It’s been almost three weeks since the last visit. It’s hard to explain but if I leave it more than a couple of weeks, I start to lose that very close and intimate connection I have with it. It starts to feel like just any old wood. Maybe it’s because the memories of the small details that I noticed last visit and the memory of the feelings I had had, started to dissipate. I’m glad to say that as soon as I step out of the car and into the woods, the connection is immediately re-made and the fantastic feeling of having a whole day to explore and work close to nature washes over me once again.

I spent a good hour and a half just walking around and looking at things and surprised that autumn is still only just kicking in there. At home and in other areas, the last two weeks has shown a sudden change in the tree colours. Some of the species’ leaves in my woods don’t turn into amazing colours, they simply go a duller yellowy green or dirty brown and drop off. Ash went a pale green and was one of the first to start shedding. Sycamore (which I have a lot of) is the most disappointing. The best trees for colour are the beech and oak and as yet they are not at their prime.

I decided my main tasks for the day were sorting out logs. I needed some for home and really need to get on with the job of splitting and stacking the huge pile that I cut down last winter. I split and filled two of these large wooden crates. Hard work but very satisfying.

Lunch was going to be veggie burgers and fried halloumi cheese, cooked on my rocket stove. The stove is fantastic but I’m still learning how to control it. It takes small sticks which initially will produce big flames but die down fairly quickly too. So regulating the heat is tricky. Feeding it little and often is probably the trick. The skillet got hotter than expected and as you can see, I burnt the food slightly but it still tasted great. Washed down with a mug of fresh coffee made in my Vietnamese coffee filter device and an amazing view to boot, what a restaurant!

One of my many woodland related hobbies, is finding rusty old tools at car boot sales and restoring them to a workable condition. I brought my latest axe to try it out. It’s purpose will be mainly for bushcraft activities, splitting small logs and sticks for the fire, roughing out small logs for spoon or bowl carving. It worked very well. I paid about £1 for the rusty head and another two for the handle. I derusted the head in white vinegar and reshaped the head with angle grinder and files to add a cutaway underneath which allows your hand to sit closer to it for fine carving work. The handle was given an aged look by scorching with a blow torch. The yellow paracord wrapping protects the shaft from damage when overstriking and adds a bit of bling. The leather blade mask is essential as the axe is razor sharp. I made that from some old worn out sandals. I’m pleased with it.

We associate autumn with fungi so I shall end with some. I was pleased to find this cluster of small common puffballs. I have only found the odd one or two before so hopefully they will spread. I believe they are edible but I’m not brave enough to try them. You really need expert advice on identifying fungi before eating any. As my friend said “All fungi are edible, but some only once!”