Scowles

Recent trips have been local and partly spent investigating the potential of some scowles sites for sunrise and sunset light, though assessing where low angled light falls and what it illuminates within a woodland is an exercise in optimism. The scowles land features are possibly unique to the Forest of Dean and Lower Wye Valley and generally associated with the outcrop of carboniferous crease limestone. The geology is haematite mineralisation in fractures and solution cavities, the surface expression is anthropogenic, from the open cast mining of haematite. Normally the prospect of photographing mineral workings isn't one to set my pulse racing, the scowles are the exception. The simple reason is that the mineral working activity happened a long time ago, archaeologists aren't sure exactly when, though there is historical evidence that points to Roman age workings. Some believe the scowles are older than Roman.

Scowles woodland

Most of the remaining interesting scowles landscape have been naturally regenerated by woodland and this woodlands by most definition satisfies the criteria for ancient woodland - Beech, Ash, Hazel, Yew, Holly, Oak, Lime, Wych Elm, Gean, Wild service and Whitebeams. Outsize ancient coppice stools are not uncommon and Yews have a character that suggests trees of some age.  The ground flora over limestone and dolomite is calcicole and again indicative of ancient woodland. The high rainfall in recent years appears to have encouraged Ramsons and a carpet of Ransoms is worth making an effort to photograph, especially when it picks out the undulations of mineral workings.

Scowles woodland 

The picturesque aesthetic of scowles were appreciated by early 19th century tourists and this trend has continued to the present day, the latest Star Wars movie utilised the Puzzlewood scowles as a filming location for that otherworldly je ne ce quois. Away from the relatively manicured environs of Puzzlewood, scowles environments are more visually complex. The vibrant greens of foliage, extremes of contrast and colour gamut and colour, make for some interesting exposure decisions.

Scowles ~ Yew roots and geology

Recent trips haven't really produced any images of notes, documentary records of the scowles mostly, the rewards might come later in spring if the wind drops.