Newly felled sycamore stacked for seasoning

So I had my bit of fun last weekend when I camped, this time is was all about work. That can be fun too in an odd sort of way. More satisfying than fun perhaps. I’d felled six small sycamore trees over the last two visits and just left them on the ground, so I wanted to cut and stack them and possible fell a few more. To save time I just cut them into roughly four feet lengths. Although they are small diameter, it’s surprising how much they weigh when still green. They were scattered around a fairly large area so it was a pretty good workout. I can tell I am stronger and fitter than a year ago.

A neighbour turned up, someone who I have been trying to meet up with in order to see his wood. He kindly drove me around to his patch – a much bigger piece than mine and one that has a nice mix of broadleaf species, some very mature ones too. My small plot is just about big enough to feel that I own a wood, but not one you could feel lost in. Whereas my neighbour’s definitely is. Nice to see what other people are doing in theirs.

I took my brushcutter because the brambles are winning the war still, even where I cut them last year. I wanted to recut those areas to try to weaken them and prevent them taking over. I trimmed the main ride (track) edges, some of the paths I’d created last year and tried to make a start on a new area where I have been felling. I have to say the task of controlling the brambles seems overwhelming and yesterday’s efforts seemed quite pathetic. I kept thinking about the hornets nest from last year. It was the same area where I was clearing and with my ear defenders on and the brushcutter motor screaming away, I would have no warning of an impending attack but there was nos sign of them. After that I felled three more small trees but just left them for next time. I had been busy most of the day and felt shattered. As I was packing up, one of my camping neighbour friends turned up. I called around at their place before leaving. They had been felling some larch and corsican pine in order to create an open glade area. The ground there is thick with decaying pine needles so it will be interesting to see what type of plants come up next year.

The path I cut last year where I have been felling. Brambles are re-growing and I made a half-hearted attempt to cut them back again.

We’ve had a very dry summer in the woods but we have just had a couple of days of heavy rain. It brought down quite a few dead leaves from the sycamore. Too early to be the onset of Autumn so I assume the trees have shed them in order to conserve sap. Last year there were a lot of fungi at this time. Very little at present but the rain might just set them off. It’ll be a couple of weeks before I can go again and I’m sure it will be starting to look a little “tired” by then as things start to wind down.

The weather forecast was shaping up well for a couple of days and over-night camping trip. The plan was mainly about the camping and some bush craft plus a few jobs. Some woodland friends (I shall refer to as R&L) were also hoping to stay over in their piece so I was looking forward to some company. For once the forecasters got it right and the sun was out and I pitched my tent as soon as I arrived. The flies and midges were nowhere near as abundant as last time in May which was good. I did some clearing around the camp area and ate my packed lunch. I wanted to have a go at making a pot hanger to go over the fire. I’d seen some guys on Youtube making one so while lunch settled, I set to collecting some suitable hazel rods and started whittling. It works well, height adjustable but I have to say, looks precarious as the hanger piece is suspended from the horizontal rod by a small point nestling in a small hole. A clumsy nudge and the pot will be in the fire and your dinner on the ground. Here it is in action with my billy can. This design does allow more access around the fire than a tripod one.

Pot hanger suspending my billy can over the fire

In the afternoon I felled three small trees that needed thinning out and met some new woodland owners who will be my neighbours on one side. They have two boys who are also interested in bushcraft and camping out. My friends R&L arrived early evening so I had a walk around to see them briefly then left them for a while to finish setting up their camp. I set off again later to spend the evening with them. As I walked down the ride with a bottle of red in hand, two thoughts crossed my mind. What an odd but very pleasant social event this was – sitting in the middle of a forest with friends and drinking wine as opposed the more usual venues of pubs and restaurants. Secondly, I hope I don’t mess up by tripping over the brambles and smashing my bottle. The evening was really enjoyable and we sat chatting about this and that until it got dark and I headed back to my place.

My new LED Lenser torch is amazingly bright. It was fascinating to see the woods in the dark, illuminated in this way, looking up and through the trees gives a totally different perspective. I decided to have a short walk through my patch as I will rarely see it in the dark and was hoping to spot some wildlife. Halfway down the ride I spotted a tawny owl. It was perched on a small horizontal branch about 20 feet high in a picture-perfect setting. If only I could have taken a photograph! As I shone my light on it, it briefly turned it’s head to see what was disturbing it’s peace and then as if to say “bugger off with the torch” it turned back and flew off. It was a real thrill to see my first owl in my woods.

Morning at my campsite, billy can on the boil for coffee

Sleep was a much better experience than my first camping trip in May, when I got about one hour’s sleep and felt dazed all day after. Knowing my friends were not far away seemed to help. It was a quiet night, very minimal bird song in the morning to disturb me and I emerged quite refreshed. It’s a fantastic experience for that first few minutes. You’ve laid in your cloth “bubble” all night under the illusion that this is your world. The woodland only exists in your mind and the sounds it produces. When you step out of your bubble, it’s like entering another universe. Your world suddenly expands from a small grey dome, to a riot of colour, shapes and textures. Your brain is bombarded with a natural beauty and a feeling of freedom and contentment follows. The sun was out – get the fire going, billy can on the boil and just sit and drink in the experience with your coffee in total peace. For me, it doesn’t get much better.

Mushy veg burgers, eggs and beans for breakfast

My friends were up early and called by. Their sleep experience less good than mine as their airbed deflated in the night! When they left I made breakfast – veggie-burgers which fell to mush, fried eggs and beans. I packed my tent away while the sun was out and it was nice and dry, by which time it was lunch. I picked some wild raspberries and added them to my bannock bread mix. I’m not very skilled at cooking this rough bread and have to say it looks rather like cooked vomit! I might give up on this particular recipe.

Wild raspberry bannock bread – not a success

l then spent most of the day chopping and stacking logs for seasoning before heading home again, tired but hugely satisfied. Thanks to R&L for your company, must do it again some time.