The Great Escape

Like many I guess (particularly landscape photographers) I have been feeling the call of the wild so when the lockdown was eased in the UK I started planning my first nature walk.

I kept it simple with a walk I have done many times before, even deciding to leave my camera kit at home. This was for a couple of reasons, it was going to be warm, I didn’t intend to stay out too long and after 10 weeks of being inside who knew how my mind and body would react to this strange new activity. So it was mobile phone pictures only.

The route was around the Greenhow Plantation a local managed/working woodland in the North East of England.

So to play it safe and avoid any possible social distancing issues I arrived early and the Forestry commision car park was deserted. I stepped out the car and was immediately greeted by birdsong, a couple of squirrels and a rabbit. Under normal circumstances not a big deal but after such a long time in isolation this was a real treat. So after a few deep breaths of fresh air the mini adventure begun.

How things had changed, last time I walked this route the landscape couldn’t have looked any different, the only common factor was a strong wind. This was now a lush green landscape compared to the bare skeletal trees that greeted me last time I walked this route.

So much green only punctuated by the patches at bright blue and purple bluebells.

There are lots of walking routes around this area including parts of the Cleveland Way and Lyke Wake Walk (a 40 mile route across the North York Moors which you complete in 24 hours I was around 14 years old when I did it)

As I mentioned earlier this is a working woodland with an ever changing landscape of log piles, however my ‘favourite’ one seems fairly static and has remained in place each time I have followed this route. It’s about half way round the walk and so ideal to stop for a quick coffee.