gold rush Part 1

There is a magic moment - a magic few days in fact - that all lovers of the outdoors look forward to each year: peak autumn colour (or fall colour for my American friends). It is the time for wandering amongst the trees, especially beech, oak, birch and maple. Since I live in one of the least forested countries in Europe, that poses a problem. Many years ago more than 80% of Ireland was covered with trees. By 1925 that was down to around 1%. Lush oak woods were everywhere. Now only a few small patches of the ancient forest remains.

For as long as I can remember, rumours of plans to plant significant numbers of native (deciduous) trees have swirled around like dead leaves in winter, but sixty years on progress has been slow. The year 2020 saw the launch of the Forests of our Future programme, with the aim of planting 18 million trees by 2030. According to a report four weeks ago, planting rates have consistently fallen well short of the target.

Autumn in Tollymore Forest Park, one of our finest forests.

But some forests and woods still remain. Arguably Counties Down and Wicklow, on the East coast, boast the best of these . However we now live in the North West! So this autumn I decided not to travel far but to explore my new back yard.

Downhill Forest

I began with Downhill Forest. Peak colour had not yet arrived. But at least the sun was shining and the trees at the edge of the forest were showing sure signs of gold. The sound of rushing water distracted me and through a gap in the undergrowth I discovered the source: a small waterfall I had searched for before but failed to find.

Downhill waterfall.

Five days later I ventured into Mountsandel Forest, on the East bank of the River Bann at Coleraine. Here amongst the usual chaos of woodland I found a part of the path that wound through a group of beech trees. I love the invitation of a path like this, with its vanishing point leading into mystery beyond.

Mountsandel Forest

The afternoon sun was shining when on the afternoon of November 1st I returned to Downhill Forest, picking out pieces of gold on the lower trunk and branches of a graceful beech.

My friend Mark who accompanied me showed me the way to a high point in the forest where there is a clearing. It is often easier to compose a photograph on the edge of a wood. And the clearing also gave me the opportunity to send up the drone.

Downhill Forest and Estate.

This was the only photo I had envisaged before going out and it came together even better than I had imagined, with the added bonus of the clouds in the background, and the tanker sitting on a blue sea. The distant headland is Inishowen in County Donegal.

Changing the direction of the drone I took another photo of the view towards the north, taking in Castlerock, Portstewart, Portrush and Coleraine in a single shot.

The clearing.

Coming back down from the clearing we followed the walkway into the forest which eventually took us to the waterfall at the old, disused mill. The wheel can still be seen. There was plenty of evidence of recent storm damage with fallen trees and debris complicating any composition.