Black Water

Black Water, just above Gravelly Ford.

Black Water above Gravelly Ford

 

Black Water above Gravelly Ford. 

Lovely.

Black Water

 

This stretch of Black Water above Gravelly Ford has always been a favourite of mine. Before they deer fenced a large portion Rhinefields Sandys, we'd regularly  park in the old car park on the ridge a wander hereabouts. Our walks often taking in both Ober Water and Black Water, and the mosaic stands of Rhinefields Sandys enclosure running between the two. It was good walking. Still is. Although as you'd imagine, the imposition of a large chunk of the enclosure being securely fenced and inaccessible really affects your roam.

Gravelly Ford

 

Black Water looking downstream towards Gravelly Ford.

That'll be a no then.

 

That'll be a no then.

Black Water

 

Black Water above Gravelly Ford.

Black Water

For years since our boys were young we've enjoyed our Christmas feast on Christmas Eve, continental stylee; logistically it made sense, I couldn't cook a Christmas dinner and put together three children's toys at the same time; it became our family tradition. Another tradition is our short Christmas day walk, which in recent years has been along the stretch of Black Water between Black Water Bridge and Gravelly Ford; it's a nice stretch of stream with a high meander ratio, picturesque and easy walking, set amongst the open mature Oaks in Vinny Ridge enclosure (1859). As you'd imagine, the forest was very quiet this morning. 

Black Water

 Black Water above Gravelly Ford.

Black Water (less)

This week's bare naked bottom is that of Black Water, another tributary of the Lymington River; photo taken looking upstream from Gravelly Ford. This drought is dragging on now, it's been a couple of weeks so far that the streams have been dry. The only stream I've seen that's still flowing in the forest is Mill Lawn (which becomes Red Rise Brook, and then Ober Water), the third of the Lymington River tributaries. You have to wonder how the forests wildlife are coping, it's got to be difficult, and you can't help think about what the forest will look like once climate change's impacts begin to bed in; the forest is home to some internationally important habitats that will no doubt be adversely effected.