Landscapes

This part of Wykeham Forest has this year been subject to the clear felling of Larch and other crop trees. The track shown in the left hand picture used to be an easy descent into Troutsdale (just visible in the fog). As can be seen, it is now littered with the debris of the felling operations, making it quite tricky to use. The surviving trees shown in the centre and right hand pictures are I believe, Scots Pine.

Former Troutsdale School House, circa 1870. Click on link in the note box for further information and pictures

Deceptively warm looking - Note the slight frost on the the leaves and field (approximately minus 3 Deg C) at the time.

The distant hills are part of the Yorkshire Wolds, an area of low hills in the counties of the East Riding of Yorkshire and North Yorkshire in north-eastern England.The name also applies to the district in which the hills lie. The view above is from Irton Moor (above Scarborough) looking south west over the Vale of Pickering toward a small area of the wolds. Wold is an Anglian form of the word, as in other parts of England, different variations can be found. Over the years the meaning changed from "forest" to "high forest land". When the forests were cleared, the name was retained and applied to upland areas in general.

Viewed from Wykeham Forest, looking northwards towards the North York Moors.

Troutsdale from the tabular hills, Wykeham Forest, North Yorkshire

The woodland in Forge Valley, and many other valleys in this area, are carpeted with wild garlic in the spring. The crop this year seems to be more abundant than ever, perhaps due to all the rain we have had over the past few months. The picture shows only a very small part of the carpet. Beyond the fallen tree the gill becomes much more narrow, and deeper, with steep slopes ending in vertical rock walls of about 3 to 4 meters height. A footpath descends from the high ground at the top of the gill, allowing easy access from my home to this part of Forge Valley. (see PiP) **The Yorkshire dialect word Gill or ghyll, from the Old Norse, means small narrow valley or ravine. **Reference: www.viking.no/e/england/yorkshire_norse.htm