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Willowmena - entering a new phase

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 Right from when I first visited the wood I was taken by the elegant profile of this tree. I took so many photos and since it was autumn I didn't know what species it was. There were two large trees with the same lovely arching canopy side by side. There are some lovely older trees at Bel's Wood. There are 4 big oaks, 6 wild cherries and some very mature hazels. In spring I realised that these trees were Goat Willows. The pussy willow fed the queen bumblebees as they emerged from their hibernation in late February. The abundance of flowers provides pollen and nectar early in the season so that the queens can establish their nests and start the process of producing the next year's bumblebees. Once she has fed herself and collected pollen to create her nest and nectar to sustain her, she will remain under ground for the rest of the year and will die at the end of the summer leaving new queens to take her place the following year. I don't name all of the trees at Bel's...
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Aspen 3 years on

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I chose to plant Quaking Aspen inspired by a visit to Carrifran Wildwood  in the Scottish Borders where they have planted aspen lower down the valley and were delighted when I visited in 2019 by their growth and the experience of the quaking leaves and the sound they made. I had not realised they are a native species. I then came across  BOOM  (Back on our Map) a project run by Cumbria University seeking to restore species that have been lost or are under threat in Cumbria. Aspen were one of their chosen species. 'The BOOM project aims to increase the connectivity of aspen in South Cumbria. We will take hard-root cuttings from aspen across the project area, and work with community stakeholder organisations such as Green Heart Den and Art Gene to propagate the cuttings, with the aim to generate a clone bank of local south Cumbrian aspen clones.' I approached the University and they donated 100 saplings from Cumbria. Some were collected whips from established trees and othe...
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Wildlife Shots January - July 2026

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I had a really bad run with the cameras catching moving brambles, squirrels and the odd Robin. I have however picked up the occasional gem (Otters, Woodcock, Sparrow Hawk, Badgers etc) so I thought I would gather my favourites and put them in one place. Enjoy. Blackbird and Robin which are very common at the wood as they are in our gardens I am so happy to have Woodcocks at the wood and have seen them in the flesh over the last years, usually just fleetingly when I have flushed them when walking through the trees. They have a mating ritual called 'roding' where they fly low over woodland or heathlands as dawn or dusk in spring and I was lucky enough to see this one time. They are a rare bird and on the red list according to the RSPB. I was therefore delighted to see this one feeding on the beck right in front of the camera.  They are a lovely brown colour and maybe one day I'll get a daylight shot showing their colours. Woodpidgeons are pretty common too. I am including thi...
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The Solstice Spiral

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The highest point was called The Gin and Tonic Terrace from the beginning. It was a sun trap on the highest point with just a sneak peak of the view to the southwest.  Once the gorse was cleared the view opened up and of course the prevailing wind changed the feel up there.  After the gorse was removed in 2022. Where there was gorse there is now bracken and also trees planted in 2024.      2023 and the gorse arrived And the seed bank of foxgloves received light and so germinated                 Trees planted and fighting for light It is the place I gravitate to for sunrises, sunsets and key moments in the year especially at the equinox and solstice. The panoramic view is rewarding and there is a ledge where I have sat with friends over the years taking a moment to reflect on the passing of time. Sitting below the G&T terrace Winter 2023 The Winter Solstice 2025 was particularly special. I spent all day with f...
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