Finding art, sanctuary and shapes within woodlands: A journey through Blidworth Woods.

Sometimes a walk in the woods is the perfect antidote to the modern world and the seamless oddities that we have been faced with both during the pandemic and of course as restrictions have been eased. Still though, it was just last week that I re-visited some woodlands that before Easter of this year (2021) I had visited and yes, an oddity did happen; it snowed! Still though this time the weather was a lot nicer, warmer and the worry of snow falling was not on my mind at all, instead I was focused on having a nice walk and capturing some trees. I say trees, but Blidworth Woods is something of a dense wood that you could easily describe as being,

“A small forest in disguise, one that has secrets throughout it and gems just waiting to be discovered at every turn.”

Ironically though the website for Blidworth Woods does say the following “Forestry England” so maybe it is a forest, maybe it is not - either way though I digress. As it would seem that Blidworth Woods is something of an intricate maze with secrets at every turn which like many woodlands and forested areas provide a plethora of interesting compositions at every turn - even when you are least expecting a composition to arise. I had arrived in the car park of Blidworth Woods, sheltered by a canopy of trees, exposed areas also exist at this point and usually a burger wagon is parked up here, providing much needed refreshments; however it was not there this time around - (but I can highly recommend one of the tempting burgers that they do and a hot chocolate).

Ahead of the car park is a path, a long straight path that is akin to a tree, with various other smaller footpaths leading off it, tempting you to explore the different areas within the woods, within this mystical setting and walking on some of those footpaths will take you to various areas of Blidworth Woods, which are just waiting to be explored. This time though I walked this long path that was ahead of me, gently sloping upwards, for it is not steep, just a gentle and easy incline to walk up with mystical woodland scenes just waiting to be photographed.

A woodland symphony. 

A passage to middle earth.

A fallen tree leads on.

Delights everywhere for the long path from the car park, is one that most people avoid as they opt to explore the other parts of Blidworth Woods, but here I was walking up what seemed to be a never ending path of photogenic discoveries.

Eventually I thought I had reached the top of this gentle sloping incline and walking for a short distance it felt like I had, somehow with the path and the trees on either side a slice of paradise was found, the sheer size of those trees along with the textures and the colours was a sight that was beautiful, for this was nature providing just a little bit of artwork and that in it’s own rights is something amazing.

“Amazing isn’t it what nature can do? How often we ignore it, yet it really is the greatest example of art that we do not appreciate when really we should do. We should appreciate trees and woodlands, the shapes, the sizes of the trees and the amazing symphony the offer to us - best of all it is all free.”

Exploration of woodlands.

Looking back or looking forwards.

Woodland maze.

A track through a mystery.

The avenue of height.

Then after I had captured those photographs from the top of the main spinal path leading from the car park of Blidworth Woods, another discovery happened - “what goes up must come down” and sure enough the path that I was walking on slowly and gently began to go back down, another gentle incline and one that ended up in what appeared to be a small but perfectly formed hidden valley, a small one; but one which I had previously walked through on a crisscross path before Easter when it had snowed, by now I knew where I was, but the path I was on went straight on, and I just had to keep walking this part of the un-explored pathway through the woods.

Now in front of me a gentle incline, another one this time shorter and I keep walking up, more photogenic discoveries can be seen and they tempt me with the following photograph looking into the woods.

Define art?

Looking ahead in the woods.

The growth of trees.

Is this Endor?

For now which way?

A short while later and I reach the top of this short but delightful incline and now is another question, right or left? In the end, left it is and this time the greens look lush -- gone are the tall pines and other forest like trees, for this is woodland with interesting shapes and textures around that exist like a musical piece of theatre all in harmony with each other, all with different chords, keys that provide a symphonic piece of music within the mind.

Carrying on walking through these shades of green, the shapes changed, the trees changed and down another incline I walked down; this time it was slightly steeper but non the less the shapes began to change, for this was artwork and sanctuary right before my eyes a tree that was shaped like one of those Japanese fans, used to cool yourself down appeared to the right of me and I just had to capture it.

The shapes of simplicity.

A woodland pattern.

But that was not all, the delights where not over yet, the sun was just on the cusp of setting and the woodlands felt alive, for people who had been working where also enjoying the delights of the forest air, exploring it, walking, running, cycling in this area of magical surroundings that was something like a forest moon from a certain science fiction franchise - Endor, anyone?

Now I was on the approach back to where I had started from, a completely different route that I had walked this time, compared to when I was at Blidworth Woods, in April; just before Easter. But did it matter that I was walking on new grounds? No it did not as there was one final surprise and that was the light which just seeped through the trees, the rays of sun made for a final artistic display amongst these living pieces of art.

A woodland landing.

Avenue of light.

The orange glow.

Orbs of the woodlands

Amazing really that artwork is often thought as being a painting by one of the great classics, it really is not - art can be anything and it exists all around us at any given time, how it is perceived well that is up to the human mind creating a utopia, and for me a walk through the woods was utopia, seeing the nature and natural world providing me and others with this glorious artwork that is free, best of all without this natural art of trees then society would not exist, remember Trees do give us oxygen and contribute to human life as we know it, but the saddest thing is that we end up chopping them down for pointless political transportation projects that will have zero contributions to us as we know it…. HS2, yes excellent at destroying these beautiful pieces of natural art that we often forget - but perhaps now is the time we start caring about the world around us instead of trying to destroy it - perhaps if we did that the world would and could become a better place.

Yet somehow on this walk I found art, sanctuary and shapes within this small but perfectly formed woodland, often we ignore what is around us when walking, but if we slowed down and appreciated what was around us, we would eventually realize that as a society so much can be had for free, without the needs to spend and it is those simple things like a walk through the woodlands which is better than anything that can be purchased within this age of capitalism. Now is the time as we exit from the cycle of lockdown and the pandemic to really take a look at life and make our own little piece of utopia. For I have found mine and that is one of the best feelings ever, the simple things in life which are free and never taking life for granted.

In search of bluebells, for they are slightly late this year!

“If one year is full of sun and warmth, the year after it will be one that brings a mixed bag with it of contrasts.”

For that sentiment is true, last year things were slightly tropical and the warmth was on our side. 2020 was a stark contrast meteorologically compared to 2021 - although last year the natural carpet that nature provides for us was already out, this year however it has turned up rather late. Yes I am talking about one of the prettiest sights of all, a signal that summer is just around the corner and perhaps this could be one of the most photogenic scenes you could ever wish to capture as a photographer and they are Bluebells, one of the nations most loved plants with a magical dreamlike colour that has inspired many over the years.

However this year they are slightly late and that of course is down to the rather strange weather that we have been having. Remember that snow in April? And on the note of odd weather, snow has fallen in Scotland this month, barmy or what? Either way a walk that I was on last week provided me with some interesting scenes and whilst last year I had captured the following,

Escaping with the Bluebells - a photo that I took last April (2020), of a magical display of colour within the woodland at Shipley Park. This year however (2021) The Bluebells are late.

And here I was, back at the same country park (Shipley Park), where last year (April) of 2020 I had captured nature and her natural carpet, this year though things have been different and in my mind was the following,

“Will there be any of these delightful enigmatic flowers to capture in their raw beauty”

For I had arrived and started the walk from Mapperley Reservoir - a quaint and peaceful body of water that is soothing and calming, thus provides the hiker or the walker with an ever changing view and the angler with a plentiful stock of fish and a charm of quietness, but I was not here for the water, I was here for the Bluebells and a short walk up Shipley Lane, a gentle incline lead me to the woods where hopefully I would surely find this carpet from mother nature that would greet me. At first glance my heart sort of sank, “where are the bluebells?” Surely by now the woods should have been covered with them; but that soon changed.

The carpet of nature.

Whilst I was expecting a whole carpet of Bluebells, at Shipley Park, they were scattered around in various spots, which made things a little more interesting. But, that did not matter as I was amongst the most delightful woodland, one that offered many other photographic opportunities as well for the eye and the lens. Somehow throughout the various lockdown(s) that have occurred here within the UK, I have come to really appreciate walks in the woodland and they offer more than just a place to escape from the world - they offer sanctuary and art.

So often when walking through a woodland it seems like we forget things, at the moment art galleries remain closed because of the pandemic; but in reality we do not need to visit an art gallery for art, just walking around Shipley Park, on the Bluebell search I noticed a lot of art, right in front of my eyes and whilst it might not have been a painting by one of the greats - this art was instead free to enjoy and created by nature. Shapes, patterns and light conditions all made up for the symphonic explosion of textures and patterns that I encountered. Having photographed the first 2021 photo of the Bluebells I just had to continue this magical walk and had to take in the various artworks that nature had provided for me in an eloquent way.

But amongst the eloquent way I discovered more shapes and more textures, colours that screamed out “this is all part of a changing landscape, a picture show or a cinema show, eventually though you will find more bluebells, but that will be a surprise.” Just walking around the woodlands at the top of Shipley Park, I was taken away at how pretty it was, even though in the autumn it looked pretty, but now somehow the air seemed so alive and a little fresher.

Woodland dance amongst the Bluebells. 

The stump of nature - (Colour).

The stump of nature - (Black and White).

Down to the gate.

The perfect frame,

Sitting in the frame,

Within the moments.

Art in nature - (colour).

Art in nature - (Black and White).

Surviving in green surroundings.

Down the spring avenue.

What is interesting is how the woodland provides art for us, and the shapes within the trees are like living sculptures, always changing with the seasons and always providing something different each time we visit them (or any other landscape location), I suppose that nature is one big tapestry and each brushstroke is represented through shapes, textures, flowers and wildlife.

Then another opportunity to get closer to the Bluebells, for I had found some more of these delightful flowers!

Hello from a Bluebell - (Colour).

The enchanted floor.

A blue burst - (Colour).

Hello from a Bluebell - (Colour and Black and White).

A blue burst - (Colour and Black and White).

It is just the colour and the intricacy of them that I love, magical, mystical and if you get things right they are just asking to be photographed; whilst the Bluebells this year might be late, for my searching for them paid off in the end, all it needed was a bit of patience and time, a time to walk and explore the surroundings that they grow in, do that in a woodland where at first glance there are not many Bluebells and you are sure to eventually find them hiding, playing hide and seek with humans. 

I was made up, for I had managed to capture the first Bluebells of 2021, late they may be but they did not disappoint. Neither did the next thing, the weather had started to change and dark clouds meant I had to go down to the shore of Mapperley Reservoir and it is here that I managed to capture the following dramatic skies.

Blue serene.

Mapperley moods.

Looking back on my “search for Bluebells” I realized that the Bluebells remained a small part of what I had primarily set out to photograph, instead I was walking through the largest art gallery within existence, and best of all it did not cost a thing, but that in itself is one of the best things about exploration and landscape photography, you get to discover a world of art as provided by nature every time you open the front door, for that is the wider world and one that we should all cherish. Instead of destroying it for HS2 and ruining the world we live in, we should take more care of it, for it provides us with art, sanctuary and a place to gather our thoughts whilst we escape from a world governed by doom mongering scientists. But things are starting to get better and whilst things have been strange this past year with the pandemic, I for one am looking forward to seeing what is on the other side. A chance to explore more. I’ll take that for sure!

It felt like it was another planet: Exploring Robin Hood's Stride.

Rock formations and boulders can be some of the most interesting things to photograph and they can also be challenging to capture as well, working with leading lines in order to frame a composition and the landscapes in which rock formations can be found within can also be quite magical as well. Last week though I decided to take up the opportunity and try to find a rock formation that I had heard about but never visited and of course this particular rock formation is located within the peak district - the chances are is that many people visiting the peak district have probably not heard of this place either, and those who have, know of it’s sheer beauty and mystery almost existing in the middle of nowhere and creating a loud and bold symphonic statement within the mind when you first see it.

Yes I'm on about the impressive rock formations of “Robin Hood’s Stride” which is perhaps one of the most unique and interesting places that I have photographed in a long time. Feeling inspired from what I had read and seen about Robin Hood’s Stride - I just knew it was somewhere that would challenge my photographic abilities and I was not wrong, for a start it is located in a rather hidden spot of the peak district; between Winster and Bakewell, just off the B5056. It really is one of those blink and you miss it places which is quite sad as it is literally an Aladdin's cave of exploration along with photographic opportunities and something that is of an evocative and thought provoking place to explore; is sanctuary a good place to describe it as? Perhaps as it is one of those places that during the photography I pondered and gathered my thoughts on the world along with the pandemic that we are all living through at the moment. Either way though when I arrived at Robin Hood’s Stride after a magical walk up a very long driveway and forked left and followed the ironically named “Limestone Way” I caught the first glimpse of this magical rock formation in front of me. 

Dark is the colour of stone in which Robin Hood’s Stride is formed from because the rocks that make up this impressive natural structure is millstone grit, yet the ironic part is that it happens to be in an area surrounded by limestone, hence the above and the limestone way. I digress though because after I had walked along a rather narrow but well trodden path, with brambles lying about on the floor I had arrived in a location that was magical, mysterious and a landscape that would have not looked out of place within a lord of the rings film. For the woodlands at the base of Robin Hood’s Stride might be small and perfectly formed but just walking through them is like being in a fantasy film almost akin to middle earth.

The base - (Colour).

The base - (Black and White).

Hobbits around here in quiet harmony.

Targeting the sky. 

It is perhaps the textures within the woods at the lower foot of this magnificent rock formations that make it like middle earth - with moss clinging to millstone grit rocks and an almost eerie atmosphere that can be found at the bottom; it is like the dampness remains even if it is spring so somehow the mind gets enveloped into thinking that it is still autumn. Still though the woodlands at the bottom of Robin Hood’s Stride with the lower sections of rocks are just the first thought provoking and magical settings that you get too. I explored these woodlands, small but perfectly formed and began to lose myself within what felt like a film site, for this felt like,

“It was another planet. Here I am exploring woodlands, I walk further on and exit the small but perfectly formed woodlands and here in front of me are giant slabs of rock, millstone grit with markings on them from yester-years climbers who had been using these slabs of rock as a playground to climb on, I turn around and behind me is the first view I get of Robin Hood’s Stride and it is a cross between an alien ship which has landed or a sleeping giant - either way though it is a playground for explorers and rock climbers alike, not to mention photographers and those people who are wanting to seek out something new and unique. Perhaps it has got a slightly spiritual connection running through it? Either way it is purely magical to see a contrast between woodland, trees, rocks and the landscape”

Exiting the woodlands and I had finally approached slabs of rock, like stranded ships or vessels which had once sailed the hypothetical seas that might have existed here at one time and come to a rather abrupt end - for now these old slabs of rocks provide entertainment for people who use them as climbing frames; at the end of the day a “national park” provides an outdoor sanctuary for many and a place like Robin Hood’s Stride is a perfect example of nature creating something which is similar in many ways to a climbing frame. The only difference here is that the rocks are what people climb. From the smallest and easiest of rock faces to the more vertical rocks that are around it really provides a challenge for the most experienced of climbers to absolute beginners.

The lookout. 

But I was here for the photography!

Now just across the way from Robin Hood’s Stride is an area of rock called “Cratcliffe” another rock climbers paradise, that again also lends itself to photography. Just a stone’s throw away (pardoning the pun) is the mysterious “Nine Stones Close, Stone Circle” although when it comes to the number of stones within this stone circle it is actually just four. Naming conventions eh? After taking those photographs that overlooked the surrounding area I knew I had to turn around and see for myself the elusive and mysterious rock formation that makes up the stride, that stride being, Robin Hood’s Stride.

Whilst I had hoped for the day in which I had visited to be slightly warm, it was anything but, instead it was rather cool and grey, which for the end of April/Early May was something of a disappointment - but did this actually matter? Well no it did not as it added a drama to the photographs that I was capturing. I had decided to place the tripod in a low position and framed up a composition of Robin Hood’s Stride, the grey skies behind made for an interesting and slightly dystopian look and I let my camera run for four minutes, needless to say I was completely blown away with the end results.

Landed spaceship.

A spaceship has landed. 

“Dramatic would be an understatement, the rocky outline of Robin Hood’s Stride is akin to that of a castle or a spaceship from something out of either Star Wars, Star Trek or Battlestar Galactica - for sleek lines do not exist, industrial is what it looks like”

I was amazed and I just had to explore more of this incredibly interesting place, the land in which it is located on provides some interesting scenes to photograph and I moved on, I approached the base of Robin Hood’s Stride and looked up at a tree, that was growing; it took me a bit of time to compose these following images, but drama here is something else - for this was pure natural theatre seeing how this tree could cling and grow - thus survive on this rocky millstone grit outcrop.

After photographing the rather haunting looking tree, I looked over in the direction of Youlgreave and at the base of the stride are rocks of all shapes and sizes, which provide interesting subjects, a small but perfectly formed woodland provides an interesting backdrop against these rocks and I knew that this would make for some interesting and thought provoking photographs, it was the way the ancient rocks co-existed with the woodlands and landscape surrounding this truly stunning part of the world

Woodland glow - (colour).

Woodland glow - (Black and White).

A tree clings on. 

Aliens and Rocks

Woodland, Trees clinging from rocks and boulders I knew I had to explore more, but this time a path which would lead away from the stride and this path would eventually lead onwards to The Nine Stone’s, Stone Circle, of course though walking slowly away from Robin Hood’s Stride I was aware that this rocky outcrop was still behind me, looking over me as I walked to the stone circle; towering over my back and shoulder - I stopped and the skies magical, by now the grey skies had gone and it was akin to looking back at a battleship, huge and slightly daunting. Either way the delights of the stone circle were a few fields away.

And life stood still - (Colour). 

And life stood still - (Black and White). 

The frame.

Between the rocks is life.

Scattered in time.

So it is only a short distance away is the stone circle, and from Robin Hood’s Stride you can actually see the Nine Stone’s, Stone Circle - a five minute walk later and I had arrived; okay so as I mentioned above, there are only four stones within this stone circle; but either way the view from here looking back with towards the outcrop of Robin Hood’s Stride is equally impressive and is one of contrasts. One minute you are amongst millstone grit rocks with impressive woodlands that feels like it is another planet or something from Lord of The Rings, the next you are in the green fields of the peak district countryside wondering; just how exactly did people manage thousands of years ago to construct a stone circle? Compare the construction of modern buildings now, in an age of consumerism and a throw away society that are designed to “fail and go faulty” these ancient standing stones that form this perfectly small stone circle are still standing thousands of years after they were built and that is amazing in it’s own right.

Still though the Nine Stone’s, Stone Circle is quite extraordinary; the location a field and a lone tree hangs over them providing an element of shelter and in some way protecting them from the elements, but it is also challenging to capture a stone circle, close by to Nine Stone’s, Stone Circle is “Stanton Moor” home to the Nine Ladies, Stone Circle and trying to capture the Nine Ladies is slightly more difficult than the incredibly picturesque quality of the Nine Stone’s, for it is almost as if this small but perfectly formed stone circle had been built and constructed knowing that thousands of years ago, photographers would want to capture them.

In warp over the ancients.

Ancients and mysteries.

A stone dance - (Black and White).

A stone dance - (Colour).

Rocks on the horizon.

Magical is the stone circle and again the way in which it is lined up with the imposing outcrop of Robin Hood’s Stride, does beg the question - was it built there for ancient religious purposes or ritual? Perhaps even it was constructed as a navigational beacon; I guess I shall never know nor will anyone else apart from maybe a geologist or a local historian. Either way we can only ponder on why the stone circle was constructed and located where it stands.

Now though it was time for the walk back, and this involved a gentle downhill walk, past the stride and down a rocky but glorious picturesque path, in front of me the outcrop grew in size and I had to say a final goodbye to it.

A giant watches on.

The watchful eye of the rocks.

The sleeping giant.

For the path now was downhill, until I got to a bench that I had passed, a few hours before, when I had arrived at Robin Hood’s Stride. It is dedicated to someone who lived in the farm house, situated at the bottom of Cratcliffe, now I suspect another family lives there, and when you walk the limestone way - you pass this fantastic and hidden property. Part of the limestone way is actually the driveway to the house, and walking towards Robin Hood’s Stride you end up gradually climbing up this driveway before forking left and walking towards the stride, either way that bench does provide a fantastic place to stop and admire the views, as I did on the way back from Robin Hood’s Stride and the stone circle.

Sit and have a minute - (Colour).

Sit and have a minute - (Black and White).

Up or Down the Drive?

I am pretty sure that many a person who has sat on that bench has done for quite a while and pondered on life and the world, thus admired the views and I really can not fault them; for I did as well. Different is how I would describe Robin Hood’s Stride and it’s neighbour, the Nine Stone’s, Stone Circle - but it is also a place that might be hidden from prying eyes, yet despite it being out the way from prying eyes it is one of those places that when you do discover it makes you want to return and that is one of the best things. Yes it might be spring but I can not wait to go back in the Autumn and capture some truly magical colorful scenes of Robin Hood’s Stride with the autumnal glow later this year. Sheer magic is what this place really is and it is a peak district gem.