The Woods in Winter

We are in Wytham Woods again today. The woods are an area of ancient semi-natural woodland to the west of Oxford, UK, owned by the University of Oxford and used for environmental research.

I have shown the woods on Blipfotos previously, for example on 19 February last year, and then as the bluebells and primroses were out in April.

But today, in early January, almost everything seems pretty dormant, and I think that this picture fairly reflects the quiet mood. Here are old things, dead and decaying, and I liked the bright moss on the fallen trunk. Of course, most of the bare trees are living, and there are some signs of new growth at ground level, as well. If any woods are well looked after, these are: indeed, Wytham Woods represent one of the most researched areas of woodland in the world. They contain a variety of habitats including ancient semi-natural woodland, secondary woodland and plantations as well as calcareous grasslands, a valley side mire, an arable weed plot and a variety of ponds.

It's a fine place to visit, and we are lucky enough to have a permit to walk there.