Friday 1 May 2015

Looking North


There are three gorges sending water to the lower parts of Blacka. This one cuts less steeply into the land and from its slope allows quite extensive views to the north, west and east. It has always been a quiet spot with no paths apart from animal tracks which run parallel along the north facing slope. Trees here are birch rowan as in other wilder parts of Blacka less oak and beech but there is willow and holly and some very old hawthorn. Those of us who try to get away from signs of management have enjoyed this area in the past but now we come increasingly upon piles of timber from felled trees. sometimes actually obstructing paths and always reminding us of the insensitivity of managers.

The banks of one of the streams running down the hill are a mass of alternate leaved golden saxifrage.


Bumble bees were in the bilberry but not this time the bilberry bumble bee.


The venerable thorn trees are fascinatingly twisted.....


.... and accept guests.



There's some good sunbathing for deer sheltered from today's east wind........


... and a quiet refuge on the valley bottom.


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