Cauliflower Fungus.
Month: October 2024
Pannage.
This year, Pannage will take Place in the New Forest from Monday, September 16th, until Friday, November 22nd. During the autumn months, it’s common to see pigs roaming the forest floor. Pannage is the practice of releasing domestic pigs into a forest (also known as ‘Common of mast’).It goes all the back to William the Conqueror, who founded the New Forest in 1079.
The pigs are released into the forest to eat fallen acorns, beech mast, chestnuts, and other nuts. Green acorns are poisonous to New Forest ponies and cattle, that roam the forest.
Up to 600 pigs and piglets will wander through the forest eating the acorns and nuts from the forest floor. It is the only time of year that the pigs are allowed to ‘roam’ the open forest, the rest of the time they are kept in their smallholdings by the commoners. In the 19th century, the number of pigs released for pannage was as high as 6,000.
Little trains.
With the school 1/2 term holidays underway the little narrow gauge railway around Lakeside at Easleigh is running daily this week. Pictures were taken at slow speeds to give some movement!
Sanderling time of year again.
I spent a few hours on the beach watching the Sanderlings on Meon Shore.
Street art.
A street artist known as Winchester’s answer to Banksy is said to have painted a mural of a little girl on a bus stop at Bishop’s Waltham. Creative Hendog is known for his murals, which have appeared in urban and rural locations across Hampshire.
Families.
Family groups and youngsters Fallow Deer in the New Forest.
The Rut.
This was another trip into the New Forest to look for Fallow Deer and see if we could watch the rut. Although no confrontations were seen between adult male Bucks, one dominant male was calling, and I think the competition from others were not a match for him and they made no challenge to his status and just kept their distance.
A short film best viewed with sound on.
Monday in the Forest.
A walk into the New Forest looking for Fallow Deer – a successful walk with plenty of sightings.
A lone Kestrelresting high up on a dead tree.
Swarm!
Today in rained!
A few hours walking in the New Forest between heavy rain showers.
Continued Reflections from my World. 