Category Archives: The Beechwoods

The Beechwoods is a rare piece of mature beech woodland on the southern outskirts of Cambridge. It is a vantage point from which to observe and reflect on the seemingly inexorable expansion of the high-tech City.

Beechwoods Revisited

Yesterday, first walk in the Beechwoods since early spring.  Almost dog and people free.  Wrens and blackbirds in summer song.  I had forgotten how dense the canopy can be in some places. Questions.  Are the woods at their most beautiful … Continue reading

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Covid 19 Day 89 19th June 2020

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U3AC Photo Forum Challenge #4

Sixteen participants contributed 43 images in response to Tim Ewbank’s challenge to photograph something beginning with ‘T’.  T’s came as nouns and adjectives, concrete and abstract, from trees, tea sets and the Thames to threats, time and translucence.  Eric Smith … Continue reading

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Covid 19 Day 65 26th May

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Burning Beech

Why would you do this to a beautiful beech tree?  Or to any living thing.  How does the wood wide web responds to such an assault?  Photo: Beechwoods, Cambridge, July 2019.

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Beechwoods – Snow 2

The snowfall was light, directed by a gentle wind.  In the woods snow settled on branches outlining them in graphic sketches of black and white; in open places the drift painted the trunks is white, as though seen in a … Continue reading

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Beechwoods – Snow 1

At the beginning of November I mentioned that I hoped to photograph the Beechwoods in snow.  On Sunday 10th December I awoke to about three centimetres of snow on the ground with more still falling.  Wrapped up well, and with … Continue reading

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U3AC Photo Forum 6 – Organising Photos

Peter Hampson took us through the challenges of organising our photographs.  For many the problems start with the sheer volume of material and the diversity of formats.  Then, why do we want to organise them – for current use or … Continue reading

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Beechwoods – Waiting for snow?

Randy Pangborn commented on my post ‘Gunnar Ekelof in Hadstock’ (27th February 2015) and suggested I read Robert Frost’s ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’.  He quoted the last verse: The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, / But … Continue reading

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Beechwoods – Beech Lore 5

‘Healing: In The Bach Flower Remedies Beech is used against mental rigidity, fault finding, intolerance, arrogance and lack of sympathy.  Meditation: Meditation with the Beech helps us relax and let go of fixed ideas, which hinders us and our development. … Continue reading

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Beechwoods – Lore 4

‘Beech is linked with time, wisdom and knowledge but especially written wisdom, as the Beech was used in thin slices to write upon and form the very first books. This is corroborated by the fact that Beeches were called ‘Boc’ … Continue reading

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Beechwoods – Lore 3

‘Ceridwen as Henwen, the great white ancient sow, was said to possess great wisdom from eating nuts from the sacred Beech tree which for Druids symbolised ancient knowledge and tradition (Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm— Druid Animal Oracle). In Greek legend … Continue reading

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Beechwoods – Lore 2

‘Beech is known for her generosity of spirit, she gives both protection and nourishment, as she fans her branches out into a broad canopy that is useful for shelter and her beech nuts used to be a valuable food source. … Continue reading

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Beechwoods Fungi

Friday 18th August 2017.  ‘Early morning walk in the Beechwoods.  Bright and sunny, but cool; the wind made the sound of surf in the treetops.  Greeted by the laughing call of a green woodpecker – the signature sound of the … Continue reading

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Beechwoods – Lore 1

‘Beech groves have been found in and near important places of power; Avebury and Cerne Abbas to name two. They maybe have been used for food as much as their majestic presence. They have been said to have inspired the … Continue reading

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