Allotments 4 All

Me Dear old Dad is the 'unofficial' warden for a wood nr Mexborough.

We went up to visit last weekend - here are a few photos!

I LOVE walking in woods - especially 'ancient' ones - not man-made ones.

Add any photos you've got of wood-walks here!

Metal detecting - Dad, Alfie, daughter Daisy & Grandson Tyler! We found a few nails and a few quid!



Some funghi in the woods:

Chocolate Tube Fungus: When you brushed it with your hand a million spores flew into the air. Lovely! I'd never seen this type before.



Oyster Fungus:



Dead Man's Fingers:



Trametes Versicolor?



Unidentified Bracket Fungus:



Dryad's Saddle: Typical that Alfie found it!



There is a HUGE lily pond in the wood as well - apparently it is beautiful when the flowers are out in summer, but we only managed to catch it in Autumn.







And the final most INTERESTING pic is a 'plunge-pool' in the heart of the wood. It's shaped like a keyhole and is lined with huge cut stones seperated by lead joiners. It's 6ft deep in the middle and has stone-cut steps down to it (narrowest part of the structure)

Apparently, it was a 'plunge-pool' for maidens that visited the wood to cool down!

Unfortunately, Doncaster Council got wind of the wood being a bit 'interesting' and cut down the Camelia bower that covered it.

Apparently (and according to me dear old dad!) the farmer whose land bordered the wood was asked by the Council to get rid of the trees they had cut down - including the camelia bower. He responded by chucking their chainsaws/equipment into a nearby lake in the wood  ;D

I like the cut of his jib!

Since then, the wood has been vandalised and the lay-by where people park their cars to visit it has been plagued by car thieves and fly-tippers - someone tried to break into my car whilst we were there.

Trix XX

Lucky you - autumn is my favourite time of year for walks in the woods, the scents of the trees and the different light - wonderful!  And the "who can find the biggest toadstool" competition!

Great interesting pics Trixie. I love any sort of woods/forest. Have had a few visits to Thetford Forest. Your Alfie has got such a lovely smile :)
Lorna

Great pics ma duck. Love woods in the Spring and Autumn but sadly not many unspoilt ones left. :(

OOPS!

PLUNGE POOL!

Well.......did ya?......go in. :o

Did I BOG!

It was cold enough with me thermal vest on!

Such lovely pics as always Trix. Thanks for sharing them  :)

Quote from: Trixiebelle on October 11, 2007, 18:46:25
Did I BOG!

It was cold enough with me thermal vest on!

Steady .....some of us get excited at the mention of thermals. :P

You'll be a hang-glider, then FL?........ :D

You haven't SEEN my thermals Froglegs! I buy them from Anchor Supplies Army Surplus stores.

2nd hand and probably, previously worn by a sweaty soldier in the Falklands  ;D

Steady... some of us get all excited at the mention of sweaty soldiers.

I can't win!!  ;D

Is it open to the public,Trix? If so, could you give me the location? PM if you want to keep it secret!

Great photos TB, I love the plunge pool.....very unusual :D

Will PM you Caroline  :)

P.S. Me dear old dad does 'talks' about the wood to nature groups etc showing his photos of the wildlife & funghi etc. If anyone's interested please PM me!

Trix X

Lovely pics Trix.   ;D ;D

Its the first time Ive seen the chocolate type fungus, very unusual. We do fungus forages here too, though Im not very well up on the edibles....so I tend to stick with the local girls who are knowledgeable.

I love ceps, I tried them for the first time last year. We need to make a date to forage this year yet. Soon I hope!! ;D ;D

It's my ambition to find a giant puffball Star  ;D

Has anyone noticed as well .. when I was a nipper we used to go foraging for hazlenuts. Sadly lacking nowadays  :(

OOOOH! I've just remembered! When we were in the woods Dad pointed out something he called 'bird's nest' fungus.

An absolutely TINY little fungus growing on the edge of the wooden path, about 1/2cm wide. It looks like a little bird's nest and inside are what looks like little bird's eggs! The eggs are in fact the spoor of the fungus.

My crappy camera couldn't focus on them though  ::)