ramson flowers, it's something to behold...and to smell. Then it was the long ridge top walk towards Corfe and more sublime vistas. It was a lovely day for a walk, and a lovely walk was had.

Garlic wood

Even though the Ramsons of Norden Wood are going to seed after another glorious seasonal display, the woodland still looks gorgeous and remains heavy with the scent of garlic. A fairytale wood at this time of year.

Norden Wood

Although the sun was just beginning to burn through the mists, the Corfe Valley remained veiled in gossamer...there were to be no views of the coast this morning. That didn't matter though, what was on offer was more than enough to satisfy the senses. The land's coming alive. You can see the trees and shrubs straining, they're champing at the bit ready to unfurl their glories. Whilst below them the race has already begun, the path sides are thronged with competing spring greens. In Norden  Wood the Ash buds are fit to burst, under them the ramsons and dog mercury (both ancient woodland indicators) have formed a lush dense green carpet, a fragrant carpet spotted with primrose and the beginnings of bluebells. The energy in the land is tangible, the birds shout natures on the clock, and that wheel keeps turning. This landscape has always been a landscape rich in resources of all kinds, and subsequently has seen human activity for millennia, amongst the lush carpet we pass by an ancient prehistoric boundary which can be traced, highlighted in green. Green would certainly be the word of the day.

Norden Wood

Mother Nature had laid out the green carpet for us this morning in Norden Wood.  A lush carpet it was too, swathes of ramsons releasing the pungent scent as you passed, their flower heads still tightly closed, dogs mercury, the promise of bluebells and the occasional flash of creamy yellow primrose flowers. Norden's a predominantly Ash woodland, an increasingly vulnerable species, it's very different from most of the woodland I roam, and therefore's even more special to me. Sitting at the base of one of the older trees I sank into the woods, immersed myself in its sounds, mainly birdsong, the canopy was a huge conversation, I couldn't understand what was being conveyed, though I got the gist. Only clear blue was visible through the high branches, and a young sun showed his potential, a gentle breeze swept through, swirling scents and sounds. Norden covers an area of the landward facing side of the Purbeck Ridge and there always appears to be a breeze present. I sat bathing in pure spring, absolute bliss, I could've sat here for an age. I'll be back soon though, soon the ramsons will come into their own, and although I know many ramson woods, there's none to match Norden's majestic beauty in full bloom.

Orchids

Orchids are cool.

Norden Wood

For me, May and Norden Wood are synonymous with a sea of Ramsons extending the length of the wood, their pungent scent filling the air and stimulating the senses, dappled light dancing across their clustered flowers as a breeze sways them, movement on the slopes above as deer move through the sea of green and white, the sun on your face and high up in the canopy a vast chorus sings sweetly; may it ever be so.

Ramsons

A carpet of Ramsons (Allium ursinu) cascade down Knowle Hill through Norden Wood.  It's another seasonal ritual of mine, to visit this wood in May. It's beautiful on both eye and nose.

Ramsons bw

Or, in black and white.

Ramsons

The Ramson (Allium ursinum) leaves having been showing out for a while, though only now are a few flower buds starting to show.  These buds looked quite close to flowering. It's a real sign that spring approaches. I couldn't resist having a nibble on a couple of buds. At first they tasted very mild and I thought it might have been too soon try one, though that thought was quickly dispelled as the garlicy heat began to fill my taste buds.  Good stuff.