The clocks went back an hour last weekend, heralding dark mornings and dark drives home again for the next six months. It always feels like it will be an eternity before spring starts to brighten our lives again. If that wasn’t enough to dampen our spirits, it looks like we might be heading for another general lockdown again. During these trying times, my levels of anxiety have really ramped up and visits to the woods have been a welcome relief. I hope I shall still be able to visit.

I’ve been planning to extend my shelter area to incorporate a blacksmithing section using a big plastic tarp. It’s not my ideal solution as it will look intrusive but I already have the tarp and long branches for supports, so I might as well have a crack at it. If I don’t like it, all I have lost is my time and effort. Yesterday’s visit was to start building and experimenting . The idea is to lash poles to the alongside the shelter to anchor the tarp. Two sides are easy enough, using existing trees but I’m not entirely sure how the other two will work. I got the two long support poles up and spent a long time trying the tarp to see how it would fit. It took up the most part of the day and at the end of it, there was little to show for my efforts and I felt a bit downhearted. I had hoped to have the tarp up. It really needs some more eyelets fitting to it to anchor it securel. I ran out of inspiration and energy to work out how I am going to support the other to sides. It looks like I will have a month to think about it if we go into lockdown again. Hmm is that a positive or a negative element?

The woods are very Autumnal now, many trees are bare or will be soon. My favourite trees are Beech. They are so elegant with their smooth trunks and relatively slender branches. In Spring, the new leaves are a beautiful lime green but Autumn is the time when they really look their best. As the leaves turn colour, you will see many different hues all at the same time, yellows, rusts and some still pale green ones. I have some nice specimens, here’s a few photos.

That’s about all I can tell you this time. The pandemic situation is worrying, scary and we live in very uncertain times. It’s hard to feel positive about life and I know many of you will feel the same way. Once again, my advice is to engage with nature as much as you can. It’s an amazing awe-inspiring place to be and for the time you are there, you can forget the craziness. Best wishes to you all.