Hot on the heels of my last visit, I returned yesterday. The main reason was that my Woodland Trust volunteering role as a fixed point photographer was due. I get my travel expenses paid, the weather looked good, so why not take the opportunity and get a few jobs done too. Since we altered the clocks I have been waking up between five and six am so I headed off early to beat the traffic. It was cold but the sun was coming up. Fill the bird feeders and get busy finishing the guttering on the shelter. I needed to fit the new piece that was broken and attach a downpipe and position the water barrel. The pipe was some old grey waste pipe I had in my cellar but it’s slightly too small in diameter for the black fittings, so I bodged it with some gaffer tape. I shall take some mastic next time and do a better job. The grey pipe and barrel look a bit naff to be honest but I might add some camouflage later. The shelter is almost complete now but it needs a few “homely” touches to bring it to life. Not sure what they will be yet, maybe some fire accessories – chain and hooks, billy can and a few woodworking aids like a mallet etc.

I set my trailcam up in a new location so looking forward to seeing the results next time. Can you spot it?

I took my W.T. photos then made lunch. I love the rocket stove and wanted to use it again.  This time I decided on Indian spiced veggie burger, fried onions and cheese in a breakcake. (How ambitious is that?) My pal gave me two pieces of good advice when cooking over a fire – prepare everything first and control the heat by pulling the sticks or embers in and out. Seems simple enough but they are crucial to success and worth emphasising. Preparation isn’t just about having your raw food ingredients ready and cut up but also having all the utensils out of their bags and ready to use, condiments to hand etc. Also getting the fire going and having enough prepared logs or sticks next to your fire or stove. Last time I struggled a bit to control the heat. The rocket stove needs constant attention because the small sticks will flare up at first and die down quickly. So a steady but small supply of sticks are necessary. I found that three or four is all you need once the fire is established. If the flames get too hot, simply pull a couple of sticks back out of the opening slightly. Push them back in to increase the heat. It’s just like turning the knob down on your cooker at home.

The cooking was a success (not burnt this time) and delicious. I love the cast iron skillets too. They do not stick and a quick wipe over with a kitchen towel brings it back up spotless.

Whilst cutting down a small sycamore, to make some shrink pots with, I noticed an odd hole in the ground. Something (a badger most likely) had dug the earth and exposed a hole that was white coloured. A tentative closer look showed it to be crawling with wasps. I had come across a similar one a couple for years ago, didn’t know what it was and got too close and was stung. This time I was on my guard but still wanted a closer look and a photo. The white lining was the remains of the nest that presumably had been eaten by the badger (it would be full of nutrious grubs). This was the best photo I could get. The wasps would be busy trying to repair or retrieve what was left.

I’ll leave you with a few photos of the woods in their autumn colours.