DUDLEY, EUNICE, FRANKLIN AND GLADYS TOO……
I’m selfish.
There, I’ve said it. Not in all things, you understand. Not in many to be honest, but when it comes to my favourite woodland locations it’s a different story.
Four successive storms in mid-February have irrevocably altered a good chunk of forestry and woodland here in South Wales. The damage left is heartbreaking to see.
I visited five or six locations once the storms had subsided and they’ve all changed. Some of my favourite scenes are gone forever. I’ll never photograph them again. Perspective needed here I guess, because in the scheme of things it was ever thus (I’m old enough to remember the Great Storm of 1987). When viewed against the background of the invasion of Ukraine, and the suffering those poor people are going through, it’s especially hard to catastrophise.
Nonetheless, there’s a sense of personal loss. I’ve been visiting most of the damaged sites for over 10 years. They were familiar and I’ve watched many of them mature into places that people enjoyed spending time in. Old growth woodland is in short supply in the UK and faces increasing threats (as I documented in my December blog). Understanding what these locations looked like at different times of the year and in different weather conditions has been a tremendous learning experience for me both as a photographer but also as someone who loves spending time in nature.
I completely get that these beautiful woodlands weren’t put there for me alone. I’m not even the only photographer that visits some of them. Factor in the number of people who regularly walk their dogs there, kids who want to play there, and various other visitors, then it’s clear that human interaction with these spaces is plentiful. Long may it continue. Many of them probably don’t even notice some of the more secluded spots that have disappeared. So, for a change, humans haven’t caused the destruction and nature has a wonderful way of repairing itself. I wouldn’t mind betting the process is already well under way.
There are benefits that far outweigh this photographer’s sulk. As part of the woodland life cycle, fallen trees have a very important role to play. Wood decomposition is one of woodland’s most important recycling processes and is just one part of a tree’s lifecycle. Decaying wood provides nutrients for fungi, habitat for insects and a food store for insect-eating birds. The reservoir of nutrients held by dead and decaying trees is slowly released into the woodland floor to be reused by living trees and other plants. The cycle continues and I’m grateful that the worst of the storms happened prior to nesting season.
So we start again. Time to move on, find new sites and learn to understand their potential. Hardly a chore is it !
We’ve hopefully seen the last of Winter’s storms and our thoughts can begin to turn to brighter, warmer days.
We’re rapidly approaching the Spring or vernal equinox (March 20th), an important astrological event that signifies the start of the new season. This event has long been celebrated in the northern hemisphere as a time of rebirth and is a significant component in various spring-time festivals such as Easter and Passover.
The word ‘equinox’ comes from a Latin term meaning ‘equal night’ - aequus (equal) and nox (night). On the day of the equinox, the length of day and night is exactly the same for the entire world. This happens due to the Earth’s axis being tilted around 23 degrees and gives the planet its seasons. After the event, the Earth’s axis tilts the northern hemisphere towards the sun, giving us longer and warmer days known and loved as the British summer. Umbrella anyone?
As well as being astrologically important, there are significant cultural and religious associations with the equinox. As with solstices, the events are celebrated all over the world. There is evidence to suggest that humans have been celebrating these astronomical events since the neolithic period - long before Christianity became dominant in the Western world. Witches, wizards and druids are familiar with the cultural and astronomical significance of the March equinox. Every year, crowds flock to Stonehenge, the 5,000 year old monument in Wiltshire, to watch the sun rise.
Rabbits and hares have been associated with spring since ancient times. The Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, Eostre, is thought to have had a hare as her companion, which symbolised fertility and rebirth. No surprise given their ability to breed numerous litters every year ! The legend of the Easter Bunny originated in Germany, where the ‘Easter Hare’ judged whether children had been good or bad in the run-up to Easter. Over time it has become incorporated into Christian celebrations and became popular in Britain during the 19th century.
March is also important for those of us keen on astrophotography as it sees the return of the Milky Way core to the night skies of the Northern hemisphere. The core is the centre of our galaxy and is the brightest viewable section. Easily visible with the naked eye in dark sky areas, the core is the headline act of Milky Way photography and rises in the east a couple of hours after sunset. As it tracks its way across the night sky, the core rises and becomes brighter until morning twilight.
For anyone keen on learning astrophotography, the Milky Way is a great subject to start with as its easily captured in the right conditions. Look south on a clear night with no street lighting, give your eyes thirty or so minutes to adjust and you’ll be treated to the most wonderful sight imaginable. The majority of newer smart phones are capable of capturing decent images so don’t be afraid to give it a try. Here’s a map of the dark sky areas that will give you a greater chance of success : https://gostargazing.co.uk/dark-sky-sites-across-uk/
I had my first view of the Milky Way over 40 years ago in Pembrokeshire and have eagerly awaited the core’s return this year. I’m as excited as I was that first time. Clear skies for the New Moon on April 1st would give me my first opportunity to capture night images this year and I’m hoping the predicted heatwave will provide warm nights for us antisocial stargazers. I’m aiming to add a gallery of night sky images to my website later in the year so I’m keeping everything crossed for decent weather.
Wish me luck !