saxonaxe
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A low pale sun and wind driven clouds today, but it's dry and I've not been to the wood for a few days, so Haversack, camera and a wander round the lake was the plan.
For the last few days I've heard a monotonous droning sound coming from the direction of the lake, so dismissing the possibility that some Politicians had become stranded down there, I took the path through the wood towards the lake.
A Reed Cutter. A strange little craft that whirrs it's way around the lake, long under water arms cutting the Reed off short, the one man Operator in his little canvas cabin no doubt stocked up with tea and sandwiches for the day.
This is one of those happy occasions when Man works with Nature to achieve the best results. The Reeds grow speedily in these lakes and would in a very short time choke them. The Fish, wild Fowl and wide variety of plants that grow here would soon be lost. Reed nesting birds would find it suited them but the Water Fowl need open water to feed, as do the fish, so controlling the Reeds benefits all, and a good sized area will be left uncut for shelter and nesting.
Down past the old Boat House. In a more elegant era the ladies who went in the Skiffs and Rowing Boats onto the lake, could disembark from the boats easily onto a sheltered landing stage, rather than scramble up a muddy bank..
It seems the Halloween creature who made a break for freedom into the woods never managed to get very far. Now it is being devoured by Squirrels who seem unable to believe their luck in finding such a feast.
The fluffy grey Cygnets of a few months ago and now show just the odd juvenile coloured feather.
Mother and Father like almost all wild creatures have now parted from their young and taken up residence on a lower lake.
The wind roars through the woods like an Express Train and the paths are almost lost under the leaf fall. Almost Midday and the pale sun is low in the sky and the shelter of a Hedge thick with Old Man's Beard is a welcome place to pause on my walk.
A few late Blackberries, I tried one but the sweet taste of the Summer berries has gone, so the Birds and other creatures are welcome to these.
Just a few splashes of colour where the sunlight is still warm. A rather wind battered Knapweed.
But even on the dullest day the golden glow of Gorse bushes..
The Sloe Berries still cling to the higher branches out of the reach of the berry pickers and home brewers of Sloe Gin...
Exploring deeper into the wood i came across part of the boundary wall of the Great House of Centuries past. Overgrown now and some of the old roofing slates from the long closed local Welsh Slate mine are still scattered in the undergrowth.
I also discovered this large bone which is relatively unusual because I know that Cattle are well documented on farms these days. Milk yields, Vet's attention, treatments etc: The Cattle are all numbered and coded, so to find Bovine bones in a secluded wood is I think quite unusual, Sheep bones Yes, but I don't recall ever finding bones of this size before.
Walking home the wind is chasing ripples across the lake and in the distance is the thunder of the seas on the beach.
Nearly home and the lake water stirred up by the Reed Cutter is settled here, I can see the bottom at about 5 feet here by the path.
Home now and the kettle is on...
For the last few days I've heard a monotonous droning sound coming from the direction of the lake, so dismissing the possibility that some Politicians had become stranded down there, I took the path through the wood towards the lake.
A Reed Cutter. A strange little craft that whirrs it's way around the lake, long under water arms cutting the Reed off short, the one man Operator in his little canvas cabin no doubt stocked up with tea and sandwiches for the day.
This is one of those happy occasions when Man works with Nature to achieve the best results. The Reeds grow speedily in these lakes and would in a very short time choke them. The Fish, wild Fowl and wide variety of plants that grow here would soon be lost. Reed nesting birds would find it suited them but the Water Fowl need open water to feed, as do the fish, so controlling the Reeds benefits all, and a good sized area will be left uncut for shelter and nesting.
Down past the old Boat House. In a more elegant era the ladies who went in the Skiffs and Rowing Boats onto the lake, could disembark from the boats easily onto a sheltered landing stage, rather than scramble up a muddy bank..
It seems the Halloween creature who made a break for freedom into the woods never managed to get very far. Now it is being devoured by Squirrels who seem unable to believe their luck in finding such a feast.
The fluffy grey Cygnets of a few months ago and now show just the odd juvenile coloured feather.
Mother and Father like almost all wild creatures have now parted from their young and taken up residence on a lower lake.
The wind roars through the woods like an Express Train and the paths are almost lost under the leaf fall. Almost Midday and the pale sun is low in the sky and the shelter of a Hedge thick with Old Man's Beard is a welcome place to pause on my walk.
A few late Blackberries, I tried one but the sweet taste of the Summer berries has gone, so the Birds and other creatures are welcome to these.
Just a few splashes of colour where the sunlight is still warm. A rather wind battered Knapweed.
But even on the dullest day the golden glow of Gorse bushes..
The Sloe Berries still cling to the higher branches out of the reach of the berry pickers and home brewers of Sloe Gin...
Exploring deeper into the wood i came across part of the boundary wall of the Great House of Centuries past. Overgrown now and some of the old roofing slates from the long closed local Welsh Slate mine are still scattered in the undergrowth.
I also discovered this large bone which is relatively unusual because I know that Cattle are well documented on farms these days. Milk yields, Vet's attention, treatments etc: The Cattle are all numbered and coded, so to find Bovine bones in a secluded wood is I think quite unusual, Sheep bones Yes, but I don't recall ever finding bones of this size before.
Walking home the wind is chasing ripples across the lake and in the distance is the thunder of the seas on the beach.
Nearly home and the lake water stirred up by the Reed Cutter is settled here, I can see the bottom at about 5 feet here by the path.
Home now and the kettle is on...
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You do have a great way with words my friend, cracking pictures also.. thanks for sharing 
