Yesterday’s visit was memorable for insects that gave us a hard time – but more of that later. I met one of my mates who had come for a day out and to help me put together a workbench I made last year. I had been sorting out my cellar and decided that I should try to use up some of the big pieces of timber I’d collected over the years because “They might come in useful one day”. I was planning to build a small blackmith area and thought how useful a sturdy bench would be. So I constructed it at home then partly dismantled it for storing and transporting. It’s deceptive when you look at the photo but it’s really heavy. It took us about an hour to finish and I’m really pleased with it. I just need to crack on with the new shelter now.

Now for the insect stories. Well firstly the mosquitoes were wicked. They were targeting us all day and despite wearing repellents, they wouldn’t leave us alone and we both got some nasty bites. But worse was to come. We decided it was time for coffee but my mate urgently needed to use the composting toilet so off he went. I set about making a brew but a few minutes later some loud cries were heard and he came staggering back, obviously in pain. “There’s a ******* wasps nest in the loo”. Fortunately he hadn’t got as far as sitting on it, merely dropping his jeans but he had a nasty sting on his thigh. I can’t bear to think how it could have turned out had he actually sat down, bare bum and all! Nor the embarrassment of turning up at A&E trouser-less and with his crown jewels covered in stings. Yikes! Lucky escape but unlucky encounter? I went back later to cover the toilet back up and you can see they have chewed a hole in the tarp for access.

My mate stocked up on logs for his garden firepit at home and we had a wander around just looking at various aspects of the woods and seeing what we could find of interest. He found three lovely feathers, probably all wing feathers – Buzzard, Magpie and Jay

I spotted this little wren’s nest wedged at the side of my shelter. Wished I had found it earlier in the year when it might have had chicks. Apparently though, the males build several nests and let the female choose which one, so it might be one of the rejects.

I spotted two plants that were previously unknown to me. The first is Enchanter’s Nightshade. Sounds ominous but supposedly not particularly toxic. In Magick practices it is used as a love potion, binding, shapeshifting and the law of attraction. Sounds interesting!

While having our lunch we got talking about fungi and I remembered there had been a strange one on a nearby rotten birch tree. I suddenly realised that the tree was gone. For a second I thought I had lost my bearings, then realised that as it was so badly rotten, it might have finally fallen. Sure enough there it was, well hidden in the tall undergrowth. It can stay there and continue to feed the various fungi and bugs that love rotten wood.

Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas)

Yesterday’s visit was necessary to take delivery of some materials for my new shelter build. The forecast showed rain and thunder but I didn’t have a choice. It turned out to be ok overall. I had a number of jobs to do and it was fine when I arrived nice and early at 8 am. It was warm and very humid. I filled some trugs with logs to take home and I now have a fully stocked logshed in readiness for Winter – yikes did I mention Winter?

Growth of ground plants goes crazy at this time of year and my paths are getting overrun. I normally use the petrol brushcutter but it’s noisy, smelly, heavy and generally horrible to use. I’ve been looking into other options for light clearance and found an old hand scythe in my cellar. I replaced the small handle with a long one from an old broom as an experiment. It worked well with softer growth like nettles, dog’s mercury and other ground cover but didn’t cope well with bramble, the main enemy. This is an area of path I cleared and it was much more pleasant than using the machine. The handle is not very comfortable to use, a proper scythe is probably much better.

I had four tree saplings to plant that I had grown on – three silver birch and an oak. The ground was nice and soft from the recent rain and a good time to transplant. As they were in pots and not bare rooted, you can plant at any time of year as long as there is no frost in the ground. I netted them round to keep deer and rabbits/hares from browsing.

The delivery came after lunch and I headed to the shelter to do some preparatory work on the ground. There were two small rotten tree stumps to remove. Within minutes there was a crack of thunder and the heavens opened and I got inside my existing (though rotten and mosquito infected) shelter. I love sitting in it during a storm. You can hear the rain hitting the tree canopy but it acts like and umbrella for a while. Then it filters through as a heavy but gentle shower. I imagine it would be fantastic to strip off and just stand in it. (Note to my neighbours – don’t worry I won’t be). There’s something truly enchanting about being in the middle of the woods in pouring rain. After about half an hour it cleared up and I was able to carry on. Jobs done, I packed up a little early – hot, tired, sweaty but hugely satisfied.

Yesterday was the first visit in three weeks but it seems much longer. It was a cloudy gloomy day to start with and now that the canopy is fully covered, the woods seemed very dark. Quiet too, hardly any birds to see or hear. Now that the breeding season is well underway, they don’t waste energy singing. Apart from the robins and little wrens who seem to vocalise at any time of year. The tasks for the day were to cut up and bring home some logs and suss out the new workshop shelter I am hoping to build this year.

The batteries on my camera were flat so I had to use my smartphone, so apologies for not so good resolution and not many photos. This one is in the area where I thinned around a tall oak. It stands in the middle of the sycamore plantation and has to compete for light but I want it to have a better chance of filling out it’s crown. The extra light is noticeable now and the hazel below it will benefit too.

I felt a little disconnected from the woods this time. Partly because I haven’t been for a while, partly because it was dark and gloomy and partly because I have been feeling somewhat down and unmotivated lately. Woodland therapy is just what I needed. I took some time to think and plan my shelter. What has happened is that the sycamore branches I used for the old one were unsuitable. The various boring insects have tunneled their way through to the point of weakening them so much, that they are now collapsing. It’s only lasted three years! I want a more substantial one and slightly bigger so I can use it as a workshop for a bit of blacksmithing and woodworking.

One of my woodland neighbours has just built a huge shed and the construction is impressive. Old telegraph poles are used as corner posts and to support the galvanised steel roof using massive timbers. I thought I would sneak a few photos as reference to building methods. I don’t intend making one as big nor as bomb proof but I liked the way he has built it. I shall aim for a scaled down version, probably with two open sides for light and access.

I’m not entirely sure how big I want it. It needs to be big enough for practical purposes but not too intrusive. I figured about half the size of his, maybe 12 x 10 feet. So I set out some stakes and ropes to get an idea. I think I have decided to make it totally free standing and not reliant on the living oak trees that the old one is lashed to. I tried to find a relatively level area near the old one and this is how it looks. the ropes and long logs mark the footprint.

I need to finish my plan then get some materials and start building. Hopefully it won’t be too long. Once it’s done the old one can be dismantled. That was about all I did for the day. My next visit might be a bit more interesting as I’m planning an overnighter.