Flag Iris

Iris pseudacorus

Rhododendron

 

Attractive as they are, the bright mauve flowers of rhododendrons hide a dark secret, left unchecked they'll choke and overwhelm our natural flora, smothering wildlife habitats and rendering the soil toxic to many of our native species. The rhododendron may only have arrived in Britain in the late 1700s, though they're such a common sight I'd imagine many would think them native. They're classified as a non native invasive species and with good reason, with no predators and the ability of each of their numerous flowers to produce up to 7000 seeds, they'll spread through and colonize woodland with alarming speed. Once established they're buggers to get rid of too.

Highland Water/Camel Green

We were up and out early this morning, and as a consequence we didn't see another soul for the majority of our walk, the forest was ours, and it was wonderful. The woodland flora and fauna has really come alive. Sunlight flooded the morning stands, and the woodlands were just waking up, their vibrant green canopies resonating to the sound of song and call, squirrels darted from tree to tree, a pony and her fawn lazily rise to the day and occasionally a solitary deer braking cover and disappearing again. Our whole walk was a joy, although the restored section of Highland Water through Camel Green I found particularly magnificent.

More vandalism

 

More vandalism at Anderwood. Somebody has a real problem with Anderwood; recently it's facilities and furniture have been chainsawed and burnt, a couple of trees have been destroyed, and a mouldy old caravan dumped and subsequently burnt. The burnt holly and brand new bin box suggests they've recently struck again. Is it any wonder we can't have nice things in this country, anything nice and we do a shit on it.

The Eagle Oak

 

The Eagle Oak, one of the forests' ancient named trees.

Shappen Bottom

Shappen Bottom. A finger of bog and carr filling a shallow valley off Holmsley Bog, with Slap Wood in the distance. 

Chicken on Yew

Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) is often found growing on Yew (Taxus baccata) trees, although as I mentioned to in a previous post it's best avoided due to safety concerns. Why? Well. All parts of the Yew are highly toxic, and there's some debate within the fungi fraternity as to whether or not the Yews' toxins leach into the fruiting body of the Chicken of the Woods; some will say the flesh is safe to eat whilst others say it's not, so with the jury out I for one will give them a miss. It’s not like they don't grow on plenty of other trees.

Canopy

 

Canopy

Southern Marsh Orchid

Those Southern Marsh orchids (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) near Ossemsley ford,which a week ago were just coming out are now in full bloom, and lovely they are too.

Blackbird

The Blackbird (Turdud merula)

Latchmore Brook

 

The forest isn't as uniform as you might imagine, homogeneous blocks of woodland and heath it isn't; although many areas of heath or woodland may share a very similar floral make up, each has it's own distinct aspects and attributes. That's why it's so easy to end up with countless 'favourite' spots. Amberwood and Island Thorns are favourites of mine, they're quite unlike any other woods in the forest; overwhelmingly deciduous, mostly stands of Beech and Oak of varying degrees of spread; walking their myriad tracks and paths is magical, none more so than when following the Latchmore Brooks' bank-side path, and especially as it passes through the stands of Amberwood.  The stands here abouts have a certain air to them, a natural magic that's hard to describe.

Eyeworth Pond

 

Tranquil. Eyeworth Pond early this morning.

Holmsley line

The Brockenhurst to Wimborne line was completed in 1847 and closed to passengers in May 1964 as part of the Beeching cuts. It must've been a lovely journey, with wonderful views throughout, no matter the season or weather. It's weird to think that up until the 1960's we had a better mass transit system than we do today. 

Tree chicken

More and more clumps of Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) are bursting out all over the forest; their vibrant hues easy to spot amongst the greens and browns of the stands. Easy to identify and hard to misidentify, versitile to cook, tasty, and listed as 'edible good' in most books on Mushrooms, Chricken of the Woods is a favourite among wild fungi munchers. Be warned though, although listed 'edible good' Chricken of the Woods can cause dizziness and stomach upset in some; collect when young before they become woody, avoid specimins growning on Yews, and remember, if you're not a 110% leave well alone.

True blue

 

There are Bluebells and there are Bluebells, and these are our native bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), the English Bluebell. In the forest they don't grow as densely as you'll often see them in other woods, no carpets as such here, in the forest their presence is more understated, loosely spread clusters to isolated individuals; here amongst the ancient stands of Studley Wood, at the far north-east corner of the New Forest. They're a beautiful little flower, a bell shaped flower with deep violet blue petals and upturned tips, all delicate and dainty like. Don't think about bothering them, they're a protected plant, and not just by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, no, they're under the protection of a higher authority, it's said that if you trample or pick a Bluebell flower you'll have the Fairies to answer to. You don't want that.

Bullseye

Bullseye! A storm toppled tree smashed near perfectly diagonally across and through the railings of this woodland bridge. What are odds? Guaranteed. Sods' Law demands it.

Fledgling

I think this fair sized fledgling we came upon in Church Moor is a Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) fledgling; the largest species of Thrush in Britain. A plucky individual who appeared more concerned as to whether or not we had any food, than as to whether we were going to prey on it or not. We went for not.

Orchids

In a wet corner of a lowland meadow near Ossemsley ford on Avon Water, Southern Marsh orchids (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) are just beginning to burst forth and open. If you fancy a challenge, there are 15 species of wild orchid in the New Forest to spot between now and Autumn. On your marks!

Islands Thorns

 

Islands Thorns.

Lodge Hill

 

Morning sun through Lodge Hill wood, Holmsley enclosure.

New X Men - E is for Extinction

 

With Cassandra Nova reportedly the villain in Deadpool 3, I though I'd reacquaint myself with her by revisiting 2001s' superb New X Men run by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely; I'd quite forgotten what a rancorous malevolent force she is, her origin story's surprising if not shocking too; and she's powerful. I'll say no more though, as the twists and turns are best read spoiler free; hell of a romp. Frank Quitely's one of my favourite artists with a unique style and wonderful lines which hold the gaze, and Morrison has always been a solidly good writer, when paired they create damn good reading. This is X men done well.

Ay up chuck

 

Small yellow bubbles of Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) burst out of the trunk a veteran Sweet Chestnut on one of Wilverleys' forestry tracks. The first I've spotted this year, and right on time too.

Avon Water

A straightened section of Avon Water near it's source on Stony Moors.

Beltane

 

Bels' fire warms the soil, and in the greenwood the Goddess and the Green Man are united; through that union fertility and abundance again return to the land. Flora, Ēostre, Rana Niejta, Brigid, Ashanti, Freya, Dilga, Sopdet, Persephone, she is known in every corner of the world, by many names, hail and well met the Goddess of Spring. Now's the time to plant seeds literal and figurative. Beltane blessings. /|\

Cherry Blossom

 

It's been a good year for Cherry Blossom.

Clouds at sunset

 

Clouds at sunset

Forest pool

 

Forest pool

First foal

 

Continuing on an equestrian tip, the first foal I've seen this year. Ah.

A Thelwell pony?

 

This little beauty put me in mind of the Thelwell ponies. Do you know of cartoonist and illustrator Norman Thelwell? Thelwell was a famous cartoonist and illustrator of the British countryside and contributor to the the magazine Punch. One of my early girlfriends was a horsey girl and introduced me to Thelwells' enchanting cartoons having several volumes of them. If you know them, you'll instantly see what I mean. Made me smile.

Frying tonight

Fry basking in the warm spring sun in one of the head water rivulettes of Avon Water in Holmsley enclosure. I think they're Brown/Sea Trout (Salmo trutta) fry, don't hold to that though. These fish born in the headwaters of small streams have an interesting life journey, some remain in the streams of their birth, others venture out into the sea where they morph into Sea Trout, returning to their stream of birth to spawn and die. Bonus point if you get the title reference 'frying tonight'.

Can't stop the flow

On a narrow restored section of Blackensford Brook running through North Oakley enclosure a bank side tree has toppled into the stream, it would've blocked the flow of water completely, though Blackensford Brook was having none it; first it flowed around the obstruction, then it bored a tunnel through the obstruction and normal service was restored. You can't stop the flow.

Hold on they're coming.

Hold on they're coming, hold on they're nearly here. The buds are all there, bursting to open, and it wont be long before the entire floor of this wood will be carpeted in white and pungent Ramson flowers. I love this time of year; all energy and anticipation.

Clean sweep

 

What do you notice about the woodland floor here? No leaves. Black Water meanders through the woodland here, and whilst in flood has scoured the floor of last autumns' leaves and detritus, leaving a swathe of green through the stands; highlighting the strength and extent of these small forest streams when engorged. 

Electric Crayon Set - Laughing in the Clouds

 

Upon receiving my last package from Fruits de Mer Records I discovered an additional album with an accompanying card reading 'It's a windfall! A complimentary record from Fruits de Mer Records, just because we're in a good mood...and we found a few spare copies down the back of the sofa', how cool, eh, and much appreciated. I'd never heard of Finnish psyche pop combo Electric Crayon Set; I have now and they're bloody good. Electric Crayon Set are Seppo Tyni on bass, guitars, synth and keys, Timo Lilja on drum and precussion, and Timo Paakko vocals, guitars, synth and keys; with additional guitar from Juha Kormano, harpsicord from Pekka Tyni, vocals from Vilma Paakko and backing vocals from Katariina and Veera Lohiniva. 'Laughing in the Clouds' is a wonderfully upbeat romp through the world of psychedelic and progressive music, and although Finnish there's a real Britishness to their sound, specifically 70s/80's progressive pop psyche with a side helping of Mod aesthetic. Electric Crayon Set have added their own contemporary spin on the familiar to create a original take and sound on a favourite genre; each track is an aural joy, it's a lovely album, thoroughly listen-able. A stand out track for me is 'Calling on the cards', especially loving the vibe and production on that one; beautiful vocals by Vilma Paakko, first class. I wholeheartedly recommend this album, and a band to keep your eye on.

'Laughing in the Clouds' by the Electric Crayon Set is available on Psychotron Records; if this is the calibre of their releases, a label to watch.

Mucky work

Timber extraction is a messy business at the best of times, and these are not the best of times. The unseasonal wet has really softened up the forest; it's like walking on a sodden sponge, easily churned up by heavy forestry machinery, broad tracks of deep ruts and mucky puddles quickly form.

The Incal: Psychoverse

 

The Incal: Psychoverse, a prequel to legendary 'The Incal' by Jodorowsky and Moebius is a stupendous new romp through a familiar universe. Written and illustrated by contemporary artists, it's done so well, with such love and reverence for the source material that it's near seamless in aesthetic. Wonderfully written by Mark Russell and beautifully illustrated and coloured by Yanick Paquette and Dave McCaig respectively it's a joy to read, and a damn sight easier to follow. The tale of universes at war, of mad nuns on a mission and an insight into events that led to the events of the The Incal. It's a hell of a bonkers ride too, with is the Metabaron, Kill Wolfhead, and of course private investigator and space chump John Difool driving the story. Apparently there are more graphics set around the characters, worlds and events surrounding The Incal, and if they're as good as this, well.

Path art

 

Created from a mixture of leaves and small stones, I imagine this piece of ephemeral art was a beautifully imagined green flower. Situated in the center of an main forestry track it was never going to last that long.

Keep to the footpath

What with the sucking bog and all, walking in these parts can be frought with problems, you'd be wise to keep strictly to the footpath.

Magnificent Oak

Oak

Roe harvest

The harvesting of Roe enclosures' Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) which began at the back end of last year is moving on at a pace. I reckon maybe 2/3rds of the trees are in the process of being removed in parts, the timber stacks on the sides of the tracks are piling up.