The way through the woods

One of my favourite poems is by Rudyard Kipling and is called

The Way Through the Woods

They shut the road through the woods
Seventy years ago.
Weather and rain have undone it again,
And now you would never know
There was once a road through the woods
Before they planted the trees.
It is underneath the coppice and heath,
And the thin anemones.
Only the keeper sees
That, where the ring-dove broods,
And the badgers roll at ease,
There was once a road through the woods.

Yet, if you enter the woods
Of a summer evening late,
When the night-air cools on the trout-ringed pools
Where the otter whistles his mate.
(They fear not men in the woods,
Because they see so few)
You will hear the beat of a horse's feet,
And the swish of a skirt in the dew,
Steadily cantering through
The misty solitudes,
As though they perfectly knew
The old lost road through the woods . . . .
But there is no road through the woods.

 As you can see we found that path:)

Built on top of limestone pavement the area is alive with birds. The paths were incredible all looking like this with a canopy above your head as you walked and a lushness to the air

This was a wood ants mound and although you can't tell from the photo it was absolutely covered with ants, so much that the mound appeared to be moving. Made me feel quite itchy in my sandals:)

There were strange shaped trees and trees that seemed to be watching us like this one.

The trees were amazing growing through the limestone. The roots were everywhere like giant feet keeping a grasp on the surface.
This one was covered in fungi.
Even the fallen ones had a beauty all their own.
This reminded me of a giant dragon rising from the forest floor.
Octopus anyone?



Not sure if you can see the amazing roots through the trees.
All native trees and all in their full summer foliage. A glory to behold.

I love roots of trees,there is something magical about the way they spread out. A thoroughly enjoyable visit and just half an hour from home so no long journeys. I have been knitting the earth shawl is all but finished and there will be photos soon. One slight problem, I've made it very large so not sure how I'll get it blocked.