Earlier this week I walked near Greenham Common. Between 1941 and 1993 this was a military airfield but in 1997 it was open to the public once again. The area is managed to benefit wild life and most of the Common is now an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest).
These photographs are from the area known as the bomb site where munitions were stored during the Second World War. The concrete paths and some of the earthworks are still visible.
Now that nature is taking over, it is a very peaceful wooded area. In the summer when I walked here, it was green and lush. The leaves have fallen now although the branches are not totally bare but covered with lichen.
The trees looked pretty with their white ragged coats,
I don't know much about lichen but looking at pictures I wonder if this is Ramalina farinacea.
It looks so beautiful, I was surprised to find that it is a poisonous species.
Back at home, in the garden, the bare branches, or rather the leafless twigs which are catching my attention belong to the winter jasmine.
It is covered in bright yellow flowers
which brighten up the grey January days.
3 comments:
wonderful photos. Happy New Year to you. thank you for the Christmas message.
Would love to meet up soon xx
I so remember Greenham Common with the US nuclear missiles and the Peace People demonstrating outside. How wonderful to see it now that nature has taken over man's stupidity and arrogance.
Yes it is great that parts of it are an SSSI.
I am also pleased that parts of the old structures remain, the control tower, a small length of runway, even an old plane that was once used for fire practice. These act as a reminder to us that this area wasn't always so peaceful and hopefully will teach us to make more sensible decisions in the future.
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