Speech House Lake

Before we left the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley today, we went for a walk in the forest next to a local landmark, The Speech House (which is now a hotel).

This is the lake which is nearby. The Speech House was built during Charles 11's reign, as a "court" where local people could have their say. Regular verderers meetings are still held here to discuss the management of the vert and venison (trees and animals). The Verderers’ Court is the oldest established court in England. Nowadays its role is mainly to act as an intermediary between the public and the Forestry Commission, and to ensure that long established traditions are maintained.

It was a lovely walk, starting off at the Cyril Hart Arboretum, and then on into the forest. We had splashed out £1 on a guidebook to walks in the forest and it was the best £1 spent ever. This last few days we have been on several of their suggested routes, and they were all excellent, and the instructions very clear and concise, and with interesting facts about things to see along the way.

I've just found out that it was one of the location sites for the TV show "Merlin" a few years ago (not that I saw any of those shows). I can see why - it was a really magical place, and you could easily imagine little fairies popping out in the glades, wearing tiny acorn hats.

In the forest we came across (alright, Nikonabike spotted it) a massive ant nest. It must have been 5 or 6 feet high and about 12 feet circumference at the base. I made the mistake of getting within about 20 feet of it to take a photo, not thinking that with an ants nest that size, there has to be an enormous army of ants. The forest floor was alive with them and I think we would have been too if we hadn't made a hasty retreat.

Needless, to say I did not get a decent shot of the ant nest.