PERFECT WOODS!

Today we ventured further afield for an adventure in the woods with a guide! Belinda showed us one of her favourite walks.  We took Jenny's car and parked off road, just past Oakhill, a village a few miles outside Shepton, and started our walk at Somerset Wildlife Trust's Harridge Woods.

It was just beautiful, with carpets of wild garlic, dappled sunshine, a meandering stream, rocks, moss, diverse woodland, glades and ruins to look at.  There was such a sense of serenity and peacefulness that we all took a collective sigh, and forgot any everyday worries!

In addition to the wild garlic, which you could smell everywhere, we saw bluebells, marsh marigolds, yellow dead nettles, and other wildflowers.  We could also hear lots of birdsong and the lovely sound of running water...

We had an exciting encounter with a large Roe Deer who came bounding down the path towards us until we were spotted, and then it swerved violently, crashed into the undergrowth and disappeared.  It startled us so much that we didn't have time to react and take any pictures!  On the same path we came across a couple of lively dogs, who happened to be with a friend of ours - see below...

We also came across the remains of a gamekeeper's cottage, which had been taken over by the Wildlife Trust, who have created a loft space and bat roosts to encourage bats, especially the conservation of the horseshoe species.

Another intriguing sight was the remains of a Georgian Mansion, Ashwick Grove House and gardens.  See some of the remains above.  All very mysterious, and example of man's creations being taken over by nature.  It is in such a dilapidated state that great care and a hard hat should be worn to walk around it!

Photograph by Belinda Ollis Blackwell

Finally, after a fabulous two hour walk and a small amount of foraged wild garlic, we made our way home in style, with the roof down!!