A walk through Thieves Wood: The trees vs machines.

Arriving at the car park at Thieves Wood, a stretch of woodland sandwiched between Newstead Abbey and Mansfield - I got the feeling that “changes might be in the air” as Thieves Wood is a place that I had not visited in many years. I did have have memories of this wood being sort of,

“Rough and ready around the outside, it is a woodland which if you have an hour is the perfect place to escape within.”

Perhaps though the most stand out memory of Thieves Wood that I have is of a refreshment wagon that used to be within the car park, that sold burgers, sausages, bacon cobs and tea along with coffee; seemingly though things do come to an end and the refreshment wagon no longer visits, silent almost it felt like but that did not matter as I was here rather unexpectedly and here to relive old memories that I had of this woodland. It is worth saying that reputedly the wood and trees in Thieves Wood, was used in the construction of Nottingham Castle.

Now though it was time to re-explore a woodland that many years ago I was familiar with, but now was that familiarity gone? Seemingly, the familiarity had gone and I was astounded to see destruction, not deliberate destruction but somehow it seemed slightly apocalyptic and dystopian, almost as if machine’s from the future had traipsed the floor, the track and tire imprints were everywhere, but then I noticed something - little and large, a small tree growing in an area surrounded by the taller trees and this was rather magical, but what else would be ahead of me? I had already seen tracks from machine’s - but was any beauty waiting in these woods, I just had to continue the walk.

Little vs Large.

Ahead of me the path which I had walked on when I was younger, now it looked different yet it still had a sense of familiarity about it, from when I used to walk through these woodlands, the back of my mind however had memories within it from years ago and I could visualize what these woods used to be like.

It takes you on a discovery.

Continuing down the path the shapes of the trees continued to change; for here formality really does not exist, instead what exists is a very informal set of trees, growing and co-existing together intertwined in something which if it existed as a painting would look like “Guernica” by Pablo Picasso.

The random of the woodland.

But did it really matter that the trees seemed slightly surreal with no conformality, instead only informality existing? Not it did not, instead it made it feel that more real, for this is a working woodland as well so things are going to be different. A little pause and to the left of me a stream, the trees looked so lush and green; another oasis in the middle of this apocalyptic and dystopian like woodland landscape that I was now surrounded in.

An oasis amongst chaos.

Next I was on a path that I remembered from years ago, a certain sense of magic in front of me and memories came flooding back - in front of me now a tree like a Japanese fan appeared and this was just another woodland curiosity or artwork that was living, breathing in this gallery of outdoor chaos.

Woodland curiosities - (Black and White).

Woodland curiosities - (Colour).

Soon though the chaos gave way to “curiosities” on the ground within this woodland and those curiosities were made of wood, branches and pieces of felled trees that had been repurposed and given a new lease of life; now they provided intricately built shelters, some even being “non confirmative” was this the workings of the tree fellers between tree chopping I wondered?

The waiting room - (Black and White).

The waiting room - (Colour).

Hidden in sight.

Not forgetting that this woodland was a working woodland, I continued and so did the delights; a pile of logs acted as a reminder that whilst this woodland can be enjoyed by many, it is still one that you have to keep a watchful eye on because of heavy machines that might be carrying out heavy work as you are walking along.

Contrasts of what can become.

When trees are chopped - (Black and White).

When trees are chopped - (Colour).

“But in a working woodland, surprises are found everywhere. The relationship between machines, forestry equipment and the natural landscape have blended together creating something that could be alien almost, for beauty is in the eye of the beholder here.”

The surprises continued. A short distance from those logs were the scars of forestry and a pathway leading through the woodland seems alien like, what happens if you walk down that pathway where machines once drove? Where would you end up? More questions left unanswered.

Mysteries ahead - (Black and White).

Mysteries ahead - (Colour).

Where does it go to? - (Black and White).

Where does it go to? - (Colour).

Then a clearing came, it was here that I saw the deforestation of these woodlands, in front of me like some apocalyptic scene, almost like something had gone Nuclear, it had not though, for these were the scars left over from the recent felling of the trees. Did it look “Ethical” no it did not, but nevertheless it was happening.

Around the corner is apocalypse.

The apocalypse amongst growth.

A little bit further on against the backdrop of the survivors (trees that had not been felled, chopped down or shaped by forestry equipment were the new saplings, an area that had previously been chopped, now was recovering, but those saplings did not know what would happen to them in years to come. They were the next generation waiting to be chopped down by people.

New growth.

Walking along a path churned up by machine gave a haunting photo opportunity and I just had to stop for a moment and capture it, it looked ugly, but at the same time it looked like a strange piece of artwork somehow, but what is art though? Anything at all really is classed as art, we are limited only by perspectives.

Hauntings of machine.

“The path of machine” lead me eventually to another artistic delight, a tree by the side of the path/track that the forestry machines and equipment had used, however this tree was just a short distance away from where those machines drove - yet this one had not been chopped down, instead it existed in a no man's land between the working woods section of Thieves Wood and between an area of woodland of no commercial value, for this was a tree that was not in for the chop, either way it looked truly mesmerizing and slightly dystopian.

Delights amongst dystopia - (Colour).

Delights amongst dystopia - (Black and White).

Now the walk progressed, away from the woodland and now I was walking through an alien world, one that was both post apocalyptic and eerie, with dystopia - here the clearings visible from where machines had been at work. Instead saplings grew where the taller pines had been chopped down, and the taller trees awaiting,

“The taller trees of the area, which had been planted years ago, waiting in line, regimented like soldiers, for they will be the next ones to fall down.”

It was a strange sight, clearings but on either side of the clearings, regimented trees growing that slowly but shortly awaited their fate later on, unknowingly as well.

Alone amongst machines - (Colour).

Alone amongst machines - (Black and White).

Surrounded by conforming trees.

After passing through that area of regimentation and regimented trees that awaited fate, the path lead back down an incline, now I was on the level and a path in front of me calved through the older and taller trees, for these trees existed in a bubble close to the fringes of the industrial scars, yet somehow they remained unaware of what had been happening close by where the chopping process took place.

Avenue of height.

I continued, for now was the last part of the walk I was on, it had been a walk of “many surprises” and a walk of discoveries as well, but one last surprise, a tree that had been shaped by nature and I was curious about the raw beauty of it.

Artwork of growth - (Colour).

Artwork of growth - (Black and White).

Lush and green is what that tree was, un-touched but raw and beautiful existing in a woodland that held many secrets and surprises. But Thieves Wood though is an area of woodland that is a working wood, and the working environment of machines just adds to the landscape, which is strange really upon reflection as anyone else would probably think that it is quite ugly. It more than likely is quite ugly, but standing side by side are the trees vs the machines, and there is no losers, here it is only the winners and the trees and machines are the winners in a strange way as they have made this woodland what they are today, thought provoking is what this woodland is, but somehow let down by the detritus of plastic bags at the car park, I mean come on Forestry England, it would not cost much to put at least one plastic bag at the car park would it?

But here lies the question - can somewhere natural with trees, a woodland which is a working wood be a place of beauty? Yes I think it can and that is because the working part of the woodland adds a certain kind of mystery and another level of interest to an already interesting landscape, but this woodland I will not be visiting for a while, but when I return though what things in the future will have changed? Who knows and that is the great thing about mystery.

Sometimes all you need is a slice of simplicity and a Heron.

Simplicity? What exactly is that other than just a part of utopia that I have found during lockdown, but it was last Thursday when I decided to revisit a location that I had not been to in quite some time. Located on the site of an old colliery - just outside of Nottingham is the aptly named “Colliers Wood” which is a green oasis shadowed on one side by “new industrial” buildings that to some way dominate a small section of the western skyline. However though this small but perfectly formed green oasis is one of those places that is truly a gem and whilst it is easy to walk around on marked well constructed paths it is also a place where the smaller and simpler things often go unnoticed - slow down though and it is not hard to come across interesting photogenic things here, wildlife, landscapes and the various flowers makes it truly delightful to capture some interesting things.

I was originally not going to take the tripod for me this time around and try to shoot handheld photography, although that soon changed when I decided,

“Maybe it would be a good idea to take the tripod, I never know something interesting to photograph might be hiding amongst this oasis of green and the tripod will more than likely help me to achieve the shot.”

Needless to say I am quite pleased that I did manage to take the trusty tripod with me. One of the interesting things about Colliers Wood, is the many surprises it contains, even when you least expect a surprise, one is right in front of you - arriving at Colliers Wood, it was time to go through the gate, the metal clunk could be heard shortly after walking through the gate and I walked towards the main lake; along a pathway which lead me to a small section of what could be best described as a very small section of lakeside beach; okay so maybe it is not a beach but the water in front of me had some gentle ripples on it, I got the tripod out and captured the following two photographs,

Floating Island - (Black and White).

Floating Island - (Colour).

After capturing those two photographs it was now onwards and upwards, but I had just had to pause yet again, I turned around and the view over the lake with the big skies was just something else to behold, again the sheer simplicity of this scene was akin to pure magic.

Lakeside Simplicity.

Then something that I had seen when I had arrived but did not capture because of the angles and the position, this time I was closer to it, and that was a Heron, not wanting to disturb it, I set up the tripod, mounted the camera and waited for the perfect moment.

The waiting game.

Needless to say that I was more than happy with the end result, this majestic bird standing on a post overlooking the lake at Colliers Wood, deciding on what was for its late afternoon dinner, a fish perhaps or something else? Majestically stood this Heron was something else to see and to capture it needed patience, but in the end it did pay off. But sometimes in life all you need is simplicity and a Heron within life and that is all that matters. The simplicity of the skies, the weather and the unexpected are the finer things in life that maybe we should all cherish as we ease from lockdown and find ourselves living in this strange new normal.

Surprise views everywhere, exploring the landscapes of Edale and the moorlands above Hathersage.

Edale is one of those places that could be described as “being remote and cut off from the rest of the world” and whilst in theory that is more than likely true - in reality it is anything but, for a start it is connected to both Manchester (in the west) and Sheffield (in the east) by railway and the rest of the stations throughout the neighboring hope valley; but somehow within the mind an element of remoteness and solitary confinement from being in the wider world creeps in and you suddenly feel a million miles away from the busy rushing outside world as it goes by; time really does stand still in Edale and a sense of old tradition is what can be felt as you explore this magnificent scenic valley; flanked on all sides by great big hills creating a drama like no other.

I had previously been to Edale in December of 2020, after Christmas and before New Year in the space that is known as merrineum (twixmas) with the hope of capturing some winter scenes, however that was not to be as cloud cover and fog hung over the valley resulting in something that could only be described as,

“Being in a large expanse of pea soup”

Fast forward to a number of months and another trip to Edale was back on the cards! And yesterday the 14th of May 2021 was a day in which I just had to revisit this fantastic gem within the peak district, thankfully I was hopeful that I would end up capturing the sheer beauty of this stunning and mystical horseshoe shaped valley flanked by Kinder Scout in the distance and with the shadow of Mam Tor, behind me - whilst I had been hoping for some decent spring skies, they were not there, instead the skies full of cloud, grey and slightly gloomy, but that did not really matter at all as it added to the drama of Edale down below. Parking in one of the laybys at the side of the road down from Mam Tor, into Edale I just had to capture the raw beauty of the valley down below, the road it twists and turns as it makes its way from steps at “mam nick” where you can if you feel inclined take the gentle walk to the top of Mam Tor. Although this twisting turning road down from mam nick to the lower parts of Edale is one of many curiosities especially when you take the time and see what vehicles drive up and down this dramatic stretch of road.

I managed to set my camera up, and captured these stunning scenes of one of the most glorious of all the peak district valleys/dales in front of me.

A road in time - (Black and White).

A road in time - (Colour).

Cloud symphony - (Black and White).

Cloud symphony - (Colour).

Towards the end of Edale - (Colour).

Towards the end of Edale - (Black and White).

Downhill bliss.

Gap in the dale - (Colour).

Gap in the dale - (Black and White).

I have a strange affection and affinity for Edale, and it is one of those places that is just so calming, away from the rest of the world - even though ironically it is only a short train ride away from Manchester and Sheffield.

Not that it matters as there is always something different to see whenever you visit this majestic place and hear the music of nature and machines co-existing in one place. Now though it was time to head out of Edale and to a location above the pretty and picturesque town of Hathersage.

Hathersage is a town of the outdoors and a plethora of outdoor shops and independent retailers provide the visitor with exploration points between walking, or just before they set off on an adventure, but I was heading up to the moorlands, along a road that could have been plucked from Switzerland and placed within the peak district. The twists and turns of the A617 (Sheffield Road) take you out of Hathersage and onto the glorious moorlands where yet again the landscapes change, gone is the serenity of Edale, now it is all about drama, rocks and trees, though this time it was different. The car park at Surprise view is where I eventually ended up, and something is immediately noticeable, the trees, the moorlands and rocks all intertwine with each other in a magical symphonic way.

A woodland gives way.

Keen to explore I set off, a pathway in front of me winds its way through a clearing between the silver birch trees, to what looks as if it really could be “the edge of the world” and it is not, this here is millstones edge, vertical rocks overlooking Hathersage and Grindleford along with the rest of the Derwent valley. Now a hill was in front of me and I had to climb it and when I was at the top, I had to capture the stunning view overlooking Hathersage below me.

Hathersage lookout.

The photo above was one that I had to get possibly “a little too close to the edge” for in order to capture - but then after capturing that photograph some climbers had appeared, for they had chosen the more direct route up millstones edge - me I preferred the walk up the delightful path with views up the hope valley and down towards the Derwent valley.

Upon leaving the edge behind me, it was back to the path and it was when I got to the top of the path when things started to get more interesting.

“The woodlands of the silver birch behind me and a sense of accomplishment having walked up a delightfully rocky path that prompts the walker to problem solve as they walk to the top - to the left the hope valley and to the right are rocks of all shapes and sizes - jutting out like an explosion has occurred, a giant sculpture of millstone grit, and all the time my objective the aptly named mother cap and this is what I intend to capture.”

It was at the top of the path when I decided to take a right turn and head towards these rocks.

The crash site.

Dramatic are these particular rocks, an outcrop that provide a challenge and whilst I could have taken the long route I knew that a scramble was in order, before that a pause for thought and a look back at the vista in front of me, the rocks behind me in this semi almost Amphitheatre like area that I had now found myself within. The place where I had paused was on a slab of virtually flat millstone grit, but in my mind the scramble to the top of these rocks was there. After pondering on life and listening to a cuckoo calling (yes I did see the cuckoo as well) it was time for the scramble. Three minutes later and I was at the top, a sense of accomplishment had come over me so I decided to photograph where I had scrambled up.

The scramble routes of rocks.

Behind me was where I had scrambled, to the left of me the rock formations jutting out of the moorland, like sculptures that had been placed there for people to enjoy and use as a natural climbing frame - still though they are a natural climbing frame for many people, why climb something? Because it is there, is usually the answer you will get from anyone who enjoys climbing and exploring rocks. To the right of me in plain sight the footpath leading down to the mother cap. But instead of choosing to walk immediately down towards the mother cap I had to take the photographs of these rocks against a rather dramatic sky; I had hoped that the lighting conditions would have been slightly better but they were not; either way the grey skies did add to the drama of the rock formations - and within the photographs, a couple stood on top of this dramatic rock formation looking at the views.

Taking flight.

Humanity explores a crashed vessel.

The art amongst rocks.

An alien in wait - (portrait).

An alien in wait - (landscape).

The lookout point.

“Mother Cap” is a millstone grit boulder, another excuse of a giant naturally occurring climbing frame and you can see the scribes that over the years many climbers have carved out of this impressive millstone granite rock and from where I had taken the pictures of the rock formations I turned around and got these following two pictures looking towards Mother Cap. Somehow the millstone grit adds drama in the most unexpected of places, artwork in the landscape and the best thing is that it is free to enjoy.

Now the path lay ahead and I walked towards what I had wanted to photograph; the stunning mother cap, a landmark that is visible from all around this area and I just had to capture this stunning landmark in front of me, a guardian figure to this area of moorland just above Hathersage; but one that acts as a playground for the people of Sheffield and surrounding areas to also enjoy.

A mother watches humans.

Curiosity of the rock.

Guardian of the valley.

Route to the mother cap.

After taking the photos of mother cap, it was time to walk down towards the car park, and whilst things were interesting on the way up, in front of the mother cap, things are also interesting, a landscape changes yet again but the size of mother cap is something else, mystical and magical I just had to capture the raw moods in the skies above this glorious rock formation.

A watchful eye looks over - (Black and White).

A watchful eye looks over - (Colour).

Standing in time.

The drama of mother cap.

The footpath that leads you away from mother cap, is also one of surprises and all around you the landscape changes - now things started to get interesting, the moorlands and the artwork of the stones become more erratic, providing the photographer opportunities at every turn - a millstone is to the right of me as I descend into a planet like environment of silver birches, almost akin to that of either Endor or Mordor.

The stone and the frog.

The silver birches flank the bottom part of this moorland above Hathersage and they are both intricate and simple, but no matter where you turn something else to photograph - the path in front of me leading off the moorlands with the rocks behind me, and another slight scramble to “terra ferma” is something of a welcome sight, but here the transition between moorland and this sci-fi like landscape is something to behold,

Moorland gives way.

Now though is the time to enter this sci-fi like landscape of silver birches, a cuckoo calls out and I can hear it’s call echoing throughout this maze of trees; why maze of trees, because so much needs exploring, but the scramble down to the bottom and in front of me the magical stillness of these silver birches, I take my camera out and capture the stunning scene in front of me, rocks meeting trees in what is now a sense of utter serendipity.

Woodland calls.

Journey through the silver birches - (Colour).

Journey through the silver birches - (Black and White).

Finally after an enjoyable walk along the moorlands, and one that provided me with plenty of surprises, now is the time to walk through. Is it Endor or Mordor? Either way at the bottom I found myself in yet another Amphitheatre, this time with an audience, the silver birches that are watching,

“A symphony of rocks, moorlands and other humans who are walking around - unaware that they are being watched by the silver birches.”

Amphitheatre of contrasts - (Black and White).

Amphitheatre of contrasts - (Colour).

A woodland collision.

Endor or Mordor?

And just a short walk later I was back at the car park, this time with a sense of accomplishment; I had done things I would not have ordinarily done and that was one of the best feelings, but the other feeling was one of surprises, a hidden location that I had never visited before offered so much, so many secrets to uncover and here I was having scratched a little bit of the surface - yet somehow I feel like I will be back to visit in the not so distant future, who knows what else I will discover next time?