Just about a month ago I managed to collect a stress fracture in my left foot while backpacking home to Sussex from Hampshire. Thanks to the good folk of the NHS it seems to be repaired and after a couple of trial runs in the gym, today I decided that a day in the wood was long overdue.
All the signs of summer have appeared since I was last able to get to the wood. The track is lined with wild flowers.
One of my top ten..Foxgloves in the meadow bordering the wood.
The hedgerows are bursting with colour too...Honeysuckle in amongst the white Umbellifers. I recognised CowParsley, Alexanders and I think Fools Parsley but needed a reference book for the others..
And where the moisture lays by the trackside..Wild yellow Iris, not that common and nice to see thriving.
The woodland floor is covered with the pale dead stalks of the Bluebells which have now finished...
Wait!! Found a lone survivor...
Now of course is the time for the Ferns to take over and areas of the wood are carpeted by them.
The stream is low because of the long dry spell we've had locally, although thankfully my ancient well which supplies my water is still full of cool clean water.
Ha! They found a damp patch to leave their sign..
Thank you..more free tinder bark..I'll take that home and dry it completely..
Brew time..I like the little cheap spirit burner and Stanley mug/pot combo to use on these type of trips to the wood. It's simple, quiet and allows me to listen and watch the life around me.
Today it was hide and seek with this Deer while the water boiled..
I know it's invasive and the enemy of Foresters but the Rhododendrons make splashes of colour in the wood.
Brew finished and the Deer tired of playing Peek-a-Boo, I took my machete and sorted out a few more Ivy stranglers which given the chance will kill every tree in the wood. I cut this one about 4 years ago and now he's gonna be kindling ha! ha!
My little folding stool pack is ideal for these single days in the wood, here with my Birch bark haul.
The sun was still strong when I left the wood just before 5pm.
Contents of the little pack.
Water bottles x 2
Brew kit in a Web Tex Utility pouch
Small plastic box f.a.k
Large white 'Ambulance Dressing' ( in case I do something silly with the machete)..
Poncho with paracord for emergency shelter if required.
Green pouch containing fire kit.
Head torch and spare batteries.
Wad of kitchen paper.
And that's it from me for a while. Last winter at a re-union an old oppo offered me the use of his newly acquired cottage up on the Northumberland Moors. I declined on the cottage but have permission to camp on his land, so mucho walkies up around Hadrians Wall and Otterburn now my foot is better.
And it's surroundings..
Back in a few weeks..Hasta La Vista...Sax.......
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