A walk in
the woods
Lost hats, toys, gloves, dog leads and so forth are left on highly visible posts.
The notice is a reminder that fire can spread very rapidly. With summer school holidays beginning in the next couple of days, the danger of uncontrolled fire increases as inexperienced teenagers set fires to cook sausages and boil water in warm evenings. They extinguish the flames and think that is sufficient, but the ground beneath is hot and can reignite if it has not been thoroughly soaked.
A few years ago we came across a smouldering fire and had to call the fire brigade. There was no way for the fire engine to get into the woods so they had to bring a stirrup pump to douse it.
It's usually refreshing to be among the trees in the woods, but it's been very dry here and the air smelt odd. The closest I could identify it as was unwashed socks!
It's just started raining and already the air smells fresher. Unfortunately, we need it to rain steadily for hours, and that doesn't seem to be happening.
Those nearby woods look delightful. Is that Barry with the stick?
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely place to walk. Yes, that's Barry - walking pole in one hand, ball flinger in the other.
DeleteThe Brother and I were forbidden to play in the woods. Ma was convinced there were hoboes. In all of the times I played in the woods, I never once saw a hobo or evidence of hoboes. (Ma worked so what you mama don't know, your mama don't mind)
ReplyDeleteWhat the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over. 😎
DeleteThe decades of mulch reminds me a little of those Zombie Fires in Canada. They go underground in the winter only to return in the spring and summer. The science of wild fire is interesting to me since I live in a fireprone area. I’ve learned a lot from the fires we’ve had that I never knew when I lived in the city.
ReplyDeleteYour woods look so nice. I enjoy forests and mountains. My happy place!
I've never heard of zombie fires, but can quite understand how they can smoulder away unseen.
DeleteBeautiful photos Janice. I know what it is like with long hot dry summers. We had that last year & a fire ban from December til May. I burn my own garden rubbish here on our property & by the time I was allowed to burn again the heap was above my head!
ReplyDeleteThat must have been quite a bonfire, Julie.
DeleteWhen we moved here 40 years ago everyone burned their garden rubbish on bonfires at the back of the properties on waste ground along the stream. Then we found a major gas main ran along the banks just near our string of bonfires...
ReplyDeleteI'd say you were all extremely lucky . . .
DeleteThe fire risk is exacerbated if it gets into old roots (those fallen trees) and can smoulder underground for ages. When I worked in the NZ Forest Service we used to use infra-red cameras (in helicopter) to identify hot spots that weren't obvious to people putting out fires on the ground. Where we were working seasonal winds could uncover them and set off fires again months after we thought we had extinguished them
ReplyDeleteQuite extraordinary. Interesting and vital work, though.
DeleteI love the woods, even as things die they create life, I hope you get the rain you craves, we are in to a soak tomorrow and Sunday.
ReplyDeleteWe're supposed to have thunderstorms, but somehow they always miss us. I might regret saying that.
DeleteHi Janice - yes - it's so early (two months') this dry Autumnal weather ... and very sadly fires will abound - people do not think ... I hope for thunderstorms this weekend - we do need the rain ... I'm glad to see you both out and about - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI noticed a leaf fluttering down yesterday. I'm surprised there aren't more, really.
ReplyDeleteThankfully I live where the forest fires are almost non-existent. But at the same time I live in an area when there's forest fires in Canada the smoke is blowing this way. Just reminds me of how bad it can be.
ReplyDeleteThat must be so uncomfortable. Smoke from forest fires is very dense.
ReplyDeleteEnglish woodlands always look so attractive and accessible.
ReplyDeleteThey are mostly accessible - we're lucky.
DeleteGlad you came across that hot spot and were able to get someone there to keep it from burning. That looks like a wonderful place for a walk.
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely there.
DeleteIt's amazing how stupid people can be. They light a BBQ here, or even try to burn a few branches and in minutes everything is out of control. Even after endless fire campaigns, TV ads, theres still someone out there with only half a brain who is careless. Hundreds have died because of them.
ReplyDeleteThey don't think and don't realise that actions have consequences, frequently tragic.
DeleteHere schoolchildren during school holidays graffiti trains, run amok in shopping centres with knives, damage public property, mass rob shops and I've even seen one teen discard a drink can into the gutter. They'd visit your parks with a chainsaw.
ReplyDeleteSchools shouldn't have holidays - it's the only answer!
DeleteLovely woodland photos.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
Thank you.
DeleteI think tomorrow we're supposed to get rain...? I'm amazed at how dry everything is.
ReplyDeleteThere's a yellow weather warning but we shall see . . . 🌩️⚡
DeleteWe don't realize how easy it is for fires to start. I've seen places where little fires were lit but luckily went out. You are right that we have to be much more vigilant when it comes to fires.
ReplyDeleteThere have been a number of wildfires already - some people set them for fun . . . 😲😟
DeleteA lovely walk
ReplyDeleteIt was a lovely walk, apart from the odd-smelling air!
ReplyDeleteI loved joining you on your walk in the woods, even if it didn't smell as refreshing as it usually does. We haven't had nearly enough rain either! xxx
ReplyDeleteIn some parts of the country the water in the reservoirs is very low, and streams and rivers are running dry.
DeleteLiving in Western Canada, summer is also fire season. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to come as such a surprise to some people, every year. Short memories?
DeleteFire is scary, it can spread so darn fast.
ReplyDeleteIt's very powerful and with a wind behind it is almost unstoppable.
DeleteLovely to see photographs from your walk.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately there has been quite a few fires already around the UK, people are not always as careful as they should be.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a decent amount of rain over the weekend, but I don't think all areas in the UK will be getting it!
All the best Jan
We've had rain overnight (Saturday morning here) but we need much, much more.
DeleteIt's been drummed into my brain that fires should only go into authorized pits, especially in the wild areas.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't really had a barbecue/picnic fire culture in UK, so people aren't accustomed to taking proper precautions, and often haven't much commonsense, either, sadly.
DeleteLovely photographs. I find the woods really soothing (except for those horrible biting flies!). We haven't had wildfires, but we have been getting strange sunrises/sunsets from smoke in the air from the Canadian wildfires.
ReplyDeleteThe smoke from large fires spreads far and wide and persistently - unpleasant.
DeleteWonderful photos! Yes, fires in the woods can be very serious.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of my favourite places.
DeleteWe had a smouldering fire here just last weekend, down by the garages which are away from the flats, a fire was set close to the middle of the driveway by one of the homeless people living in one of the empty garages. Probably trying to keep warm and maybe make a pot of tea and a warmed meal. The nearest flat tenant put it out with her hose and told her neighbour so word got around. Now we are all watching out just in case.
ReplyDeleteThat's sad in so many ways. No-one wants people to be homeless and cold, but neither do they want to be threatened by untended fire.
ReplyDelete