Avalon?

For a while now I have puzzled as to whether the ditches around round barrows were designed intensionally to fill with water? And whether this represents an early manifestation of the connection between water, or rather crossing it, and death? An idea that later appears in myths such as 'Charon' the ferryman to Hades, or Arthur being taken to the isle of Avalon; that water or a river connects and separates the worlds of the dead and the living.

Red Rise Brook

Even though rain has remained a feature, Red Rise Brook has retreated back within its banks.

Winter Solstice at Stonehenge

The proceeding weather would have suggested a different morning, one of dense cloud inundating the land, but no, we were afforded an almost clear sky, with just enough cloud to facilitate interest on the horizon as the Sun rose swiftly from the East. The gathered masses at Stonehenge were euphoric at the Suns rising.

Winter Solstice

From the depths of winters cold embrace,
Through the horns of the Moon we glimpse a face.

The face of the reborn Sun,
Giving us hope for the summer to come.

Have a cool Yule y'all.

Red Rise

Markway Bridge

The course of Red Rise Brook had become lost in the watery me-lee which presently runs through the valley, only distinguishable to those with prior knowledge of the shade and stream. The waters run high, the flow only centimetres from overwhelming Markway Bridge.

Another 44

Another piece of  '44' graffiti, again from Wilverley, but from the other end of the enclosure, over a mile away.  This time just the numbers, no accompanying letters or name.

Great Huntley Bank

By the time Highland Water passes through great Huntley Bank, it's beginning to grow to resemble a small river, rather than a stream. It wont be long now, before Highland Water leaves the shades of the forest as nears its union with the Solent.

Brinken Beeches

The mature Beech stands of Brinken Wood have a special magic about them, a majesty, a presence; in spring the canopy will thicken a fresh and create an almost cathedral feel to the enclosed space below, now though, open to the skies it is a different space and yet the magic remains.

AH 1944

AH was in Wilverley Enclosure in 1944, quite possibly, like others, a serviceman passing through in preparation for invasion. Although this enclosure has several graffiti hot spots, this is the first war period piece I've found. Below the initials and year are what appear to be 3 vertical lines; I have no idea what they represent and like many other woodland graffiti marks, will remain an enigma. The mighty Beech tree has graffiti from other periods too, the earliest being from the 1883 (the Beech was probably about 100 years old at the time, give or take a decade or two), when sections of the enclosure was relatively newly planted.  Though stretched through time, the figures '1883' are still clearly legible, although the letters which accompanied it are stretched beyond recognition. Wilverley was first enclosed 1775, then again 34 years later in 1809, but then thrown open in 1846 and re-enclosed in 1896. 

Causeway sunset

A far more muted Sunset today, not the riot of bright colours captured from Puckpits; the Sun over the River Avon disappears beyond the cloud strewn horizon through risings mists, growing in density by the moment. Just as colourful, yet more diffused and pastel in nature. The low laying land around the causeway, no longer fit for cattle, becomes an extended playground come feeding area for myriads of Swans and other water foul. Historically this area would have been wet throughout the year, a wetland estuarine environment, packed with resources and popular with humans since the Mesolithic, and in all likelihood far beyond that in to our most distant past.

Puckpits

Our Timeless forest.

 

'Nowhere, too, in the forest, than in these woods [Puckpits], have I seen more lovely sunsets' John R Wise, 1862: The New Forest.

Milliford Brook

Milliford Brook, just above Milliford Bridge, runs shallow and slow at the moment, giving no indication of the torrents which can race through the woodland after rainfall over its extensive catchment.

Tyneham Valley Sunset

The Sun goes down on another glorious day in the Purbecks.

Tyneham Valley

Preserved in time as a consequence of the worst excesses of human violence.

Tyneham

Stolen away from the people who lived there as part of the war effort, with the promise of safe return; the ruins of Tyneham remind us that our government doesn't alway hold to its word.  Derelict for more than 60 years, these hollowed halls once echoed to the sounds of county life, mostly unchanged for hundreds of years. Now only accessible at weekends and a couple of other times through the year, for the most part they're off limits as part of Lulworth Ranges. Though, looking down on the village from Flowers barrow, I wondered what the land, untouched really for 60 years, would have looked like if the military had not requisitioned it. With access to the bay, where a small fishing community was already established, and its idyllic location and aspect, could the valley have become over developed into something ugly.

Lookout

Nonchalant to their feathered friend, cows relax on the slopes above Duck Hole Bog as the crafty Magpie surveys his surroundings from the safety of his beef stronghold.

Ober Winter

The forest streams have quickly receded, the Ober below Markway Bridge was running gentle and slow, fordable in wellingtons today. The ground though, remains sodden and represents awkward walking throughout.

Regeneration

Only harvested earlier in the year, this section of Wilverley has already been cleared and prepared for a new crop of coniferous trees to be planted. This process continues yearly throughout the forest and particularly evident through the patchwork of old and new, deciduous and coniferous which is Wilverley.

Nine Barrow Sundown

The day, as the Sun went down, looked much as it had when the Sun rose, in fact, much as it had all day; subdued, still, with little noticeable activity, the cloud shrouded sky had remained unchanged throughout our near 15 mile walk. But what a day.

Agglestone

Brenscombe Hill

Groyne

Winter seas lap Winter shores, under Winter skies filled with Winter clouds blown by chill Winter winds. Fair enough though, it is Winter.

Blown Pillbox

This Studland beach pillbox, of unknown type, has not survived so well and now looks more like an out there art installation.

Type 25

Still remaining upright and intact, this military stalwart saw little enemy action during the war and has moved little since the mid 70's, when I remember it being, maybe only a meter higher up the cliff side.  The reinforced concrete Type 25 was a commonly deployed pillbox type and the remains of several can be found in the area around Studland.

Bomb Store

Set away from the main airfield area, hidden in Hawkhill Enclosure, are the remains of Beaulieu Airfields bomb storage pens.  Apart from a section of brick wall, concrete loading ramp, earthen blast bank and concrete trackway, the bulk of the bomb store has been destroyed through forestry during the post war years. It's a shame that the Wartime relics of the forest aren't better valued and preserved, after all, the forest played a myriad of important wartime roles.

Partners in time

It's a common sight throughout the woods to see paired trees, usually the King and Queen of forest trees, the Oak and Beech.  Married in the green woods, they grow together, often physically joining each other as they thrust towards the sky and become partner through time.

Kings Hat

Neil Halstead, The Winchester, Bournemouth

I came by kindness to possess a ticket for Neil Halstead at the Winchester this evening, a lift from a friend and good company, omens for a fine evening. Now, I'd not previously been to the Winchester, although knew a lot of good things went on there. To say the Winchester is small wouldn't be a lie, a stage, a bar and a floor area, compact and bijou.  Nice venue though. 

Well, the music, it turns out it wasn't only Neil Halstead, but Mathew P and Richard Peacock as well; an evening of guitars, nice. Richard Peacock was up first. Kept his head down, a bit like Neil from the 'Young Ones',  Liked his stuff though, nice tunes, with what I thought were some very 70's British flavours, one of his tunes particularly reminded me of 70's band 'The Audience'. No bad thing. Next up was Matthew P, a guy from Suffolk who provided some very nice tunes too, along with some jolly banter, funny chap.  Matthew played groovy folk tracks with passion, which were mighty enjoyable, with some great lyrics and sentiments, well performed. I'll certainly be looking out for his album(s). But the star turn was certainly Mr Halstead, supported on bass at times by Matthew P. Matthew P. had previously described Neils work as a 'massage for your mind', a fairly apt description really. A great songwriter, singer and guitar player, with real stage presence, Neils voice was hypnotic from the off, taking your mind on a gentle journey to right out there somewhere with lyrically beautiful songs. I felt better for the journey. Being a bit of a johnny come lately, I'm quite new to Neils work, having only heard Palindrome Hunches, but enjoyed the evening so much I will be searching out his more of his albums.

Three performers with guitars. A simple format, man plus guitar, fantastic, works every time; well, nearly every time, but certainly every time tonight.  All in all, an evening of mellow grooves, for which I was truly grateful. Would certainly go see them again. Nice :o)

November Sunset

A break in the weather brought open sky, time for a bracing walk and a mighty fine sunset.

Stoney Cross

Stoney cross Airfield 1942 to 1946.

A Yank at King Arthurs court

 'A YANK 5/5/44'. Apparently a Yank was here in the spring of '44, no surprise as the forest was full of billeted allied troops preparing for invasion or, as this graffiti was found deep in Ocknell enclosure (1775), close to wartime Stoney Cross airfield, there's a good chance it was American aircrew. The 367th group of the US 9th Air force flew out of Stoney Cross from May to July of '44 in P38 Lightings, attacking strategic targets in advance of invasion and supporting the push from the beach heads.  In that time they flew 55 missions and 21 P38's were listed missing in action. There's something about this piece, about it's impersonal nature, that makes it a poignant reminder of those thousands of Americans who went into battle from staging post Britain. Every one, 'A Yank'.  Is it a statement on how they felt, just another cog in the military machine? Dehumanized, individuality removed as not required by the collective. The language is strange too, the term 'Yank' was a British term for Americans, not one they'd normally use themselves. Is this then a disgruntled statement from someone having been made to feel unwelcome by the local populous?  Or was it done for humour? A laugh and a joke. So many questions. Of course one being, did they survive the war? This was carved at the beginning of the 367th's tour of duty from Stoney Cross, previously the group had had very few loses.  Who were they?  Where were they from?  This is the best piece of graffiti I've found in a while.

Beaulieu WW2 buildings platforms

Beaulieu airfield was built in 1942 as a coastal command group 19 base and used in anti submarine warfare missions. In 1944 it was taken over by the USAAF 2nd Tactical Air Force to be used in preparations for the D Day landings.  After the war it was abandoned, later to be returned to the Forestry Commission. Little now remains as, like other forest airfields, the runways were removed in the 1980's and the buildings levelled some time earlier; although in the corner of Hawkhill Enclosure (1870) are the remains of one of the airfields dispersed areas, probably an accommodation site.  The raised brick and concrete foundation platforms of the accommodation buildings, toilet blocks and associated features are all that remain, but give a good idea of the size and layout of these type of sites.

Oaky Dokey

Winding Stonard

Ocknell

Filled with mist, Ocknell enclosure (1775) had an more eerie air to it than usual, quite a feet, as the wood feels strange and unusual at best.  I've said before, Ocknell woods feel like no other woodland in the forest.

Mog Shade Clump

Tree Pool

Nestled in the scar, where a mighty Beech bough once reached out into the woodland, a leaf filled pool now creates a niche environment, a woodland resource supporting a myriad of creatures no doubt. 

Coastal Battery

During the latter period of the war, and the period directly after the war, Studlands extensive defences were slighted.  Preparations for D Day saw tons of ordinance thrown at the beaches here. Some were left almost undamaged, those on the heath side, whilst the rest were either damaged or completely destroyed, their remains spread across the land surface, much now covered by the restless dune environment. Nature has a way of taking back what is hers. Beyond the beach lays the remains of one of several coastal batteries; when I visited last, some 4 years ago, what remained was a massive heap of concrete and reinforcing bar rubble, with very few diagnostic features, but still visibly a site of human activity. Today the heap has been camouflaged by gorse, grass and wild plants, and other than a crown of reinforced concrete slab, the site was returning to nature. 

Rock Lichen

Studland

Autumn

The forest is quiet, little stirs, the majority of woodland creatures appear to be shutting up their stalls until Spring. Only a skeleton crew will see the forest through Winter, the bulk tucked away in their secret places.  One thing that that remains very much alive are the colours in the canopy, Autumns leafy fire burns bright. A breeze blows through the crowns dislodging hundreds of leafs and soon the stands fill with spinning,  twirling, acrobatic detritus, which floats slowly to the ground.  The leafs were so numerous that if they were rain you'd be soaked through.

Wootton Bottom

As the autumn Sun sinks swiftly beyond the clouds an eerie mist rises to fill Wootton Bottom.

There is trouble in the forest.

As it is our country has less than 15% tree cover, a meagre amount, and I believe, the second smallest in Europe. So, the news of new threats to our native trees fills my heart with sadness. More so as you are forced to pose the question, 'how much of this is our fault?'

Bog

The desolate beauty of Holm Hill Bog, with Holm Hill in the distance and a ominous sky above.

Dockens Water

The light was poor, yet my son still took some nice shots.