Foulford Bottom

 

Foulford Bottom

Purple reign

We didn't need hold on for too long, the purple reign has begun.

Hold on

 

Country Joe sang 'hold on it's coming, hold on it's almost here'. Now he wasn't talking about the forests' Heather and Ling, but they are. All over the Forests' expansive heathland heather (Calluna vulgaris) and ling (Erica cinerea) flowers are tentatively emerging; soon our walks, if taken in the open, will be through an ocean of mauve and magenta hues.  It's easy to become complacent and overlook this ubiquitous rough shrub, you need to take a moment to absorb the majesty of the landscape around you though. It can be quite the sight.

Ogden's Purlieu

 

This mornings' long walk was spent mainly roaming some of the forests' plains. The plains are exposed and windswept, an open landscape of heather, bracken and gorse heathland, and of waterlogged hollows and wetter valleys. An environment that can become difficult to negotiate, though affords the determined walker superb views. It's a funny thing that in our imaginations the forest is just that a 'forest' all trees, whereas in reality at least 50% of the forest is wild open heath and bog. Above is the view across Dockens Water and over Ibsley Common and Ogden's Purlieu, with Hasley Enclosure on the horizon.

Coniferous invasion

 

You wouldn't believe how quickly the forests' open heathland would disappear if it weren't constantly manicured and curated by man. Only a handful of years ago this valley was nought but heather and grasses, just look at the number of conifers that have sprouted up. Imagine in another 5 years or so left unchecked. I shouldn't imagine these will go unchecked for long though; but you never know. I remember the forest back in the 70's having swathes of these colonizing conifers woods. I've said it before, the forest we see as natural for the most part couldn't be more contrived. I'd love to see some areas of the forest left to re-wild themselves naturally, I imagine it would be wonderful top watch. And walk.    

Purple Moor-grass

The torn grasses which last week storm Eunice chased across the heathland, now clog the puddles and seasonal ponds on the plains. The grass is Purple Moor-grass (Molinia caerulea) a native species common on wet acid soils like the New Forest; though I understand that due to changing climatic and environmental conditions the grass is now out performing and choking it's fellow heathland floral comrades, with the potential to change the nature of the heathland; that would explain it's abundance. Not good.

The New Forest

When people think of the New Forest I'm sure it's of expansive woodlands, of which there are some 230 sq mi of broadleaved woodlands and enclosed mixed plantation, although there are also 59 sq mi of open grassland, heathland and wetland. The photo above is representative of much of the forests heathland, a mixture of dry heathland with pockets of wetland heath, wetland and carr woodland filling hollows in the undulating landscape. Many of the wetland heath areas are impassible, especially through the wet seasons, punctuated as they are by wetland proper, you'll often find yourself following the contours of the land, making a 5 minute walk as the crow flies, a 20 walk.  This view is of the lower reaches of Duck Hole and Duck Hole Bog taken from one of the Bronze Age Round Barrows which border Ferny Knap enclosure (one of the smaller enclosures 21 acres, enclosed 1843. Lovely morning.

Duck Hole

The heatwave continues, and forest dries out further. Or so it appears. No, that's being disingenuous, the forest is really dry on the whole, though if you venture off the beaten track, off into the heathland hollows you'll find them still wet, and a filigree of rivulets being fed by hidden springs still flowing well.  Take Duck Hole Bog here, in a fold below what was Markway enclosure (now clear felled and harvested), verdant and lovely, clear tannin tinged water bubbling along in stark contrast to the increasingly parched open heath around it. Definitely, a place to sit a while and take in the summer forest.

Ling

There are three types of heather in Britain, all commonly found in the forest: Ling Heather (Calluna Vulgaris), Bell Heather (Erica cinerea) and Cross Leaved Heath Heather (Erica tetralix). Out of these Ling is the most abundant in the forest, it's the one you'll see the most. Usually just referred to as 'Ling', it's the one of the three heathers most commonly seen in the forest, its delicate soft pink flowers bringing swathes of colour to the heathland and are quite long lasting. It's hardy and durable, living for over 40 years, with woody stems and small waxy leaves, able to tolerate extremes of weather.  The flowers have been used to flavour wines and ales, it's still a common bee plant, with ling honey being priced for it's taste.  You'll often see hives placed amongst the shelter of the heathland gorse to exploit the heathers. The forestry regularly cut heather back to promote vigorous and healthy growth and to stop the heather becoming too woody and a fire risk. They bale it, you see the bales used around the forest for various things, particularly in waterways. Everything gets used in the forest, as it should be.  The heather does look lovely at this time of year.