“They’ll All Disappear Quickly Into The Woodland”

After dropping off our menu choices at Karen and Barry’s home in Pennington on this cool morning of clear blue skies and bright sunshine we continued for a forest drive.

Along Wilverley Road we stopped beside Setthorn’s campsite where

a sylvan sprite had forged a heart in the trunk of a woodland oak.

Immediately opposite a trampled track down which I trod led to Longslade Bottom, populated by ponies and dog walkers.

Jackie photographed me in action.

In addition to fallen oak leaves the sward was littered with spiky chestnut cases evidencing the industry of squirrels dragging their fodder from trees some distance away.

As we drove slowly along Bisterne Close ponies seemed to be gathering from various locations to their usual meeting place. They didn’t stay long because as Jackie said while I leisurely collected up my equipment to disembark “They’ll all disappear quickly into the woodland”. That is exactly what they did, so I trudged after them.

One group I traced to a holly hedge behind a wire netting fence. Suddenly neighing and stamping of hooves was followed by three animals thudding down the bank in disarray. Naturally I made myself scarce. To my relief the two who had been seen off by a rival claimant to the hedge were more interested in returning to their lunch than in making any further escape.

This evening we dined on oven fish and chips and baked beans with which we both drank Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2021.

66 comments

  1. I read very quickly today as my to-do list is measurable. I enjoy your outdoor photos most of all.
    It is unseasonably warm here in the midwest US, so we have almost as much autumn colour left as you have.

  2. Nice action shots of the ponies’ kerfuffle. And the sylvan sprite marked woodland oak has an arm that puts one in mind of the Saguaro Cacti of the Sonoran Desert. Fascinating tree with a silent history…

  3. What a wild and wonderful place you live, where there’s always something new to see in the natural world, like sylvan sprite heart art and chestnuts! A beautifully enchanting post, Derrick!

  4. A heart on that tree! <3 Aw! 🙂 Good to see people and doggies out and about. Lovely photo of The Great Photographer by The Also-GREAT Photographer! 😉 🙂 Glad you followed the ponies and got some beautiful photos…but, glad you didn't get caught up in their dramatics! 🙂
    (((HUGS))) 🙂

  5. Your photo of the Oak tree tickled my curiosity Derrick … “a sylvan sprite had forged a heart in the trunk of a woodland oak.”

  6. I enjoy the peaceful scenes of people walking in such a lovely environment with their dogs. There appears to be space for everyone, including the dogs and the ponies.

  7. I particularly like photo of the oak leaf and the one of the silhouette of the horse with the white light behind him.

  8. The strategy of making yourself scarce from the expected range of stampede is a very sensible one. Once again, Jackie has added an excellent image of the avid shooter.

  9. The open fields reminded me of your links style golf courses. Are the ponies ever threatening to people? Fish n chips always sounds good. Nice post, Derrick.

  10. Fascinating photos especially the tree heart. It’s interesting to see the terrain in the forest. I imagine one must be careful while walking.

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