Over the past 65+ years I've watched a nearby Forestry Commission woodland slowly change from rank after close rank of dark evergreens standing on a pine needle strewn woodland floor, to a different world of broadleaved trees and sunlit glades. Today was hot and sunny and a wander in the cool green forest beckoned.
Locally, the harvest is virtually all in and the land has that sunny sleepy feel about it..
The White Horse isn't ancient, it was originally cut in 1838 to commemorate Queen Victoria's coronation, and then re-cut and tidied up in 1924. The National Trust look after it now. I like to see it, on a hot summers day such as today it seems to glow against the dark green of the Downland.
This is older...
The Saxon church in the village. This is the very Eastern most border of Alfred's Wessex. He hunted from the village and the sparse remains of his small 'Palace' can still be seen.
Come on girls...now change places...share the shade nicely please....
You will quickly gather that I have a fondness for Wild Flowers, so you might want to skip the next few photos..
Seen along the forest edge..
Fleabane glowing in the sunlight.
Wild Parsnip..looks a bit like Alexanders from a distance but close up it has fern like leaves.
Hemp Agrimony
Wayfaring Tree..well he will be when he grows up a bit..
I did my annual daft trick again.." I'll just taste this Sloe" Yuuukk!....
Wild Teasels coming to the end of their flowering and getting their business hooks out...
Willow Herb.
And into the wood..
Each clear patch had it's quota of Dragon Flies ( or Damsels) dancing in the sunlight, but they don't show up with my dodgy camera skills..Look, just press the button Wicca and hope for the best...
Brew time..and a handy seat.
The pack is a hodge-podge model...my speciality.. A surplus pack, Czech I think, married to an old time (early 1970's) Cobmaster frame. The pack is bombproof if a touch unfashionable, with it's metal clips and rivets ( I don't care... ) I much prefer an exterior frame on my smaller packs and this combo works really well...for me. There's an issue web belt fitted to the frame and an extra small belt pouch for the camera.
The Wheel is turning, on the way out of the wood I walked over this sun dappled patch of fallen Sycamore leaves and the air smelled like Autumn
Locally, the harvest is virtually all in and the land has that sunny sleepy feel about it..
The White Horse isn't ancient, it was originally cut in 1838 to commemorate Queen Victoria's coronation, and then re-cut and tidied up in 1924. The National Trust look after it now. I like to see it, on a hot summers day such as today it seems to glow against the dark green of the Downland.
This is older...
The Saxon church in the village. This is the very Eastern most border of Alfred's Wessex. He hunted from the village and the sparse remains of his small 'Palace' can still be seen.
Come on girls...now change places...share the shade nicely please....
You will quickly gather that I have a fondness for Wild Flowers, so you might want to skip the next few photos..
Seen along the forest edge..
Fleabane glowing in the sunlight.
Wild Parsnip..looks a bit like Alexanders from a distance but close up it has fern like leaves.
Hemp Agrimony
Wayfaring Tree..well he will be when he grows up a bit..
I did my annual daft trick again.." I'll just taste this Sloe" Yuuukk!....
Wild Teasels coming to the end of their flowering and getting their business hooks out...
Willow Herb.
And into the wood..
Each clear patch had it's quota of Dragon Flies ( or Damsels) dancing in the sunlight, but they don't show up with my dodgy camera skills..Look, just press the button Wicca and hope for the best...
Brew time..and a handy seat.
The pack is a hodge-podge model...my speciality..
A surplus pack, Czech I think, married to an old time (early 1970's) Cobmaster frame. The pack is bombproof if a touch unfashionable, with it's metal clips and rivets ( I don't care... ) I much prefer an exterior frame on my smaller packs and this combo works really well...for me. There's an issue web belt fitted to the frame and an extra small belt pouch for the camera.
The Wheel is turning, on the way out of the wood I walked over this sun dappled patch of fallen Sycamore leaves and the air smelled like Autumn
