It was a windy, cool morning yesterday and a definite feeling of summer winding down. Still very green, dark and dense but you can sort of sense a slowing down of the woods after the fast pace of spring and early summer. I was there to take delivery of some materials for my new shelter and make plans and preparations for it. The larch poles that I scorched last week and gave them black “socks” were to get a pair of wellies. I figured socks wouldn’t keep their feet dry for long so I coated them with some bitumen. Looking at them afterwards reminded me of giant versions of Sooty’s wand.

I spent a lot of time marking out the position of the shelter. The old shelter relied on three living oak trees as supports but as I don’t like screwing into live trees, all the roof spars etc were lashed to them with nylon rope. I don’t like that either, so the new one will be free standing using these larch poles and treated milled timber for the framework and roof. It’s going to be quite a bit bigger than the old one too but hopefully not too intrusive. The size of it is determined by the roof panels as I don’t want to cut them. There are four of them and they are three metres long and a metre wide, so I need to work out exactly where to place the corner poles allowing for the framing and panels so that the roof fits perfectly with a slight overhang. If you’re struggling to get your head around the concept, how do you think my head felt as I juggled with tape measure, bits of wood and the loose roof panels to try to draw out a plan?

As I sat eating my lunch I noticed a movement in the undergrowth. Eventually a young robin revealed itself. I know it’s a young one because the red breast hasn’t reached it’s full colour yet. I’ve seen it hanging around the last few visits and it looks like it’s going to be my new best woodland friend. It’s still not quite sure when I throw food for it, so I left some on a stone and later it had gone. It’s so special to have a wild creature come to visit you (apart from the ones that bite or sting).

There wasn’t much more for me to do, so I spent some quality time just wandering around with my camera. I’ll leave you with some of my best shots.

I love this photo, it speaks to my soul in a way that is hard to convey to anyone who has not sat around a campfire in the woods and made a brew. It’s partly ancestral (the fire that is, not the kettle). Collecting wood and creating fire goes way back to our hunter gatherer times. The crackle of the wood, smell of the smoke as the fire takes hold and licks around the kettle just says “All is well right now”. I need that simple pleasure and connection with nature and my ability to provide comfort in a wild place. There’s nothing memorable or satisfying about switching on an electric kettle!

I had a few jobs in mind but wanted to have a play too. First job was to shift some big logs down to the ride edge ready for collection. This is another task I enjoy though it’s heavy work. Pitting my ageing body against a heavy inanimate object and winning the battle makes me feel able and strong. The next job was going to be a different challenge – finding the wasp nest in the composting toilet and destroying it. I hate killing anything but sometimes it’s necessary and as I want to camp there soon, I need that facility.

I covered as much of my flesh as possible by putting a mosquito net over my head and hat and wearing gloves. I zipped up my jacket and headed for the toilet. There was little sign of activity coming or going through the hole in the tarp so I uncovered it and lifted the lid on the toilet. I shone a light into it and could see a white ball hanging from the inside of the box lid. I waited but ready to run, expecting a flurry of angry wasps to fly out but nothing! I poked the nest with a long stick and it fell off, still quiet. I speared it and lifted it out onto the woodland floor. Just an odd wasp here and there. I doused it in wasp killer powder and left to return to my fire. It seems to have been abandoned now, there were no grubs in the cells.

Next job up was to scorch the bottom of my larch poles that will be used to support the new shelter. The theory is that by carbonising the outside it reduces the bacterial activity in the soil that attack and rot the wood. I took a blowtorch and charred the bottom few inches. A slow job but quite satisfying and relaxing. They look like they are wearing black socks now.

Time for lunch and I had planned to make a sort of pizza. I made a bannock mix of self raising flour, salt and milk and cooked it slowly in my cast iron skillet. I removed it and fried up some halloumi cheese and tomatoes. Spread the base with red pesto, the cheese and toms, mixed herbs and put it back in the skillet for five minutes to heat up again. It was delicious though probably a bit too thick, so next time I will use less bannock mix and flatten it more.

I wanted to have a go at carving a small spoon for a friend. I don’t have any green, unseasoned wood available so took a piece of scrap sycamore from home. It’s so much harder to carve when it’s seasoned and I didn’t get it finished but I spent some quality time in the sunshine by the fire, carving away. The photo shows my tools. The axe is one I restored. It was just a rusty head at a car boot sale that I bought for 50p. I cleaned it up and sharpened it to a razor edge and fitted an old handle and it’s worked out as a nice little carver. The knife with the round end is one I made from an old ring spanner which was ground and honed to a curved bevel and is used for scooping out the spoon bowl. It didn’t work anywhere near as well as the other two hook knives and I might need to do some more work on it.

Finally I went back to the wasp nest, carried it back to the fire and burned it. They are so fragile and amazing structures but sadly it had to go. There were no living creatures left in it. I guess the queen had stopped laying eggs and left and all the grubs had pupated and left too.

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.

I hadn’t planned to do much on my visit yesterday, just a couple of small jobs and I hadn’t seen my pal for a few weeks, so I invited him along just to chat, wander about and enjoy being in a beautiful spring woodland. So this is only a short post just to record the day here. We arrived early and although the forecast had been good, it started to drizzle, then turned into steady light rain for a while.

We made a nice coffee and sat sheltered under a small cherry tree and as usual, had a good moan about what was wrong with the world and many of the people we share it with. Sometimes it just needs to be said! Last week I met some neighbours who showed me a sweet little bird’s nest with tiny chicks in it. Of course we had to have a look and they have grown so much in a week. Seven tiny beaks pointing out, they are wrens. Their little black eyes stared at us blinking. They looked so vulnerable, I hope they all survive.

We walked around to the shelter and discussed plans for a repair. My pal suggested a complete new build using sturdier materials and in a slightly different position. It made sense and I think that’s the way to go. We had a walk around the rides and did the few jobs I planned then it was time to leave. Didn’t get chance to take any other photos. It was nice just to chill out and chat.

It’s two weeks since the last visit but seems like a month. We’ve had a few days away at the coast in the caravan and it was so nice to do some normal things again. Things that Covid19 robbed us of – have a meal and a pint in a pub, look around some shops, visit an art gallery. I was going to say “but we’re not out of the woods yet” but that seems too obvious a corny joke! I feel that we have lost a lot of confidence in just doing things outside our homes. Our comfort zones have shrunk, so my theory is that we just need to start doing things again to expand it. We still need to be cautious of course.

The woods have really progressed in two weeks, though still behind for the time of year due to the cold, dry April we had. I wanted to get some work done, mainly to shift the remaining big logs that were left from felling and stack them ready for seasoning and collection. It was really hard work pushing the wheelbarrow until I realised the tyre was half flat. Fortunately I had a compressor with me to re-inflate it. What a difference it made!

They don’t look all that big in the photo with no point of visual reference but they there is approximately half a cord in volume which weighs approximately 2550lbs which is over a ton in weight. To shift them I had to lift them twice, so I lifted over two tons in weight. On top of that I carried the 11 larch poles I had cut and bark stripped previously, down to the shelter where they will be used to rebuild it. Not bad for an arthritic seventy year old. Hard work but hugely satisfying.

I took a break and noticed some of my neighbours were in. They had been camping over with their young son and little poodle Billy. I haven’t seen them all for about a year, so it was great to re-connect. Billy was incredibly excited and jumped onto my lap, licking me and settling down for a cosy cuddle. I always feel good when a dog seeks me out for a bit of attention. They aren’t being polite, they like you and that is a huge compliment. There were other neighbours in too, ones I don’t know but who had decided to party with numerous guests. I counted about 8 cars parked up on the rides nearby.

The birds were fairly quiet apart from a few Chiffchaffs and Wrens. I guess most are busy raising chicks and no need to draw attention or waste energy singing. A tip that many pop star celebrities should take heed of! Jobs done, I took a walk around with camera and will leave you with a few nice vibrant green nature shots.

Wild Garlic and Bluebells. The Wood Anemones have finished flowering but these other ancient woodland indicator species are in full bloom.

Yesterday was a day of hard graft. I’ve been feeling pretty low this week. Various factors have been playing on my mind. Anxiety and depression rob you of motivation and I started to feel like I couldn’t even be bothered going to the woods, my favourite place to be. Yet that is just the very reason to go. Last visit, I felled a larch tree that my neighbour had kindly donated for my shelter rebuild and he offered me another if I needed it, which I did. So I wanted to get on with it before the bramble really takes a hold and makes it almost impossible to access. I picked one out, it was looking sickly and struggling amongst it’s bigger siblings. I cut it into several long lengths and bundled it into the back of the car, sticking out of the hatch and carefully drove back to mine to process it – peel the bark.

There were six lengths to peel and it was going to take me the rest of the day to complete. It was very demanding on my old body but despite the resulting aches and pains and small bruises, it was hugely satisfying. I felt completely at one with the woods. Good, honest physical graft. No need to think much, just shaping the wood and working the body whilst surrounded by a fabulous green haven of trees, plants and rich birdsong. I was content. Each piece was taking about half an hour and lot’s of energy. I try to pace myself by taking a short break between logs. Just sitting and watching and listening to the life around me. A pair of buzzards wheeled about and descended, swooping through the tops of my trees. I thought they were about to land but maybe they spotted me and decided against it.

Apart from work, it was also a good day for wildlife spotting. I took a walk around to observe some of my bird boxes and get an idea of nesting activity. Lot’s of bluetits in and out of them suggested young chicks to feed. One adult landed very close to me and gave me a good telling off. I was busy looking at something else and hadn’t realised I was standing right next to a box which it was keen to get back into. A sparrowhawk zoomed above the tops of the trees, no doubt giving the little birds a fright! On arrival there was this “gift” prominently left on a large log – I feel sure it is fox poo. They deposit it in raised locations to mark their territory. I smiled at the thought of the fox jumping up onto the log and the balancing act required.

Here are a few more photos of the day

For me, it is absolutely the best time of the year. Spring is just getting into top gear, new growth bursting out with vibrant greens that are all too soon gone. I almost feel a sense of panic that I can’t take it all in before the leaves become jaded, insects and diseases eat into them and the whole place darkens as the canopy thickens. Of course that is the natural progression of the whole eco system but I love this freshness and new energy and just wish I could slow it down a little.

Yesterday was a glorious sunny day. After a month of dry weather, we have had some rain which will boost the new growth even more. I had a special job to do. A woodland neighbour very kindly offered to let me fell and take back a small Larch tree, to use for support poles for the rebuild of my shelter. Larch has a decent resistance to rot and I don’t have any suitable ones in my own woods. The tree was easy to fell and transport back and the next task was to peel off the bark. That helps to stop it getting invaded by wood boring insects. It’s not an ideal time to fell a tree but I am planning to start the rebuild this summer. Because the sap is rising now, the bark came away very easily using a drawknife. It’s a back aching job but quite satisfying. Here are before and after photos.

The birds have quietened down a lot now, presumably because they have found partners and sitting on eggs. No need to advertise anymore. The day was a busy one but I took some time out to wander around and just take it all in. I was sussing out the shelter which is close to some magnificent Beech trees. They are one of my favourite species. So strong yet elegant and at this time of year, the leaves are a vibrant lime green. I had a an irresistible urge just to lie down on the leafy earth beneath them. The perspective from this level is totally different to walking about and it’s something I used to love doing as a child. When you feel this type of urge, forget whatever your sensible adult mind is telling you and just do it. I felt an instant sense of joy. Not an emotion I am familiar with these days! Being in the moment is almost a cliche now but that’s what it is. A sense of being at ease with your universe. I had to tear myself away. I could have easily fallen into a deep sleep and lain there for hours but there was still work to do

There’s really not much more I can say about the day. It was fantastic and I’ll just leave you with a few more photos. If there are woods near you, go take a walk through them while they are at their best.

The woods were dark and I was snuggled up in my sleeping bag. All was quiet and I started to drift off into the Land of Nod. Still, your senses are are on high alert in this situation. You think you hear small noises, maybe distant voices or was that just my brain trying to make something intelligible out of randomness. Like seeing faces in clouds. It’s just noise anyway, no big deal. Until, close by, a loud piercing bark rings through the night. For a second your adrenaline explodes and so does your heart and head. Four letter words come to mind, then another bark, like a dog that’s had it’s vocal chords shredded with broken glass! My conscious mind came to the rescue, I knew deer made this type of sound when they are calling to others. My heart dropped back into my chest and I listened for several minutes as it slowly wandered off and all was quiet again. I hoped it wouldn’t return. It took some time to settle down again but sleep eventually came.

I woke around two am needing a pee. You can’t ignore that so had to get out of my warm bag into the cold so I was wide awake again. Eventually the Sandman sprinkled his dust but it was not what I wanted. The hypnogogic dream state I’ve experienced before came. You feel like you’re awake and it seems so real. Voices outside the tent, someone trying to get in through the roof, you feel under attack. Bizarrely I recognised it as such, shouting at them to clear off (or words to that effect) and I told myself to wake up, it worked once before but not this time. I woke again around five am, it was getting light and some birds were singing. Too early to get up in the frost so I laid there. Knowing that day was coming and the terrors of the night were gone, I relaxed and fell into deep sleep and didn’t wake until 7.30. Later than I do at home! Phew, I made it. It’s such a wonderful feeling to step out into the sunny glade, hearing and seeing the little birds while you light a fire and make a nice coffee followed by a cooked breakfast. You truly feel alive and that’s what makes it all worthwhile.

One of my woodland neighbours turned up to collect some logs and we had a good catch-up. Most of the morning was spent packing all my gear away again. I did a few more jobs and had a wander around taking some photos. I spotted this beauty sunning itself, probably newly hatched. Not seen many blue butterflies and wondered if it was rare. Somewhat disappointed to discover it’s a Common Blue. I think it needs renaming. It sounds so bland and insignificant, even derogatory. It doesn’t deserve that label.

I started the trip with trepidation but looking for answers. Can I hack cold weather camping and is my gear adequate? Yes I can and with a bit of tweaking my gear is good. Am I getting to old for tenting in the woods and is it worth it? Maybe I am but it’s definitely worth it. It’s the rest of the experience that makes it. Staying late, sitting around a campfire and waking up to the beauties of a woodland are priceless. Coping with some adversity successfully gives you strength and boosts your confidence. My comfort zone has stretched a little. Now that I’ve literally broken the ice, I shall plan more in the coming months.