It seems odd that the dimensions were so grave like - as to whether the wood is planted or not, I can't say. None of the trees were very large but there weren't any plastic protectors
Thanks for the update, J!
Thanks for the update, J!
Fear of the dark
- Thread starter taws6
- Start date
No plastic protectors on these trees either - they're 17 years old now!
It's sitka spruce thats planted, much of which will be getting harvested in the next few years. As was correctly guessed, it's done with a mini digger. I was told the reason for the very grave like dimentions, including depth, are simply because it allows a much better look than just a core pull, as well as being easier.
Yes it looks 'off', yes it could make your imagination run wild, yes you need to be careful not to faceplant into them at dark o'clock, but, it's nothing to get in a tizz about.
It's sitka spruce thats planted, much of which will be getting harvested in the next few years. As was correctly guessed, it's done with a mini digger. I was told the reason for the very grave like dimentions, including depth, are simply because it allows a much better look than just a core pull, as well as being easier.
Yes it looks 'off', yes it could make your imagination run wild, yes you need to be careful not to faceplant into them at dark o'clock, but, it's nothing to get in a tizz about.
No. You do the "coring" yourself with a small hand auger then send the soil samples away to be tested.
That reminds of something I once read in the local rag about a "mad axeman". He was of course, neither mad, nor an "axeman" so much as a spotty teen with a complex about acting as macho as possible. I knew him, and all he did to recieve that epithet, was walk into a local army surplus store, pick up a logging axe, and to walk away without paying for it. Well the point was rather like that scene in the good the bad and the ugly where Tuco Ramirez selects himself a gun, that the staff in the store weren't going to argue with the guy once he had his axe. Oh well, Borstal sorted him out. (This was a long time ago now)
Dreadhead
Bushcrafter through and through
well after several nights reading through all this you have yourself another follower Jonathan! desperate to find out more about stachman! and just realised that im moving down to those parts (to live on a boat!) in less than a week hahaha so again if you need someone to check it out with you im definitly game.
as for the fear of the dark it is definitly a tricky one and i have certainly had that 'something isnt quite right' feeling. i dealt wth this when i was in uni. i used to go out at night in my leather slippers and see how quiet i could move through the woods and how close to wildlife i could get. i have no fieldcraft experience whatsoever it was just something to pass the time and it was great fun becoming accustomed to the dark. i even came across campers in the woods but i always made myself visible and spoke some friendly words not to scare them. when you get that dodgy feeling, move on and find a happier place to bed down atleast you have made a positive change to your circumstances and can hopefully settle down
as for the fear of the dark it is definitly a tricky one and i have certainly had that 'something isnt quite right' feeling. i dealt wth this when i was in uni. i used to go out at night in my leather slippers and see how quiet i could move through the woods and how close to wildlife i could get. i have no fieldcraft experience whatsoever it was just something to pass the time and it was great fun becoming accustomed to the dark. i even came across campers in the woods but i always made myself visible and spoke some friendly words not to scare them. when you get that dodgy feeling, move on and find a happier place to bed down atleast you have made a positive change to your circumstances and can hopefully settle down
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Moving quietly in the dark can be a problem when there is a car parked across the path. Edging round so as not to startle the otherwise occupied occupants can be edgy with a hint of danger with the possibility of them emerging dishevelled and cross.
I read a book written by an old poacher once where he describes hiding in a wood until a courting couple had finished. He wrote that he made sure he looked out for them and that the boy kept the promises made in the wood which I thought rather nice.
I read a book written by an old poacher once where he describes hiding in a wood until a courting couple had finished. He wrote that he made sure he looked out for them and that the boy kept the promises made in the wood which I thought rather nice.
When I was at uni in Oxford I hated the whole Ball thing, signed up for one, then chickened out at the last minute and took off for Wytham Wood instead. I had just read the Tom Brown tracker books and so went with nothing but the clothes on my back, and spent the time wandering round the wood, dodging the gameskeepers (sorry guys), and watching. More than anything, I remember just sitting in the wood and being silent and watching. I saw a vixen and her two cubs and was able to follow them 30 metres behind through the whole wood. I froze my **** off, drank water out of the streams ( I was young and thought myself invincible), and ate nothing (see above). It was one of the best weekends of my life. I was not at all frightened of the dark - in fact it seemed to bring another entire world to life.
I'd been sleeping out in the woods near my home since I was twelve, but it still seemed different that weekend. Spiritual almost.
Having said that, my father had a stroke a couple of years ago and I was in the woods when it happened, near my childhood home, poncing about with a new knife, and I was happily whittling away when I distinctly heard him call my name, not once but twice. And at that moment I was absolutely freaked out - I charged into the woods with my knife ready to batter someone, scared out of my wits, but there was nothing. At that moment, the wood felt entirely different - not welcoming at all. I ran home to find my Dad had had a severe stroke, so severe he could not even speak, and never would again.
I don't know what to take out of all this - I'm an atheist who believes in very little, but I know this happened, and it can't be explained. My Dad died in March this year, and just after I'd heard the news there was a crash from my office, and my wife and I (it was 7 in the morning, a calm, grey day), found that an old model cottage which was also a barometer had flown off a shelf (where it had sat unmoving for 9 years) and landed on the other side of the room. That model cottage with its inbuilt barometer had been one of my Dad's last gifts to me. That was that. There are more things in heaven and earth than we think, maybe.
I'd been sleeping out in the woods near my home since I was twelve, but it still seemed different that weekend. Spiritual almost.
Having said that, my father had a stroke a couple of years ago and I was in the woods when it happened, near my childhood home, poncing about with a new knife, and I was happily whittling away when I distinctly heard him call my name, not once but twice. And at that moment I was absolutely freaked out - I charged into the woods with my knife ready to batter someone, scared out of my wits, but there was nothing. At that moment, the wood felt entirely different - not welcoming at all. I ran home to find my Dad had had a severe stroke, so severe he could not even speak, and never would again.
I don't know what to take out of all this - I'm an atheist who believes in very little, but I know this happened, and it can't be explained. My Dad died in March this year, and just after I'd heard the news there was a crash from my office, and my wife and I (it was 7 in the morning, a calm, grey day), found that an old model cottage which was also a barometer had flown off a shelf (where it had sat unmoving for 9 years) and landed on the other side of the room. That model cottage with its inbuilt barometer had been one of my Dad's last gifts to me. That was that. There are more things in heaven and earth than we think, maybe.
Fear's a funny thing.
I had to go away to a conference this year, sleeping by myself for the first time in nearly 10 years. I had a definite case of the heebie jeebies. My wife and my kids being in the house makes me feel safe - not as in protected, but as in at peace. Without my little 4'11" wife next to me, I did not feel safe.
She didn't really sleep while I was away either.
I had to go away to a conference this year, sleeping by myself for the first time in nearly 10 years. I had a definite case of the heebie jeebies. My wife and my kids being in the house makes me feel safe - not as in protected, but as in at peace. Without my little 4'11" wife next to me, I did not feel safe.
She didn't really sleep while I was away either.
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Reminds me of when I was at Uni in the 70's, I used to spend many a night in the woods around. One night I lost my glasses in the wood. The next day I borrowed a pair off my dad and by the light of day tracked my way back through the woods to where I lost my pair. I found them. those were the days.
Dreadhead
Bushcrafter through and through
i did leave out that i also used to get blitzed and go out into the dark woods for a sing and dance on my lonesome haha by the gods if anybody was camping out there and seen that....
I started to read this thread last night (thanks to HHMBLT for sharing!!) and then got up at 8:00am this morn to finish reading it because I was hooked on Jonathan's 'nut job' story, tis freaky stuff!! There were a few other stories in there too which made me feel somewhat uneasy and gave me some funny dreams last night!!
As for the fear of the dark thing, I think for me personally, being a massive fan of the horror genre, I wind myself up way too much!! I read the stories, watch the films, then spend days lookin' over my shoulder, but I love the adrenaline rush of it all and I know most of it is me being silly haha!! I'm generally not afraid of the dark, I think living on a boat on my own has taught me to be tougher, although sometimes, I still get a little spooked and I think its wise for a young girl on her own to be a little cautious of whats going on! I must say, the dog gets pushed out the door into the dark first and shes the first one back in the boat, just in case haha!!
I havent really experienced anything spooky while out camping etc... I was in the A.T.C for 7 years, we did alot of wild camping and all night ambush type exersises, never really had a problem with that, never remember feeling scared or worried, mostly because there was always a bunch of people around, so I felt safe all the time, although, I do remember being woken up by a mouse or something running under my ground sheet once, that s**t me up for a good few mins until I calmed down haha!! I've had uneasy feeling in certain places or buildings before, but again, just put that down to my over active imagination!! Even though I love all those spooky type camp fire tales, I can calm myself down and rationalise things, just as quickly as I can wind myself up, most of the time anyway!
However, I do have a slight problem that only one other person (HHMBLT) knows about! It invloves swaying trees, mainly trees that make a creaking sound & human like dummies (like the kind you find in museums) and for good reason....
When I was about 9 or 10 (1995-ish) our school went on a trip to Sandwell Valley Park Farm. It was the last school trip before we broke up for the summer holidays, everyone was really looking forward to it and mom even brought me a pair of new trainers that flashed when you walked (very cool!!) We went to a part of Sandwell Valley, that I think was called Swans Lake!?! Anyway, the plan was, was to play around in that area for a while then go have lunch and look at the farm. The area was mostly thick woodland which surrounded a large-ish pond, in a big circle. There was a grassy clearing where we were all supposed to have lunch and from there there was a little path which lead to a very small pond. The class teacher spent most of the morning at this small pond, fishing and smoking, while the rest of the class ran around the area of the big pond, mostly unsupervised!! We were told not to get into trouble and under no circumstances, not to go down into the woods!!
The majority of the class did as they were told and played happily in the sun on the grass. However, a small group of 'naughty' children (me included!!) decided that playing on the grass was boring and an adventure is what was needed. So, myself and three of my best lad chums went off into the woods.
After about 15 mins of rambling around, we came across a very large tree, standing out alone from the rest of the other trees and to our horror, we looked up to find the hanging corpse of a man....
Now, most children of that age, im thinking, would run a mile, but not us! I dont think we knew what to do really and I dont think we really understood what we had just come across or how serious it was and being children, a natural curiosity took over.
We just stood there for what seemed like forever, staring at this man. I can, to this day, still describe to you perfectly every single detail and smell (but I wont!)
After a while, the wind picked up and the trees began to sway, one of my friends (I have no idea why) pushed the man and the whole branch started to creak.... this is when we suddenly got scared and ran to tell our teacher.
After we had explained what we had seen, we were then made to go back to show the teacher where the man was. I remember being more scared the second time I saw him and he made us stand there and tell him everything, all the while this poor man was still swinging. We were taken back to the grassy bit and told to stay put, which we actually did this time. (I think shock had set in by then)
A mom of one of my class mates was a nurse and she stood with the man while the whole class were hurried off in the direction of the farm.
After lunch, the police came to talk to those who had found the man. We each gave statements and our cameras were taken off us as one of the boys confessed to taking a picture. They told said it was a dummy left over from April fools, but we knew they were lying! We then had to walk around the museum (which was dark and spooky) where there were life sized dummies dressed as historical characters! (Probably not the best idea concidering what they had just told us!!)
Suffice to say, by the time I got home, I had developed a strong dislike of dummies amoungst other things!!
For years afterwards, I remember being a little jittery when I was out camping with my parents or later with friends and even now, sometimes going into the woods alone to practice my archery or take the dog for a walk, still makes me feel a bit nervous, even in daylight, but I dont let it stop me.
Whenever I go into woodland, Im reminded of the man, so walking through alone in the dark, isnt an option!!
Later, when I was a little older, I found out that It was a man of about 35, with a young family who had got into some money trouble and saw no other way out, very sad indeed.
As for the fear of the dark thing, I think for me personally, being a massive fan of the horror genre, I wind myself up way too much!! I read the stories, watch the films, then spend days lookin' over my shoulder, but I love the adrenaline rush of it all and I know most of it is me being silly haha!! I'm generally not afraid of the dark, I think living on a boat on my own has taught me to be tougher, although sometimes, I still get a little spooked and I think its wise for a young girl on her own to be a little cautious of whats going on! I must say, the dog gets pushed out the door into the dark first and shes the first one back in the boat, just in case haha!!
I havent really experienced anything spooky while out camping etc... I was in the A.T.C for 7 years, we did alot of wild camping and all night ambush type exersises, never really had a problem with that, never remember feeling scared or worried, mostly because there was always a bunch of people around, so I felt safe all the time, although, I do remember being woken up by a mouse or something running under my ground sheet once, that s**t me up for a good few mins until I calmed down haha!! I've had uneasy feeling in certain places or buildings before, but again, just put that down to my over active imagination!! Even though I love all those spooky type camp fire tales, I can calm myself down and rationalise things, just as quickly as I can wind myself up, most of the time anyway!
However, I do have a slight problem that only one other person (HHMBLT) knows about! It invloves swaying trees, mainly trees that make a creaking sound & human like dummies (like the kind you find in museums) and for good reason....
When I was about 9 or 10 (1995-ish) our school went on a trip to Sandwell Valley Park Farm. It was the last school trip before we broke up for the summer holidays, everyone was really looking forward to it and mom even brought me a pair of new trainers that flashed when you walked (very cool!!) We went to a part of Sandwell Valley, that I think was called Swans Lake!?! Anyway, the plan was, was to play around in that area for a while then go have lunch and look at the farm. The area was mostly thick woodland which surrounded a large-ish pond, in a big circle. There was a grassy clearing where we were all supposed to have lunch and from there there was a little path which lead to a very small pond. The class teacher spent most of the morning at this small pond, fishing and smoking, while the rest of the class ran around the area of the big pond, mostly unsupervised!! We were told not to get into trouble and under no circumstances, not to go down into the woods!!
The majority of the class did as they were told and played happily in the sun on the grass. However, a small group of 'naughty' children (me included!!) decided that playing on the grass was boring and an adventure is what was needed. So, myself and three of my best lad chums went off into the woods.
After about 15 mins of rambling around, we came across a very large tree, standing out alone from the rest of the other trees and to our horror, we looked up to find the hanging corpse of a man....
Now, most children of that age, im thinking, would run a mile, but not us! I dont think we knew what to do really and I dont think we really understood what we had just come across or how serious it was and being children, a natural curiosity took over.
We just stood there for what seemed like forever, staring at this man. I can, to this day, still describe to you perfectly every single detail and smell (but I wont!)
After a while, the wind picked up and the trees began to sway, one of my friends (I have no idea why) pushed the man and the whole branch started to creak.... this is when we suddenly got scared and ran to tell our teacher.
After we had explained what we had seen, we were then made to go back to show the teacher where the man was. I remember being more scared the second time I saw him and he made us stand there and tell him everything, all the while this poor man was still swinging. We were taken back to the grassy bit and told to stay put, which we actually did this time. (I think shock had set in by then)
A mom of one of my class mates was a nurse and she stood with the man while the whole class were hurried off in the direction of the farm.
After lunch, the police came to talk to those who had found the man. We each gave statements and our cameras were taken off us as one of the boys confessed to taking a picture. They told said it was a dummy left over from April fools, but we knew they were lying! We then had to walk around the museum (which was dark and spooky) where there were life sized dummies dressed as historical characters! (Probably not the best idea concidering what they had just told us!!)
Suffice to say, by the time I got home, I had developed a strong dislike of dummies amoungst other things!!
For years afterwards, I remember being a little jittery when I was out camping with my parents or later with friends and even now, sometimes going into the woods alone to practice my archery or take the dog for a walk, still makes me feel a bit nervous, even in daylight, but I dont let it stop me.
Whenever I go into woodland, Im reminded of the man, so walking through alone in the dark, isnt an option!!
Later, when I was a little older, I found out that It was a man of about 35, with a young family who had got into some money trouble and saw no other way out, very sad indeed.
But it was real, it happened, it had an explanation and it was a tragedy. So no element of the supernatural. I but understand the individual long-term reaction but surely even in this case it is better to know the story rather than to have an unexplained childhood horrible mystery?
Your first meeting with a corpse is bound to stay with you long term - I know I still have flashbacks to my first encounter with a dead'un... and that can colour your apreciation of similar environments.
I have never had any wierd experiences that have given me a "fear of the dark" ... just lots of wierd experiences full stop!
My understanding of the universe/philosophy of life/religion/personal paranoia/delusion (take your pick) is of an independant Spiritualist trend so a lot of what seems "Spooky" to many is perfectly normal to me
I sleep better solo outdoors than most other places bar my own bed and always think that it is the living wierdos that pose more of a danger to us than anything else that goes bump in the night - and I have a great fondness for pistacho nuts ....
I have never had any wierd experiences that have given me a "fear of the dark" ... just lots of wierd experiences full stop!
My understanding of the universe/philosophy of life/religion/personal paranoia/delusion (take your pick) is of an independant Spiritualist trend so a lot of what seems "Spooky" to many is perfectly normal to me
I sleep better solo outdoors than most other places bar my own bed and always think that it is the living wierdos that pose more of a danger to us than anything else that goes bump in the night - and I have a great fondness for pistacho nuts ....
When I was walking home, through Brixton, London, aged about 9 on my own from school, I was stopped by an old lady who told me to go and find out what was happening on a building site. Children being obedient to their elders then I trotted onto the site and over to where one of the workers had fallen off the top of the building. Dead or not I am not sure but I went back and reported to the woman and continued home to the cream bun waiting for me. Full memory of the event but no trauma, children are tough unless they are told that they are not.
I don't like all the fuss made nowadays when there is a child death and the school is filled with counsellors and it is now standard practice for all to turn out with tears and flowers. Perhaps we were more callous in the fifties and sixties but we did just get on with things.
I don't like all the fuss made nowadays when there is a child death and the school is filled with counsellors and it is now standard practice for all to turn out with tears and flowers. Perhaps we were more callous in the fifties and sixties but we did just get on with things.
Just get your butt in the area and we will have a few fine nights of bevvies, otter watching and weirdo hunting. And during the day, if you are interested in reptiles, I can show you the local adders etc.
Dreadhead
Bushcrafter through and through
I did not read the entire thread but, I will give you my opinion-Fear is something I embrace, the feeling of fear is your brain telling you something is wrong!! Anyway, before I joined the military I was scared of heights...After ten years of jumping out of helicopters and aircraft I can say without a reason of doubt I'am still scared of heights!!!!!!!!!
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