May woods

[puddleshark]

Powerstock Common is probably the closest thing to wild woods we have in Dorset. Once a royal hunting ground, then an area of common land, never enclosed (perhaps too boggy to be worth the expense), now a nature reserve of tangled woods, ponds, rough pastures.




Following green paths...


...past a 19th century brick kiln, now flooded.


In May, Powerstock is the realm of the bluebells & the violets.










A passing shower of apple blossom.



I usually have a strong sense of direction when walking in the woods, but the narrow twisty paths of Powerstock turn me around and lose me. I always have to rely on a compass here. And it always surprises me a little that the compass actually works, rather than the needle spinning aimlessly. Powerstock is one of the secret, spooky places of West Dorset. You wander in. You may not always wander out again.






Bark beetles have written cryptic messages on the fallen trees.


There are cattle roaming the common. But they are placid older cattle, too busy chewing the cud in the sunshine to bother a passing walker.





With the aid of my compass, I find my way back to the nature reserve car park. Then it's a long drive along narrow twisty nameless lanes, lined with bluebells and shaded over with trees, before I finally come to a crossroads with a signpost, and can find my way home.

Comments

[pauraque]

Very atmospheric! Thanks for sharing the journey.

[puddleshark]

You're welcome!

[ranunculus]

Looks like a wonderful walk. Thanks for sharing.

[puddleshark]

You're welcome!

[cmcmck]

Wonderful.

We live on the edge of the Ercall (pronounced arkle) forest in Shropshire- old oak woodland which is also old royal hunting territory.

[puddleshark]

It's wonderful how some of the old hunting grounds have managed to preserve that sense of wilderness you so rarely find in this country, even if only in small patches these days.

I hadn't heard of the Ercall before. It sounds like a fabulous place to go exploring.

[vriddy]

So green 😍 Lovely, thanks for sharing!

[puddleshark]

You're welcome!

Yes, May is here, and everything is at maximum green!

[rodo]

The young leaves on the trees, the bluebells, the winding paths... I think I'm in love. The cow is a definite bonus!

[puddleshark]

It is a beautiful place to go walking, and not much visited because the paths can be extremely muddy. But we've had an unusually dry spring, so I made the most of it!

I was a little startled by the sudden cow among the bluebells, but she was enjoying the sunshine too much to take any notice of me.

[shirebound]

Bark beetles have written cryptic messages on the fallen trees.

I love that. What a truly wild and twisty place. I wonder if large areas of Britain looked like this in centuries past.

[puddleshark]

Thanks!

The landscape of Powerstock Common still looks as it did in medieval times. There's a nineteenth century brick kiln hiding there, but the trees have already mostly devoured it, the way they devour all the old industrial architecture. Once you enter the woods, the modern world seems to drop away.

[yourlibrarian]

The apple blossom shower sounds great -- I like that we have a spring counterpart to the fall of leaves in autumn.

[full_metal_ox]

And eastern temperate North America has an estival counterpart: the softly drifting cloud-tufts of the female eastern cottonwood tree.

People desiring a picturesque background for anime swordfights in late May through late June take note, as well as your allergy meds.

[silveradept]

That's quite a bit more green than I've been around in a while. Lovely.

[puddleshark]

Powerstock Common isn't much visited because it's wet and marshy, and often the paths can be extremely muddy. But it's the place to go if you want green. 😊

[birdylion]

What a lovely place! Thank you for sharing.

[puddleshark]

You're welcome!

It is a beautiful place to go walking, but quiet and not much visited because the paths can be muddy. But we've had an unusually dry spring, so I made the most of it!

[emeraldarrows]

Very lovely! <3

[puddleshark]

Yes. It is such a beautiful area, and maybe at its most beautiful at bluebell time.

[full_metal_ox]

I imagine the beetle engravings might be a startling moment for someone named Coco or Ceci!

[puddleshark]

LOL

Yes! "What! The beetles have a message for me?"

[sparowe]

What a beautiful walk! Thank you for sharing it. <3

[puddleshark]

You're welcome!

West Dorset is such a beautiful place to go walking, even if the paths do occasionally play tricks and send me places I never meant to go.

[cyare]

COW!! :D I feel like your pictures highlight both the beauty Powerstock Common and also a sort of magic, the way you can really get lost in there. Thanks for sharing <3

[puddleshark]

Thank you!

Yes. I was a little startled by the unexpected cow among the bluebells. But she was a placid old girl, and took no notice of me passing close by.

[loligo]

So beautiful!

[puddleshark]

Yes. It is such a beautiful landscape. And maybe at its most beautiful in May.

[yarnandglue]

Aww, I love the cow!

[puddleshark]

A very handsome girl! Maybe a Devon Ruby Red from her colouring.

[turlough]

What a wonderfully magical place! I love your photos, they're so beautiful and atmospheric.

[puddleshark]

Thank you!

It is a wonderful place. One of those places that time seems to have forgotton.

[ribirdnerd]

Looks like an ideal place for a stroll.

[puddleshark]

It is such a lovely, peaceful place to walk, though it can be extremely wet in places. This year we've had an unusually dry spring, so I wasn't wading through calf-deep mud this time! 😊

[scintilla10]

What an absolutely beautiful place in the world. Thanks for sharing!

[puddleshark]

You're welcome!

[linky]

Stunning photos!! <3

[puddleshark]

Thank you!

[tozka]

Beautiful photos! I'm a sucker for a walking trail going off into a vibrantly green forest.

[puddleshark]

Thank you!

Yes, there are some paths you just have to follow!