Foxy

 

Forestry works through Rhinefield Sandys' have seen tranches of forest exposed to the sky for the first time in years. Nature doesn't miss opportunities. This one wide strip has been nearly exclusively colonised by Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea), and to beautiful affect.

Sandy's Ridge

Sandy's Ridge, a liminal spaces between woodland and heath.

The Rut

Maybe through novelty and the access to new territory, the recently unenclosed Reinfield’s Sandy’s has become a Mecca for deer. The rut is most certainly on. Walking along the central track to my right I could hear hidden antlers clashing, off to my left deep in the stands a stag barked his guttural call, whilst ahead of me a group of fallow does cross the track watching Geoff and I hesitantly, before hastily disappearing into the safe darkness of a coniferous stand. A young white fallow stag stands clearly silhouetted against the dark greens and browns of autumn; I imagined him ironically saying 'you can’t see me, right', but I can, they do tend to stand out some. White fallow deer are a far more common sight that they were 20 years ago. The deer are everywhere, we see dozens, even when I can’t see them, I know their eyes are watching me pass.

Black Water

We've enjoyed quite a few misty mornings in the forest this winter, and I for one am not complaining. The presence of mist only adds another layer of mystery to the forest and therefore to our roams.

Autumn reflected

 

Autumn reflected

In a rut

The roars of stags showing off echo through the forest, a show of dominance, we hear him long before we can see him. Strutting around his well established rutting ground, a fair harem around him, he's alert for any challengers, he needs to be, it's a winner takes all game.

Rhinefield plot

There's a block of woodland, a stand of younger deciduous trees, oaks, in Rhinefield Sandy's, that has always struck me as different. I've long wondered about this stand. Then a stumble on the inter-web answered my question. I came across a 1944-1950 aerial photo (National Library of Scotland) covering this part of the forest, and it showed that this parcel of land appears to have been agricultural plots during World War Two and into the post war rationing period. That would explain a lot; although  very gently sloping, the woodland floor is flat, and beyond some minor incursions from bracken, there's very little ground flora other than grasses. Makes sense adjacent to Rhinefield House. More broadly during and after World War Two some 350 Hectares of the forest went under the plough.

Western Hemlock

 

Outside Rhinefeild Sandy's they're clearing invasive Hemlock Spruce (Tsuga), escaped from the adjacent enclosure. I'm sure, but I think these are Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) commonly grown for timber about the forest. Western Hemlock is fast growing imported species, native of North Western America, one which spreads both quickly and easily, left unchecked it would quickly form thick darkly shaded stands.

Young oaks

A stand of young oaks, one of many mosaic blocks which make up Rhinefield Sandy's enclosure. I do like this particular block. It's not big, though enjoys a very attractive and engaging aesthetic.