Informal group photo (Click to enlarge)

December Walk - Tree hugging

13 of us gathered for Friday’s walk at Clayhill Park on the Lyndhurst Road. It was excellent and slightly longer, it meandered mainly through woods of native trees with few firs, interspersed with open spaces. A few glimpses of nervous stags and an amusing gateway that sorted out the obese from the thin were the highlights apart from the good conversation. The picture taken at a bridge over a small stream gave us a stopping point to appreciate the stillness and the clean air of the Forest. Jack moved by this hugged a tree.

To see tree huggers click on title

Bolderwood Deer

You go into the woods,
Where nothing's clear,
Where witches, ghosts
And wolves appear.
Into the woods
And through the fear,
You have to take the journey.
Into the woods
And down the dell,
In rain, perhaps,
But who can tell?

November's Ramble

Fourteen of us braved Dave’s assault course for the mature citizen with running streams and ankle deep muddy tractor tracked walkways. Dave sportingly carried over those ill equipped to cross from bank to bank without getting wet feet. We saw plenty of deer, even the rare white hinds, as Bolderwood is famous for it's herd of Fallow deer Again we were lucky the rain kept off until we approached the car park on our way back.

Two stags strutted up the rise after appearing from the side.

Six of the hardy eight

Photographic stump

Large beetle with scorpion like posture
Notice the shadow of its upturned tail.

November Walk

A WALK IN THE NEW FOREST ON FRIDAY 11TH NOVEMBER, AT 1.30PM, (ITS GETTING DARK EARLIER NOW!) FROM THE DEER SANCTUARY CAR PARK AT BOLDERWOOD. MAP AVAILABLE IF REQUIRED OF COURSE, BUT IT'S EASY TO FIND. THROUGH LYNDHURST ON THE CHRISTCHURCH ROAD, A35, TURN RIGHT OPPOSITE THE WHITE SWAN AT EMERY DOWN CRICKET PITCH. TAKE THE FIRST LEFT (OUTSIDE THE PUB), STAY ON THAT ROAD FOR ABOUT 4 MILES. THE CAR PARK IS ON THE LEFT IN AN OPEN SPACE. LENGTH OF THE WALK: 3 MILES APPROXIMATE TIME 2 HRS. FAIRLY EASY WALKING IN ENCLOSURES AND ANCIENT WOODLANDS (OUT OF ANY COLD WINDS!). A FEW WET AND MUDDY PATCHES IF IT RAINS!

October

Pan favoured us, despite threatened rain, we hardly had any. Although the skies all around were ominously thunderous, the blue sky dominated. Only six started out form Pigs Bush car park but miraculously Sally and Jan who had gone astray found us. We enjoyed the sight of two full stags climbing a short rise in front of us but too far to get a good photo. We encountered a beetle that seemed aggressive in waving its tail upwards. Good job we did not attempt to touch it going by the description below. Dave told us about the partially visible Bishop’s dyke an area the King permitted the Bishop of Winchester to enclose in one day presumably for keeping stock. An excellent walk which we all enjoyed.

Devil’s coach horse
Staphylinus olens
The Devil’s coach horse is a long, black beetle with short elytra (wing cases). At first glance you could mistake it for an earwig.
A nocturnal predator, this beetle lives in and around decaying matter. During the day it tends to rest among leaf litter or under stones. Females lay their eggs in the soil, and these hatch into carnivorous larvae.
It overwinters as a pupa in leaf litter or moss and emerges as an adult the following spring. If you disturb a Devil’s coach horse, it adopts an aggressive, scorpion-like position - it raises its rear end and opens its powerful jaws.
If it still feels threatened it squirts a foul-smelling fluid from its abdomen. Beware – this beetle can also give a painful bite.

September walk went well, the rain again held off until we had finished and were safely home. This time we met at Bolton’s Park cricket ground park and 18 walkers our highest turnout so far strode off into the rutted heather covered tracks. The wind blew but nobody minded as it was not really cold and the air felt fresh. A speedier pace than usual – could we be getting fitter? No pictures as my camera’s window blinked ERR "card error" but promptly worked again after getting home.

Group Discussion

I see no Bulls

Corn Marigold?

August Ramble

Meeting at 10.00 am at Butts Green with its generous parking. Fifteen brave souls ventured once again into the deep woods this time at Lockerley. Amazingly it was relatively dry underfoot as we walked Indian file along the paths bordering the fields as tractors in the far distance moved bales of straw. We then came across a plant that intrigued, similar to a corn marigold but not sure of it true identity. Suggestions needed
Our first test of nerves was the sign warning us that a bull was loose in the fields we had to cross. Dave heroically traversed first and we waited until he neared the gate at the far side before we too left the safety of the fence. Having safely reached the far side we came upon the bulls placidly grazing in a smaller paddock. Discussion ensued as to why house martins were swooping low for insects. Further stretch of country lanes and then back through a swathe of seed "popping" neglected corn, past Lockerley church back to where we started. Disappointment that the local hostelry was not open for food nine of us then went to the Bear and Ragged Staff in Stockbridge Road which understandably was popular with its more than generous platter. Another successful outing for the U3A.

Herd of Fallow deer

Gatekeeper

Walks todate

10am on the 2nd of August 11 stalwarts met at Deerleap car park near Colbury for another 2 hour gentle amble through mainly open track. Interest was created when we observed a startled herd of wary fallow deer heading for cover in nearby woods. A leisurely crossing over the railway line assured by Dave he had never seen any trains. When safely crossed a thunderous roar and a locomotive hurtled by at 70 mph as we gathered near a blackberry bush admiring the Pyronia tithonus butterflies aptly named the Gatekeeper. Our progress continued alongside a rutted path bordering a bog and later Dave pointed out the evidence of a tumuli. We then saw a Picus viridis (green woodpecker) with its unmistakable short swooping dives. The return journey over the train lines which I now realized is the main Bournemouth line we returned to the car park, two hours exactly. A thoroughly enjoyable walk enjoyed by all.

1st July walk we were lucky with the weather despite threatening rain it stayed away. A circuitous route from the Bartley Cricket ground. Completely people free it was an enjoyable walk for the twelve of us who went.

Previous walk.
Despite rain good walk in Ampfield Woods
We met at the White Horse car park at 10.15 am, despite the drizzle we decided to go on our walk and we were glad we did. The sun came out making us shed the wet weather gear. After a 2 hour circular tour of Ampfield Woods we once again came back to the Inn where six of us stayed for a really nice lunch.