Clay Hill morning

 Autumn continues to deepen in the forest.

Subway graffiti

I like this. Simple though effective, both in form and colour palette. More please. It's surprising how stumbling across colourful graffiti, no matter the subject or size, can lift your spirits and put a smile on your face; it amazes me that people can object to dull grey, often neglected, concrete surfaces being brought to life with art.   

Subway graffiti

The subway between Clayhill Heath and Whitely Wood sports a new piece of graffiti, or at least one I've not seen before. I was fairly certain I recognised the style as the same artist from the subway under the Christchurch to Lyndhurst road at Markway Hill, a white outline piece at the other end of the subway confirmed I was right. It's possible the same graffiti artist has created here for some years, the underlying and faded flower looks very similar in style to the white outlined piece.  Nice.

Forever in flower

Forever in flower, Gorse (Ulex) can always be relied upon to bring colour to the forest. The different species of Gorse and their flexible flowering habit ensure they're always in flower somewhere. Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus) is our most widespread species and can flower throughout the year if it wants, though is most profuse in spring, when (if you have iron fingers or are willing to endure continuous pain) the flowers can be collected and turned into a nice dry white flower wine.  Lovely. 

Clay Hill (but which one?)

Clay Hill, an open mature Beech woodland of the type common throughout the forest. What a glorious environment. Not natural, I'll grant you, but nevertheless a fantastic woodland to walk in, whether in the winter when canopy-less or, as it will be soon, capped with a verdant crown. As I say, it's not natural, first the uniform Beech trees are the consequence of Admiralty forestry and secondly, the clear cut nature of the under-story is a story of regular maintenance.  Walking through the stand the stump remains of Holly (a common under-story inhabitant) are clear to see, probably cut a couple years back or so, whereas beyond the clear cut area the Holly still dominates the under-story.  Clay Hill is on the rise towards the high part of the forest and Stoney Cross, woodland of a similar, though not clear cut, nature extends north, east and south of it for some ways. Really lovely, although as it's name suggests, the land in these parts holds the water and can make for wet walking.

So, which Clay Hill though? There are at least 4 Clay Hills in the forest, all of a different nature and aspect. This one is the one near Minstead, to the east of the New Forest.