Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire all have a share in the realm of a great forest in the making, the national forest. When visiting this realm do not expect to wander for hours and hours in the shade of great trees, as you might expect in Epping or the New Forest, where you are totally surrounded by nature.
Pollarded Beech in the ancient forest of Epping
Walking through the National Forest is a completely different experience, a place to simply enjoy yourself in a whole variety of ways.
Every turn could bring an unexpected surprise, be it wildlife, archeological, geological or artistic. The National Forest is not just a forest, it is a fusion of english life intertwined between trees.
A week or so back we visited the new National Cycle centre at Hicks Lodge, near to Moira. I was birdwatching as usual, but was just as happy to see a whole variety of people enjoying themselves in the countryside in their own way.
Newly opened in the autumn of 2012, the National Cycle centre
No matter where you go in the National Forest there are ample signs and information boards to tell you about the area.
Staffords Wood is close to the delightful village of Melbourne, a community established on its expertise at market gardening.
I go to the Staffords wood area to check on some rare trees, Black Poplars. There can be few people who do not like trees, if fact I believe absolutely everyone loves trees. So to finish this blog I will let you into two small secrets of the National Forest, ‘How to walk on ‘GOLD’ and to find a tree that almost ties itself into a KNOT’ ?
To walk on 'gold' is to visit a Larch wood in the late autumn after a severe frost, a transitory event but magical when discovered.
Well not quite a knot but almost.
Is this a tree or the biggest 'tree-swing' in the world. The Beech trees on Beacon Hill are magnificent, to visit them is to visit a 'home of Ents'.
More stories about t the National Forest in future blogs or for more images visit my website Websterswildshots