A disturbed night. Then the day dawned bright and clear and I decided to visit the Beechwoods to re-energise myself. I wanted to try to photograph the woods in their landscape setting. This was not easy. The topography is gently rolling – to the north Lime Kiln Hill rises only to 45 m and a nearby knoll is defined by the 50m contour line. The Beechwoods themselves are not in a prominent position – the western edge follows the 40m contour.
If the landscape setting is difficult to define the land use setting is distinctive. The wild woods are bounded in the west, north and east by extensive arable fields subject to intensive cropping. Spring tilling lays bare the chalky soil ideal for beech trees. To the south the woods are hemmed in by the artificial manicured landscape of the Gog Magog Golf Club. No access for photographers.
Photos: The Beechwoods, Cambridge, April 2017