Oak King, Beech Queen

 

You'll see this pairing all over the forest, an Oak and Beech planted together. What the purpose if any is, or what the significance is I don't know. Though it's frequency suggests it's not accidental. Whatever it is to me they represent the pairing of the king and the queen of the forest.  

The Rookery

On old maps this corner of Cumber enclosure is marked 'The Rookery'; a name which I reckon pre-dates the present enclosed plantation of 1843, and could be associated with nearby Rhinefeild House.  Although the current Rhinefeild house (a 4* hotel) only dates from the late 19th century, the site has been lived on in one form or other since the 11th century. That's the value of old maps, they hold forgotten histories and hints to previous land use; the name 'The Rookery' is missing from contemporary OS Maps, and with it that nod to history.