It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

In that wonderful spell of sunny weather we had in April 2025, I decided to once again sleep out at Bel’s Wood in my hammock. I have got out of the habit of sleeping up there and also my tarp got ripped in a storm last year so I needed to do some prep. After a few practices with my much larger tarp which I had bought as a rain shelter and replacing some tent pegs I chose a date. A couple of friends joined me for supper around the fire which was a lovely way of starting my mini adventure!


I kept warm in front of the fire as it went dark and the temperature began to drop.  The bird life quietened down for the night with just a few owl squarks and barks from the foxes in the background.

The sky was clear of cloud but full of moisture with poor ‘seeing’ for star gazing. With a bright moon only the large constellations and planets were visible. I walked around in the evening by moonlight, no torch required.

Moon above the dying camp fire

Orion looking large and standing on the horizon 

Casseopia

I turned in about 11pm adding layers of warm clothing. With 2 hats, 2 pairs of trousers, 4 layers on top and an old fleece wrapped around my middle, which is where I feel the cold, I was toasty warm and fell asleep easily.

Around 2am I woke feeling cold. I knew I wouldn’t get warm again lying there so I ventured out. Well the moon was still up and the sky clear and I walked around, again without a head torch. There was still no Milky Way. The lambs were bleating in a nearby field and perhaps they were cold too.

I could see the blossom by moonlight - although this isn’t a great photo it is what I could see.

I slowed the shutter speed down to show what was there.

Once I had warmed up I headed back to the hammock and again fell asleep until about 5.45am when I was awoken, this time by the dawn chorus which started with a noisy Pheasant and persistent Wren and Blackbird song. I dozed in my hammock and then noted the Chiffchaff and Coal Tits had joined the Blackbird.  I am fairly confident about identifying these birds but I use the Merlin App and for some of the following birds I am relying on the App as I haven’t learned them yet (and I know it isn’t always 100% accurate).

As I emerged from my hammock I went for a walk while waiting for the sun to come up over the hill onto Camp1. It was only then that I realised there was frost on the ground. I hadn’t seen it in the night by moonlight. No wonder I had been awoken by the cold. 

The Song Thrush joined the morning chorus to be added to by bleating (perhaps hungry) lambs, Blue Tits and a Willow Warbler and then later a Siskin.





Gorse and Blackthorn Blossom

Hornbeam         Field Maple

First Bluebell of the year

I went back to Camp1 for breakfast and lit the fire. 


Once breakfast was done I got started on some work at the wood. I’m still finding Scot’s Pines that I am staking before the bracken returns, which it is….


I was pleased to see some butterflies emerging and I spotted a freshly emerged Meadow Brown and a male Orange Tip.


As the sun raised the temperature towards midday I headed back into the hammock, with the tarp turned back, to read my book and enjoy the warmth of the day. I could see birds flitting about in the canopy above me. I stayed up there for lunch and many cups of tea and headed home about 5pm throughly happy and looking for the next opportunity to spend 24 hours at the wood. 

Cecelia the Sessile Oak coming into leaf in the sunshine showing her wonderful wide crown


Holly Blossom            Cherry Blossom 

I enjoyed being up there on another glorious sunny day at this beautiful time of year. In fact I found myself singing ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year’ without realising it!


I know I look a bit mad in this picture but I think it sums up how I felt better than any words can!


Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 11, 2025 at 10:59 AM

    Wonderful, Bel; what an adventure, and such beautiful night skies, and morning chorus - love it! Thanks for posting, Caroline x

    ReplyDelete

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