Bog Asphodel

The tapered spikes of densely packed dainty yellow flowers you'll notice in the boggy habitats of the forest are Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum). They're a very pretty flower.

Heart of the forest

At the heart of the forest are it's streams, and the heart of those streams are the springs, spreads and collects that feed them.

Bogbean

 

A particularly attractive wildflower the Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) is nationally uncommon, though a fairly common sight in the wetter areas of the forest. Lucky us I say.

Fishlake, Romsey

I found myself in Romsey this morning with an hour and half to waste. Luckily the weather obliged with a clear sky, and even a bit of late winter sun; so I took the opportunity to explore Fishlake Meadows nature reserve. A substantial parcel of land tucked between the River Test and the Old Romsey Canal, it apparently until about 20 years ago or so was a farmed meadowland criss crossed with drains; since then though the land has been allowed to flood, and after countless generations of farming, it's been returned to it's original state as a wetland floodplain. And wow, after just 20 years the roll call of nature impressive; a habitat for dozens of native and migratory birds including the Osprey, a home to wetland mammals like the Water Vole and even Otter, 2 dozen Damsel and Dragonflies, and who knows how many plant species. It's interesting to imagine the nature of our countryside prior to human intervention, wetlands in river valleys would've been far more commonplace and expansive; in prehistory these environments were very popular, providing a huge and varied array of resources. A lovely wander, and 90 minutes well spent.

Harvest Slade Bottom

Harvest Slade Bottom, a wetland valley and one of the headwaters of Mill Lawn Brook. Just one of the forests many hidden spots which has an eerie isolated beauty to it. You can understand why in the past landscapes like the forest’s were viewed as scary places filled with dangers, real and imagined, mythical beasts and strange unnatural forces. Today the hollow was nice, very still, with a certain peaceful tranquillity to it, though when shrouded and muffled by thick mists or in the midst of a storm these places will stir your primal fears...no matter how much you deny them. 

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.

Cotton Grass

Cotton Grass (Eriophorum angustifolium) is a common sight in the wetter parts of the forest, whether in vast swathes or smaller patches in isolated hollows, it's a nice plant to see when in flower. Well, that's not necessarily true, it's the pollinated seed heads which are white and fluffy, not the flowers which are quite plain green and brown. Still, it's a lovely plant to see. They're good too, acting as a natural warning. If you understand nature she'll often give clues as to the nature of her terrain and what to expect there...cotton grass means you're likely to get wet if you're not careful. Cheers Mother, I'll choose my path carefully.

Frog chorus

I was back in the west of the forest again today.  On the whole, I tend to rinse an area for a few days or a week, and then move on to another and do the same there, that way I get around the forest and everywhere is always fresh.  The afternoon was fading, as was the light as I crossed the open, and wet, land between Denny Lodge and Denny Wood; it's where waterways, ditches and streams, converge in an area of extensive seasonal standing water and permanent bogginess. Like several areas of the forest there are bridges for ease of crossing the streams, though getting to the bridges and remaining dry is harder. Upon reaching the final bridge on the edge of Denny Wood I took time to pause, when I was struck by a sound, it sounded like a deep low cat purring on loop, then amplified, it filled the air. At first I thought it must be a machine or something in the distance, though as I focused on it, it was clear it came from close by. As far as could, wetland restricting me, I followed the sound and then it's origin became clear. The wetland in front of me was teaming with frogs, who themselves moved and furiously hopped in 'water' teaming with spawn; no, really, there was more spawn than water. It was an incredible sight to match the incredible sound. I've never seen as many frogs, nor as abundance of spawn. My photo doesn't do the scene justice, though if you look closely you can just see what I'm talking about. And this is only a tiny area of the much bigger wetland, although indicative of the rest. Quite amazing.

Stag Break Reeds

Since the instigation of the bog woodland restoration program, affected areas of the forest have become wetter, one of the purposes of the program was to hold water in the forest to encourage species diversity and now some areas remain waterlogged all year round. Phragmites Reed communities are beginning to colonize pools in the wetland hollows of the heath. I wonder how widespread this species was prior to the draining of the forest for forestry.  It's easy to forget that the forest we see today is in no way natural, and is all the result of human interventions over 5000 years. The forest must have been a wild place once and must have looked very different.

Tanglewood wetland

I always think this type of tangled carr woodland hold an eerie air of mystery and is tinged with fear. Navigating expanses of carr woodland without a compass or clear skies must be near impossible; disorientating mentally and physically. Terrifying. It's the type of landscape you find in fantasy novels or the location for a horror film. A landscape often populated by beasts and monsters, through which heroic bands inevitable need to travel and you're always warned to stay clear of, you know, the 'there be dragons' type place. A landscape you'd find yourself in if you'd taken the wrong turning, then it began to rain, you're car broke down and you were sure you saw something move out there amongst the twisted stands.

Reflection

It's always good to take the time to reflect and to think through the confusion caused by modernity; and a walk through the forest certainly allows you time for reflection. Clean air allows you to breathe, open vista or woodland embrace, both stir the spirit as step by step you remake the connection. A connection which is real and touches something distant within you, it's a connection you really feel.  Although you may not be able to fully articulate the connection through words, you know you feel whole in a way you don't in our modern world, a world of paradox with almost total connection and simultaneous isolation. To steal Blurs album title 'Modern life is rubbish' or at least elements of it can be. Modern life is built on falsehoods, whereas nature is all truth. The forest is always neutral and nature is always honest, no false agendas, no bullshit, and in our 24/7 world of media/communication/saturation, I find that incredibly refreshing.  Walk on, tune in, blot out.