The great thing about having dogs is that they make you take exercise. If they are not taken for at least one walk a day your life will be made hell by the dirty looks from the creatures. We have 55 acres of forest behind our house…not ours I might add…and lucky for us we have the owners permission to walk there. Five of these acres are used as a research area so they have nice paths through the trees and the trees are brashed. Brashed is when the bottom branches are taken off the trees.
Sometimes we go to the forest through the gate at the bottom of the garden…
other times we head out through the Ash tree plantation to the west of our house. The dogs run ahead excitedly but come back if I am dallying.
Out onto the lane where a short time ago we were picking Blackberries galore. The dogs weren’t impressed with the fruit picking…they just want to walk…and sniff and investigate.
On to the wooden bridge and into the forest.
Looking back up through the trees the cottage and polytunnel can be glimpsed.
On we go…
until we come to the boundary between the forest and the next door farm. Along this boundary is a wonderful line of Beech trees…
probably planted by the gentry who once counted these lands among their estates. The once beautiful hunting lodge called Bella now derelict.
Inquisitive cattle stand and stare.
Fallen Beech leaves make a soft carpet to walk on.
Lettie wants to go back in the forest.
Lots of fungi growing amongst the Spruce trees here. Unfortunately these are False Chanterelles. Pity!
They are pretty though.
Time for home. It will all be done again tomorrow but no matter how often I walk here it always feels nice and fresh and new. So many paths to explore. Scents to enjoy. Birdsong to listen too. Wood to collect to keep the home fire burning bright.
The beauty and bounty of Nature right on our doorstep.
