The land to the left falls away quite sharply into fields and offers little chance of getting out of the way of vehicles and the area on the right is little more than space beneath the trees which at the moment is covered in fallen leaves. Even after reaching the main road which for the main part is lined with trees there are still lots of fallen leaves and I am noticing the abundance of yellow that is visible, mainly from lime trees and the profusion of sturdy evergreens such as this Ivy covered old tree, soon to be the last bit of green until spring returns.
Looking back towards the higher ground the variations in colours ranging from deep copper to orange and yellows can be seen. Planted hedgerows and mature deciduous trees with a smattering of conifers and Ivy make a pleasing composition with the still verdant looking grass, just a pity that I was filming against the brighter sky with no filter.
This tree in particular caught my attention and the afternoon sun was making it stand out with a beautiful orange glow, again it had to be taken against a brighter sky so my apologies for the blown image.
After a short while I reached my destination with the late afternoon sun cutting across very low and illuminating the mature trees that border the road, Turning left and taking the footpath as indicated by the sign, I proceeded by climbing over the style and into the open fields, getting myself prickled by some pretty vicious thorns on the now bare Hawthorn hedges.
Continuing up towards the small wood and looking back towards the road I could get a better view of these soon to bare mature trees, No doubt the next time I will be taking pictures of these trees they will be shrouded in winter mists or clothed in frost or snow.
Passing through the small wood, I was once again into open pasture land and it was nice to be on the sunny side and out of the gloom. I have seen this small wood mature twice in my lifetime as I remember it well from my childhood, then I saw it razed to the ground as it was felled for timber. Obviously it belongs to someone, whom exactly I am not sure and I suppose it must have some commercial value that has to be cashed in at some point in time, but as I have watched it re-grow again over many years it has become like an old friend and I truly hope that I will not see it harvested again in my lifetime.
Although the centre has many conifers and that can make for a sterile and gloomy interior, the outer edges have many deciduous and indigenous trees such as Oaks, Willows, Beech and Horse Chestnuts and I suspect that it is also the home of a nesting pair of Red Kites.
Normally this field is empty, but on occasion there maybe some dairy cattle and occasionally young calves put out to graze, I can usually spot this by the trampled muddy path and the ‘pancakes’ as I pass through the wood. This time I was surprised to see this fellow, a fine looking Aberdeen Angus I think, or some other highland breed looking like maybe he owned the field. I kept a weather eye on him and my picture is taken on zoom, fortunately he displayed little interest in me I’m pleased to report.
The afternoon sun was low and slanting across the newly ploughed fields, the straight furrows of clean fresh soil signifying the passing of another year, the last warm rays shone on the dying leaves of a young Oak tree with it’s yellowing orange tinted leaves. In the foreground the dried out stalks of Hog Weed still standing tall and the reddening leaves of Blackberry brambles.
The trees towards the horizon will soon be bare and the bramble leaves will continue to turn a deeper blood red until the first severe frost gives them a coating of sugar frosting around the edges and an icy glaze to their surface. Soon after they too will fall and all that will remain will be the tangled wiry thorny stems as bare as the surrounding trees, the long forgotten home of Peacock Butterfly’s and their hairy caterpillars.
Tall stalks of Rosebay Willow Herb open the last of their fluffy pods to the Autumn winds that will blow them away like the leaves on the golden trees. So another year has come and almost gone, maybe I will pay this place another visit to gather some Holly just before Christmas, although there seems little to show berry wise after such a poor Summer. Hopefully the Winter will be mild otherwise a lot of birds and wildlife that depends upon these food sources will not survive to see this bare earth bursting with early Winter wheat next year.
It was time to head back home and as I entered the path into the wood I took my favourite picture for the day, I just wish the sky had been a bit more interesting.
There certainly is a lot of gold to be seen at the moment, even the dying Bracken is turning a golden brown.
One last glance back the way I had come before continuing into the wood, the last rays of the sun were passing through the leaves of this tree and I was reminded of this verse from a poem by Robert Frost:
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
