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This gate into the woods is not well known; the locals mostly keep the location under wraps..
Epiphytic ferns begin to appear overhead as soon as one enters the cloud forest, an indication of the temperate conditions. Only 1% of the world’s surface is covered by temperate rainforest.
One can still find pockets of light at this elevation and small saplings grow strong in the shelter of their family.
As the path descends rapidly into the gorge, the light becomes less prominent. Ducking to avoid low hanging branches, it feels like descending into a subterranean space filled with dappled verdant light.
The air glows green and luminous. Sunlight streams past the branches, as if through cathedral windows, high oak branches form beams overhead heightening the sensation.
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On the valley floor, Moor Brook gurgles past, peaty and amber coloured. Here the high sides of the cleave are populated with mature trees, few young trees grow here as very little light reaches the valley floor through the dense oak canopy.
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Past huge granite boulders covered in thick moss and lichen, the East Ockment River descends rapidly down West Cleave Gorge, tumbling through a series of small waterfalls, to meet Moor Brook. These rivers soon join with the West Ockment river and ar
Along the rivers edge here, the light has a better chance of piercing the overstory, moths and insects buzz about loudly, their wings translucent in the dappled light.
It is a rare sight to find young trees thriving here, the light is giving this one a fighting chance. It was akin to a religious experience when the sun came out, bathing this youngster with light.
Various factors affect the germination of tree seeds in the understory of this forest. Bracken and brambles are a major issue, they compete for light and deplete the nutrients in the soil, making it challenging for new trees to establish. But bram
Overhead the canopy is rich with bird song. ,The towering ash trees are the tallest, growing high above the oak and hazel. The remarkable Ash are the first to get leaves in Spring. They grow the fastest but are also the first to drop their leaves i
What were once small footpaths in the undergrowth, have become like motorways since lockdown saw a rise in visitors to green spaces.
The forest floor is a carpet of bluebells in May, this attracts many more visitors (and their dogs) for photos and walks in the heady scent of the spring blossoms.
When the bluebells pass over in late spring, the mossy rocks are inviting green cushions to sit a while. I like to breathe in the earthy scent of leaf mould, and forest bathe in solitude. All around, the woodpeckers percussions accompany the tree-cr
As the path rises steeply again from the valley floor, the old coppiced hazels become dominant. This area was once managed as coppicing for stock fencing, it is no longer used for this, but the straight rods can be seen like a crown around each tre
My neighbours have been stewards of this temperate rainforest for 7 generations, having signed the lease in 1707. They farm organically in fields around the woodland, keeping a vigil on the stock fences to keep the Dartmoor ponies, sheep, cattle an
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As the path finally emerges from the woodland, the wall of bracken, a rich bronze colour in autumn, is visibly encroaching on the woods. It is an important habitat for the rare Pearl Bordered Fritillary Butterfly, but it also makes the soil acidic
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