The quiet wood

Despite living in West Sussex for six and a half years, I am still discovering areas of woodland within a 15 minute walk of our house.

This is my most recent ‘find’. I think it may have been deliberately planted as an array of trees (in the UK we call it a plantation). Out to the left is a an area of housing, built around 25 years ago; and out of sight on the right is a main road. The trees form a boundary line. Yes, there is noise from the main road, but the strange thing is that after a minute or two of walking in this area of woodland, I find that the noise ceases to intrude, and I become oblivious of it.

Over time, woodland often becomes overgrown as trees compete for the light and consequently they are dark and moody places. In this wood there has been discrete tree felling – the ground is littered with wood chippings; and there is space and light which to my mind makes it feel very special.

I took a series of images and this is the first one that I have processed. I will be returning through the seasons

Advertisement