It’s almost three weeks since my last visit when I stayed overnight and I was ready for some woodland therapy. I find that after two or three weeks of absence, I start to lose a little of the strong connection I normally feel with it. I think this is simply down to memories fading. Normally I can recall my previous visit very clearly which allows me to revisit the woods in my imagination, something I often do at quiet times. I can remember small details well which helps with that personal bond that I feel for my woods, as opposed to any others. I guess it’s similar to the bonds you have with special people, ones you see regularly. Knowing the little quirks and characteristics of a person are part of what makes you feel closer to them rather than someone you only see once in a while.

At this time of year, three weeks rapid growth has made a big difference to how it looks. The photo above is close to where I park my car and usually base myself. The various tree saplings, nettles and brambles have really taken off and the path that takes me to the hazel copse and that I have used hundreds of times, is totally overgrown. I tried to wade through the shoulder high nettles but it was too much of a risk. A few metres in and I found a flattened area about 4m square right in the middle. A nice well hidden deer bed. I was going to cut the nettles back to reopen the path but I shall leave it for a while. This photo is close to it.

I had a few small jobs on my list – tidy the logshed and bring back some logs, chop and stack some of the ones I cut down in winter and generally potter around. I had a look at the owl box with the feral honey bees to see if they were still there. No sign but it was still early and maybe too cool for then to be out. At the end of the day I looked again and the entrance hole was heaving with bees. So pleased they are still around.

Late morning as I made coffee, I was disturbed by a loud barking sound coming from the area about fifty metres away. There was a crashing and thrashing sound in the undergrowth and I assumed a large dog had somehow come into my plot. Strange because that area is not close to any of the rides where people sometimes walk them. It came again and again and I realised this was not a dog but a deer, presumably calling for another. It was continually barking but moving down the woods. I grabbed my camera and set off on it’s trail but it was moving much faster than me and had left my plot but still barking. I tried mimicking the sound to see if I could draw it back but it just gave me a sore throat! I have never heard the call of a deer and was recently made aware that they are very loud and similar to a large dog. I am glad I heard it during the day and not in the middle of the night when camping. All I can say is that if I had, there would have been a trip to the dry cleaners with my sleeping bag the next day!

I had a walkabout with my camera and was pleased to see some new plants emerging in the sycamore clearing where there is now much more light and less competition. Not sure what this fern is yet but it’s different to the Male Fern in the photo below which is quite abundant and more upright than the previous one. I read that the presence of ferns indicates a healthy wood.

Also some new patches of Wood Sorrel have appeared. I love this plant and when I bought the woods five years ago, could not find any in my patch. I now have several, some of which have spread from a small piece I planted. It’s very satisfying to see how my efforts at woodland management are slowly increasing the diversity of the species present.

I heard a whistle and was pleased to see Alan, one of my woodland neighbour friends. We walked around to his place where he has made a clearing and built an amazing bodger’s workshop. I’d like to show you a photo of it but for his privacy and security, I don’t think it ethical. He has erected a huge tarp on an “A” frame wooden support. Beneath it he has made a fantastic workbench from hefty planks he has milled from his own felled larch trees. He has a DIY made wood stove, shave horse, pole lathe and charcoal forge just for starters. Envy? Yes indeed, as green as the forest itself. I really admire his imagination, skills and tenacity to build such an amazing workshop.

In the title I mentioned a new kid on the block. Well take a look at the video compilation in the link below. I have moved my trail camera back to a previous location that had provided some good animal footage. Be sure to watch closely around the 3.47 time.