Hatfield Forest

I met up with my old mate JP on Saturday and went for a wander around Hatfield Forest.

It was warm and sunny day to start off with which turned to cloud and a drop of rain later.

We started at the Shell House cafe by the lake and went south, exploring the little coppices on the way.

The idea is to carry out a number of recce’s, the significance of which will be revealed in time.

Even in the very first coppice, we found a whole load of significant finds. Firstly, a cramp ball fungus growing on a sweet chestnut (it normally grows on ash – although John Scrivy has found it growing on birch as well.

Also, and a first for me, JP spotted some candlestick fungus Xylaria hypoxylon which gives off little puffs of spore, looking like smoke, when touched.

If that wasn’t enough, we saw this fantastic burl.

The forest is also a woodland pasture and there was no shortage of inhabitants roaming free. Because of the constant grazing, large grass paths have been formed between the coppices. This in turn gives raise to millions of buttercups in the spring.

Of course it’s the ancient trees that make the forest so attractive to many visitors. Some are over 800 years old and even off the beaten track there can be some wonderful sights…

…as well as the traditional magnificent oaks…

..and a huge exotic cedar of lebanon.

Uncommon mistletoe adds to the mystery of the forest, reminding us that it was held in high esteem by the our ancestors, who undoubtedly foraged in the area long before it became to be designated as a forest not long after the Norman invasion.

Everywhere you looked, there was something to catch your eye…

A quick mental calculation revealed this narrow trail had been very recently used by 4 fallow, a badger or two (there and back) a fox and a muntjac. A tracker’s delight!

You may get a glimpse of the elusive Hatfield Horror!!

Happy Hallowe’en!!

Hatfield Forest

I met up with my old mate JP on Saturday and went for a wander around Hatfield Forest.

It was warm and sunny day to start off with which turned to cloud and a drop of rain later.

We started at the Shell House cafe by the lake and went south, exploring the little coppices on the way.

The idea is to carry out a number of recce’s, the significance of which will be revealed in time.

Even in the very first coppice, we found a whole load of significant finds. Firstly, a cramp ball fungus growing on a sweet chestnut (it normally grows on ash – although John Scrivy has found it growing on birch as well.

Also, and a first for me, JP spotted some candlestick fungus Xylaria hypoxylon which gives off little puffs of spore, looking like smoke, when touched.

If that wasn’t enough, we saw this fantastic burl.

The forest is also a woodland pasture and there was no shortage of inhabitants roaming free. Because of the constant grazing, large grass paths have been formed between the coppices. This in turn gives raise to millions of buttercups in the spring.

Of course it’s the ancient trees that make the forest so attractive to many visitors. Some are over 800 years old and even off the beaten track there can be some wonderful sights…

…as well as the traditional magnificent oaks…

..and a huge exotic cedar of lebanon.

Uncommon mistletoe adds to the mystery of the forest, reminding us that it was held in high esteem by the our ancestors, who undoubtedly foraged in the area long before it became to be designated as a forest not long after the Norman invasion.

Everywhere you looked, there was something to catch your eye…

A quick mental calculation revealed this narrow trail had been very recently used by 4 fallow, a badger or two (there and back) a fox and a muntjac. A tracker’s delight!

You may get a glimpse of the elusive Hatfield Horror!!

Happy Hallowe’en!!

Stuck in a Rut

I was glad I had put on my Woolpower base layer, as there was a ground frost and a cutting north-easterly breeze. It was 7:30am when I entered the woods and it seemed like it was chaos. There was deer running about everywhere and it took me a couple of minutes to work out what was going on.

Two does were trotting away from a bellowing stag, which was out of sight to north west of the wood. Now that shouldn’t be happening for a start! I tried to work my way round to the bellowing but it suddenly stopped and I lost sight of anything vaguely resembling a deer.

I suddenly saw movement to my right and quickly knelt down behind a fallen trunk. A young stag wandered into sight and came to within about 10 yards of my position. He suddenly saw me and leapt back a couple of steps, which was quite comical to watch. Instead of darting off, he seemed to circle me, looking in my direction a couple of times before walking nonchalantly away.

I guessed that would be it for a while. Instead of chasing the deer out of the wood, I tend to sit and wait for them to reappear, which they invariably do. After half an hour, a cup of coffee and a breakfast bar, I spotted movement again. It seemed the whole Poor Park herd had split up. I recognised a couple of the individual does on their own but there were also about three young stags; obviously the young pretenders.

I watched as one of them dared approach the Chief. I couldn’t see him very well through the closed in woods, but the sudden bellowing told me he was there. The young stag gave ground. I managed to catch up with the proceedings and went into a crawl but once again, I was spotted by the young stag.

I withdrew once again and went to the south of the woods to see what else was going on. It was a change to easily spot the tracks in the damp ground instead of searching for them on hands and knees. Badger, fox, Farmer B and the fallow were all there with enough information to ascertain the gait.

Back to the rut. I hadn’t really identified a stand, but the best area seemed to be where I normally bed-down to watch the fallow in the spring. There was some scraping on the earth and a single fresh marking on tree. That was enough for me to set up the trail cam. I will retrieve it at the end of the week.

I had now been in the wood for 6 hours and I think the deer were getting a bit fed up with me. I was also getting a bit tired, but I had been successful in not scaring them out of the wood and had observed them on about five separate occasions. So enough was enough.

My last sighting was probably one of the best where a young stag followed by the Chief himself came into view about 25 yards away from me.  Again, I metaphorically tore a page out of the text books as I was sure it was the bachelors stags that followed the Chief in order to challenge him.

I expect I’ll be out again before the rutting season ends. Until then, it was time to leave them alone.

Thanks for the visit.

Stuck in a Rut

I was glad I had put on my Woolpower base layer, as there was a ground frost and a cutting north-easterly breeze. It was 7:30am when I entered the woods and it seemed like it was chaos. There was deer running about everywhere and it took me a couple of minutes to work out what was going on.

Two does were trotting away from a bellowing stag, which was out of sight to north west of the wood. Now that shouldn’t be happening for a start! I tried to work my way round to the bellowing but it suddenly stopped and I lost sight of anything vaguely resembling a deer.

I suddenly saw movement to my right and quickly knelt down behind a fallen trunk. A young stag wandered into sight and came to within about 10 yards of my position. He suddenly saw me and leapt back a couple of steps, which was quite comical to watch. Instead of darting off, he seemed to circle me, looking in my direction a couple of times before walking nonchalantly away.

I guessed that would be it for a while. Instead of chasing the deer out of the wood, I tend to sit and wait for them to reappear, which they invariably do. After half an hour, a cup of coffee and a breakfast bar, I spotted movement again. It seemed the whole Poor Park herd had split up. I recognised a couple of the individual does on their own but there were also about three young stags; obviously the young pretenders.

I watched as one of them dared approach the Chief. I couldn’t see him very well through the closed in woods, but the sudden bellowing told me he was there. The young stag gave ground. I managed to catch up with the proceedings and went into a crawl but once again, I was spotted by the young stag.

I withdrew once again and went to the south of the woods to see what else was going on. It was a change to easily spot the tracks in the damp ground instead of searching for them on hands and knees. Badger, fox, Farmer B and the fallow were all there with enough information to ascertain the gait.

Back to the rut. I hadn’t really identified a stand, but the best area seemed to be where I normally bed-down to watch the fallow in the spring. There was some scraping on the earth and a single fresh marking on tree. That was enough for me to set up the trail cam. I will retrieve it at the end of the week.

I had now been in the wood for 6 hours and I think the deer were getting a bit fed up with me. I was also getting a bit tired, but I had been successful in not scaring them out of the wood and had observed them on about five separate occasions. So enough was enough.

My last sighting was probably one of the best where a young stag followed by the Chief himself came into view about 25 yards away from me.  Again, I metaphorically tore a page out of the text books as I was sure it was the bachelors stags that followed the Chief in order to challenge him.

I expect I’ll be out again before the rutting season ends. Until then, it was time to leave them alone.

Thanks for the visit.

Essex Outbacks

We had a great weekend again, courtesy of Les and Brett from Wildcrafts, as we trooped down to Kelvedon for another meet. Although a few core  members have been meeting for the last 3 years (indeed this weekend was the third anniversary of us meeting up) it was only on this weekend that the name “Essex Outbacks” came into being courtesy of Mike H.

As usual there was excellent food on hand with JP supplying and cooking a wonderful Salmon. A fallow deer road kill went into the pot (well at least some of it)  the next night to make a spectacular stew.

Bow-drill skills were practised with most getting the ember to flash into flame despite the damp conditions.

Our wander around the wood revealed a mushroom not to be messed around with. It’s one of the amanitas. Don’t ask me which one. I’ll just do a wide detour.

Spotting JP’s luxurious sleeping rig last month, I decided that pride should give way to a bit luxury in my old age and, where there isn’t a long walk in, I would, this winter, rest my old bones in this Highlander Camp bed. Comfy? You bet!! And for £24.99 you just can’t go wrong. I’m coining a new phrase… ComfyCraft!

The main purpose of the meet was to introduce some more young people to survival and bushcraft. As usual, Les and Brett led them through some fundamentals. 

JP and I (with Simon’s and Andy’s assistance) took them through an introduction to tracking.

 

Those who had been before were introduced to some basic stalking skills where they were covered with ash, charcoal and mud and suited up with a camo suit to spy on their friends and the other instructors.

The kids also took an interest  in our trail cam that revealed a fallow doe wandering on the outskirts of the woods. The baited trail didn’t reveal the expected foxes and badgers which was a bit of a shame. Look like JP’s been pegged… again!

Once again, thanks to Les and Brett and everyone who came along. I can feel an “Essex Outbacks” polo shirt coming on!

Essex Outbacks

We had a great weekend again, courtesy of Les and Brett from Wildcrafts, as we trooped down to Kelvedon for another meet. Although a few core  members have been meeting for the last 3 years (indeed this weekend was the third anniversary of us meeting up) it was only on this weekend that the name “Essex Outbacks” came into being courtesy of Mike H.

As usual there was excellent food on hand with JP supplying and cooking a wonderful Salmon. A fallow deer road kill went into the pot (well at least some of it)  the next night to make a spectacular stew.

Bow-drill skills were practised with most getting the ember to flash into flame despite the damp conditions.

Our wander around the wood revealed a mushroom not to be messed around with. It’s one of the amanitas. Don’t ask me which one. I’ll just do a wide detour.

Spotting JP’s luxurious sleeping rig last month, I decided that pride should give way to a bit luxury in my old age and, where there isn’t a long walk in, I would, this winter, rest my old bones in this Highlander Camp bed. Comfy? You bet!! And for £24.99 you just can’t go wrong. I’m coining a new phrase… ComfyCraft!

The main purpose of the meet was to introduce some more young people to survival and bushcraft. As usual, Les and Brett led them through some fundamentals. 

JP and I (with Simon’s and Andy’s assistance) took them through an introduction to tracking.

 

Those who had been before were introduced to some basic stalking skills where they were covered with ash, charcoal and mud and suited up with a camo suit to spy on their friends and the other instructors.

The kids also took an interest  in our trail cam that revealed a fallow doe wandering on the outskirts of the woods. The baited trail didn’t reveal the expected foxes and badgers which was a bit of a shame. Look like JP’s been pegged… again!

Once again, thanks to Les and Brett and everyone who came along. I can feel an “Essex Outbacks” polo shirt coming on!