Wyche Cutting, Worcester. A walk in the woods.

Fern unfurling

Today I walked from the Wyche
 Cutting church car park, south
along the path through the woods
 to Gardiners Quarry. The path
 takes you through lightly wooded
 deciduous areas and a small

The footpath

 coniferous wood. Along the way
 you come across several areas 
where bluebells are growing. There
 are areas thick with ferns, areas
 covered by foxglove and willow herb
 plants, both of which should be beautiful

Bluebell detail

come late July and August. There are
 also areas thick with brambles so come
 autumn there should be plenty of 
blackberries.

Tree root detail

Foxgloves along path

Bluebells

Earnslaw Quarry Lake, Malvern hills, Worcestershire.

Dappled woods and fresh foliage

From Earnslaw Quarry car park go north along the easy access path to a grassy clearing with several benches. Behind the banked wall of trees a path leads you down to Earnslaw lake.

Bluebells along the path

The trees around the clearing

Forget-me-nots along the path

Everything, the grass, foliage, gently unfurling ferns are so very very verdant, vigorous and vital. In the ancient woods all is new and every breath you feels is life affirming. Blue flowers in patches embellish the dappled floors. Earnslaw lake, the flooded quarry, mystically reflects the fairytale foliage.

Ferns unfurling

Nature on such a day as this seems bounteous and protective rather than red in tooth and claw.

Earnslaw lake from above

Mystic looking tree roots

Earnslaw lake reflecting it's surrounding and so disappearing

Black Hill walk, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire.

 At this time of year, especially after such a long cold winter, it is all the more delightful to feel the tender caress of the soft sun on your skin. Enjoying the gentle warmth of this spring day I walked from Black Hill, northward along the ridge path on the western side of the hill.

Looking north along ridge

Looking south towards British Camp

Panoramic shot looking north

Catkins

 White clouds slowly slipped across the pale blue sky. Birds sang and as I stood in awe I watched a majestic kestrel hover in the sky above me.

Catkins illuminated by sunlight

Willow herb flames

Bluebell plants

 As I neared Gardiners Quarry I turned round and took a lower path through the dappled shade of the wood. Catkins like halos seemed to somehow become illuminated by the sunlight. Young willow herb plants peaked from the grass, red as tiny flames, whilst luxuriant green blue bell leaves greedily absorb the sunlight on the light dappled floor, preparing for their display of fine filigreed blooms.

View from the wood looking south

West of England Quarry, Malvern, Worcestershire, Misty Morning.

Woods awaken

Early misty morn

Dew drops on branches

 Optamistic green shoots

And bulging buds

Waiting for warnth

Longing for sun light 

Enchanting enigmatic 

Fragile beauty

By Izzy Silver

Remanent from old quarry works

 Quarrying used to threaten this area of great beauty. In 1931 the Malvern Hills Conservators bought this area, but there are still reminders from the quarrying companies doted about if you look close enough. The area is now recognised as an area of outstanding natural beauty and a site of scientific interest. The last quarry to close was the Gullet, which didn't close until 1977. What remains however is beautiful. 

The path I followed

A bulging bud

Quarry Entry

Ethereal Earnslaw Wood, Malvern Hills

Lower path leading from carpark

 It is rather overcast today, so I wasn't confident about how my pictures would turn out. The wood around Earnslaw Car park however never fail to inspire. A wood's character can change so much depending upon the light, from gothic scary nightmare at dusk or when stormy to a bright cool dappled haven from the heat of summer. Today it was mystic and ethereal, not quite a scene for fairies, rather somewhere just a stone's throw away from the Shire's, a place for the bravest hobbits to camp in.

I took the lowest path to the left of the car park if you are looking away from the hill and back towards the road. I followed this path to the clearing with two benches. I had never previously noticed the exposed roots behind the first bench. Possibly the soil has fallen away during the wet winter weather of December/January. Having noticed it I then looked behind it and found a most enchanting view of one of the quarry pools.

I then doubled back on myself but took the highest path. The light was constantly changing and this kept altering the feel of the woods. Suddenly I came out in to bright spring sunshine as I reached the summit of the hill, which is marked by a large stone circle, upon which I stood to take my picture. I then returned to

Clearing with two benches

 the car park down the very steep stepped path. This is not a path to take if you have any problems with your knees, but something about it always makes
me imagine Hansel and Gretel have been here. I think it is that the trees here are quite closely packed together and so it is just a shade darker, perfect for a
witch attempting to entice children with a gingerbread house.

Exposed root detail

Quarry pool just behind exposed roots

Views from higher path taken from clearing

View from on top of Gold mine marker

Stairs down from summit back to car park