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I had an invitation from distant neighbours, John and Rosamund, for a walk in Holme Wood.

Despite promises on timing, the National Trust have had to fell the larch trees in the wood becasue of tree disease, Phytophthora Ramorum

The plan was to remove them last summer, but the contractors turned up after the wettest January for years.

We walked over to see the aftermath.

Driving down the track to Maggie's Bridge car park, you can see the artistic shape of the wood, known as the Loweswater Pheasant.

The lane appears wider because the huge forestry vehicles just fitted down the lane and have scraped both sides clean.

Full marks for actually negotiating the road without major mishaps !

The walk across the meadows was no different to normal so no great pictures this time.

In practice Ramorum disease quickly affects larch woods but (apparently) can also affect oak and Rhododendron if left unchecked.

Once we were up into the woods the signs of commercial clearance were becoming very evident.

Most of the logs have been cleared

but it would appear that a number had "escaped" down the slope before they had been caught !

The upper part of the wood has been clear felled

but along with it, the work has destroyed all of the beautiful ferns and vegetation that grew along the forest track.

	- - - o o o - - - Aware that the bridge across the beck next to the waterfall may not have taken the weight of heavy machinery, the foresters have avoided using the track up to the waterfall, apart from a small section lower down when lighter vehicles could access. Consequently the area near the waterfall is still clear for visitors to walk up and admire the view. Those look like larch at the top of the slope so those may have to disappear at some point. - - - o o o - - -

A hundred yards up from the bridge, a newly created forest track allows access to the felling area.

What started as a bulldozer wide clearance has been hammered by the passage of the logging vehicles.

Great tyre tracks have dug into the forest floor.



The timber-moving vehicle climbs up once more . . .	. . . leaving a muddy trail in its wake.



To be fair, attempts have been made to level the ground once finished . . .	. . . but the flow of mud in places is overwhelming.



Small streams have been coated with silt.	The occasional settling pond tries to improve the water quality downstream.

We avoided the felling areas, obviously, but back down at the bothy you have to avoid the main track.

Still, can't resist the opportunity to get up close and personal with the equipment.

This is the Harvester that cuts and lowers the trees to the ground.

The other large vehicle is the forward control log transporter.

This eight wheel monster climbs the forest tracks and brings the cut logs down for road lorries to take them away.

- - - o o o - - - No wonder the forest has been carved to pieces given the size and brutality of this equipment. To be fair, it has to be this rugged to actually work in the woods. The only alternative would be hand felling and individual removal of each tree by horses, a good idea but very much slower. - - - o o o - - -	At the end of the working day they've cleared all the secondary equipment away into the green boxes.

Despite their efforts the water entering the lake is still cloudy with silt.

As you would expect, the dogs were "cloudy with silt" too.

The look on Dylan's face tells of the ignominy of being washed down with a cold garden hose before leaving for home !

The mechanised clearance of the trees continued till 1st March, when all the contractors suddenly left the woods.

The work had been slower than expected and would now have to continue by hand, leaving extraction till later in the year.

The hopefully they will replant with similar, colourful trees to maintain the 'pheasant' outline.

" Spout Force through the woodland "

Date & start time: 2nd March 2023.

Location of Start : Scawgill Bridge, Whinlatter, Cumbria, Uk. ( NY 177 257)

Places visited : Spout Force Waterfall.

Walk details : 3/4 miles, 100 ft of ascent, 30 mins.

Highest point : Viewing platform overlooking the falls.

Walked with : Myself and the dogs, Dylan and Dougal.

Weather : Overcast but dry.

A few days later, inspired by my visit to the woods I found myself in Lorton

so I decided to walk the dogs in Whinlatter.

The short Spout Force walk has been out of bounds while they cleared the forestry last year

Hopefully the footpath will be cleared and available once again.

Scawgill Bridge, the size of the bridge matching the size of the quarry in the adjacent fellside

I parked on the wide bend to the right of the photo.

Walking up the Aiken Beck towards the falls.

I notice that the winter storms have washed a bit more of the path into the river

but someone has strimmed back the bracken and a new line is being established.

Everything looks so different.

The flat area under the trees that people sometimes make dens or camp is now out in the open.



In the absence of a path the dogs take to the river . . .	. . . but I'm not as I know where the steps are.



The viewing platform's still there, but it's missing a handrail !	The view of the waterfall is still the same as ever.

	- - - o o o - - - The path up to the platform is a little distinct as a result of the forestry work, likewise the path on up the valley could still go through but don't take my word for it as I didn't walk it this time and haven't tried it for several years. We'll return down the valley once I pursuaded Dylan of his perch ! - - - o o o - - -

It looks strange with so many abandoned trees on what is an otherwise cleared fell side.

The fellside opposite the bridge was cleared a number of years ago

and now has a re-growth of birch trees and second generation evergreen firs.

No time to sit and enjoy the seat as I have to get the shopping put away before it spoils.

- - - o o o - - -

Four final pictures of the garden one late afternoon, as the late afternoon sun lit up the garden after a rain shower.



The crocuses are in bloom, slowly taking over from the snowdrops.	That combination of rain and sun has created a lovely rainbow.

The rainbow is also reflected nicely in the pond if you look closely.

In the water a large, new season clump of frogs spawn is held in a mat of water weeds.

Here's a question . . . what's the name of my ceramic frog (answer below) ?

- - - o o o - - -