Who would have thought we might have a blackberry flower at this time of year?

Technically speaking it was the day after the Solstice but it’s officially the start of Winter. That always puzzles me because it’s the shortest day in terms of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere, so logically it should be midwinter. Well it was still dark when I arrived but lot’s of birds were up, presumably looking to “catch the worm”. They flew up out of the undergrowth as I drove up the rides. I sat in the car for a while enjoying the warmth and watching the morning get light. It was frosty and I headed to the shelter and lit my homemade fire-bowl for some comfort.

One of the main jobs on my list was to coppice a hazel tree. I wanted some thickish straight rods to make stool legs but they need to season for awhile. I picked a tree that had plenty of light above so the new growth would go straight and worked my way through the rods and limbs by hand. Far more satisfying than using a chainsaw. I got some nice forked pieces out of it too which can be used to make coat hooks or rests for fire cooking. I trimmed all the rods and stored them in the shelter to season.

I’m really pleased with some of the hazel I coppiced a few years ago. They have grown abundantly and quite straight and already are probably thick enough to cut again for walking sticks and such but I’ll leave them another year or two.

I wanted to try my fire bowl for cooking on, so I took my trusty cast iron skillet, an egg and veggie sausages and made a delicious fat sandwich. It worked well. Oh and I do like my yolk broken otherwise it oozes out and drips!

Before I left home I joked with my wife that I was having our woodland works Christmas “do”. My guests were my two little buddies – the robin and the wood mouse who regularly appear in the area of my mini fireplace by my car. I put seed on it, at first for the robin who always hangs around me. Then I spotted a tiny mouse popping it’s head through the rocks and when it feels safe, it takes a seed and disappears again. We did have a party for a short while, both turning up at the same time to tuck into the grub. They left me gifts of companionship and sheer pleasure!

Apologies for the slight lack of quality to the photos. My camera batteries were flat so had to use my phone. This might be my last visit before the New Year. Thanks to those who regularly follow my woody ramblings. I hope you can all enjoy your Christmas despite the crappy Covid situation we have to live with still. Best wishes.