Runway light

 

Due the short-sightedness of the New Forest National Park Authority very little remains of the forests' Second World War physical heritage, although if you look closely you'll still be able spot a feature or two. Like this runway light frame along the former course of 'Runway One' on one of the forests' most notable airfields Stoney Cross, the runway itself was grubbed up in the late 80's/early 90's. Look carefully and every couple of meters you'll find one of these frames, once a heart warming sign of safety and home.

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.

Stoney Cross dispersal

The concrete dispersals that extend into the fringes of Ocknell Enclosure and used to house World War Two planes found post war utility as hard standing for campers and caravans. Stoney Cross used to have dozens of these dispersal pads, now less than ten remain, these 6 and 2 more in South Bentley Enclosure. If you know where to look in Ocknell Enclosure and Bolderwood Walk there are a few pieces of American wartime graffiti, it could be that one of their planes stood in the enclosures shade.

Guiding light

 

Ocknell Plain was quiet this morning, only a few grazing ponies and the occasional walker, and it was easy to imagine that the plain had always been that way. A vast open expanse of heather and rough grass whose edges disappeared down in to wet woodlands. Although if you look reminders of a previous, more dramatic, life can be made out. Like the long stretch of plum straight road cutting the edge of the plain, or the broad shallow linked depressions that create patterns all over the plain. During World War Two an expansive 3 runway military airfield spread across the 3 adjoining forest plains, Ocknell Plain, Stoney Cross Plain and Janesmoor Plain, most notably used by the USAAF 367th Fighter group (softening logistical targets pre D-Day) and 387th Medium Bombardment Group (taking out infrastructure and logistics post D-Day). Very little of what was RAF/USAAF Stoney Cross Airfield remains today though, the buildings had been removed and the runways broken up for hardcore by the 1970's. Since then the remaining perimeter track and dispersed aircraft hard-standings have been gradually been removed; very little remains now of the airfield I remember. The long straight road follows the longest 07/25 runway and the network of broad shallow linked depressions represents the void left by the removal of the runways, taxiways, perimeter track and dispersed aircraft hard-standings. Occasionally you'll come across more tangible features like the runway light mounting in the photo. The light mountings run in pairs every few meters along the parallel edges of what was runway 07/25. I've always thought that removing all the infrastructure and physical remains of the forest's wartime airfields was a short-sighted act of cultural vandalism; they could have at least kept one as a historical resource/monument, and a resource that could have many sustainable uses to boot.

Isle of the dead

'The Butt' a substantial Bronze Age bowl barrow on Janesmore Plain in the north of the forest. I've long wondered if the origin of our 'Isle of the Dead' references in story, legend and myth isn't in this type of prehistoric monument. This barrow is after all, when it's surrounding ditch is water filled, an island which houses the dead. Or, maybe the barrow was designed to symbolize just that, and the original story stretches right back into prehistory. Whatever, I know there's a connection. Prehistoric people revered water and watery places, these were magical, life giving places where deities dwelt; they saw mounds as symbolic too, often as portals, or places to move between, of transition.  Anyway, this barrow (best in the forest, in my mind) perfectly symbolizes an isle of the dead.

Psili

Not a thing you see that often this late in the year, Psilocybin Semilanceata, and growing in a very exposed environment too. Another bit of seasonal weirdness, or an example of changing climate, maybe? I say that as, you always will see anomalous mushrooms, one or two, though I saw quite a few Psilocybin Semilanceata this afternoon and quite widely distributed too.  I don't remember seeing these quantities so late in the year before.