Self sufficiency

 

I've noticed from the labels on new gates that the gates had been fabricated in Frome, some way from the forest, and I can't understand why. After all the bulk of woodland in the New Forest is managed for timber, you'd have thought it would be easy to be self sufficient where timber products were concerned; and if not why not. They grow many of the raw materials on site, for negligible price. For me this type of thing is indicative of how we got to where we are. The New Forest shouldn't be an importer of timber products, if anything it should be exporter; the forest should become a hub of sustainable and sensitively managed production, and the preservation and continuation of traditional skills. I can't think of anything greener. 

Think

I've observed over the last couple of years that open or not properly closed gates have become a growing phenomena; to the point that we come across at least one on nearly every walk. On the whole I don't think this is malice or wilful ignorance, more inadequate understanding of the environment born of a lack of socialization to the countryside. That said, surely closing a gate isn't rocket science; some of those gates, like this one above, open on to forest roads.  

Gate

As a child did you or your chums ever mix up the neighbours gates? I remember most of the gates in our local roads being conveniently interchangeable.  We'd go out late, and as quietly as possible, we'd change all the neighbours gates around, mix them up. No damage, or ought, just a nuisance. But this, this is just taking it too far.