@pjelec I'm starting to wonder if summer will ever arrive!
We're only half-way through Spring.
I ve just had a fantastic walk to Spurn Point. Walked right to the tip, stripped off and had a beautiful 3 mile walk back along the beach. Long stretch of un spoilt and mostly deserted beach. Absolutely loved it. Only down side, no dogs allowed, perhaps why not to crowded, that and the 6 mile round trip, maybe.
Nice, and no kidding it's a long stretch. In my twitching days that was 6-7 mile round walk with binoculars, telescope, camera, notebook, lunchbox and a lot else besides. I can see how it'd be a nicer walk unfettered.
Since the storm breach swept away the road not many people bother making it all the way to the point, there's only the occasional passing of the all-terrain tourist truck and the BTO observers at the lighthouse, and they'd be too busy counting birds to pay much attention. The beach is not a bad choice at all, but above it there are problems with an invasive moth species, the caterpillars of which shed hairs that can cause rashes, headaches and breathing problems, I wouldn't want to be naked anywhere near them. They are almost literally all over the bushes just above the dunes.
Yeah I saw a couple on the way out on the road and there were warning signs everywhere. Once on the point and on the beach no worries. I did actually think to myself. The Tibetan Hat must have been here bird watching but is keeping it to himself.
Seriously though it's a beautiful place
Hadn't tried Spurn for naturism yet, but did visit North Cotes on the other side of the Humber - which has some naturist users. Spurn really has to be the much nicer setting. Spurn's bleakness has a poetry, North Cotes was just grim.
Just returned from a great couple of hours walk in Sherwood Forest and Budby common. I've been away for a couple of weeks. Managed a few naked walks while away. A nature reserve near Staiths, Beach top walk at Runswick Bay, Spurn Point and then down in the Northamptonshire countryside.
Was good to get back on familiar ground though. I did notice today that there are a large number of trees marked for removal, some of these are beautiful and mature trees. I know there is an amount of managing needed but can't see the point of removing some of them. I did get to wondering whether a map of these is drawn up or if they just rely on the paint on the trees. I wonder what would happen if you were to mark many more trees in the same way they do, would they fell the lot mercilessly?
Some beautiful trees are going to be missed. Shame
... North Cotes was just grim.
It's not that far from Grimsby, so not out of keeping. Actually, while the area isn't stunningly scenic, it does have the marshy charm of my native North Kent.
Had to go without the dog today. After returning yesterday I then had to spend a couple of hours removing 40 + tics from the dog... the wife wasn't happy.
Anyone know of a sure fire way of keeping them off the dog? She has the tablet from the vet to kill them but it does not repel them and only kills them once they bite her, which most had not yesterday.
We have tried most of the old wives remedies but to no avail.
Strange without her today.
@tribalbrit. Re your comment
I did notice today that there are a large number of trees marked for removal, some of these are beautiful and mature trees. I know there is an amount of managing needed but can't see the point of removing some of them.
In our local woods, the ringed trees are the ones to be left standing, and mark the boundary of the area to be felled. Could this be the case with the ones that you have seen?
Norman.
Norman
Not sure, some have rings around them, some have dots on them and some have letters on them. Many are in densely populated parts, some are isolated.
Knowing the RSPB they'll be felling the lot. They destroyed many mature trees to build their visitors centre a while back, much to the disgust of the locals.
Quite a bit of the current work, particularly on the heathland parts of the reserve, is to take out the weed trees sprouting up around the existing mature ones, this is to allow them further space to grow.
We sometimes run up against similar feelings with tree work on the estate I work on. What's occuring on many estates and reserves now is improved, science-led management after years of neglect, oversight or misconceived ideas which if left to continue would mean degradition of habitat and eventually much larger and longer lasting changes to landscape character. The benefits to what's being done now - with certain immediate impacts that don't appear great - are truly long-term, and the nature of woodland management means leaving things as they are literally isn't an option. That's why I'm willing to trust the RSPB are probably getting it right, doing nothing means losing a lot more.
There are a group of 11 maybe 12 pines at the bottom of the south forest next to the gate, look to be marked for removal, totally isolated from anything else but add character to this area. I see no need for their removal. I do understand that management is needed especially in the thinning out of some areas but I feel that the RSPB are overzealous at times.
Sorry but I don't share your confidence in them, did you see the trees they removed to build the all but useless visitors centre/glorified shop.
Not to mention the thousands spent on importing tonnes of virgin soil to cover a totally useable car park when tonnes had already been dumped from the excavation of the centre and new car park if you can call it that.
I'm beginning to think they are introducing the 100's of 1000 of tics to discourage dog walkers. 😉
I'm beginning to think they are introducing the 100's of 1000 of tics to discourage dog walkers.
There never used to be ticks in any numbers in the forest, I have been walking it naked for over 50 years. I wonder if it is the cattle that are spreading them around.
It's a tricky one, the visitor centre. Again to speak from experience, the conservation measures that take place where I work would never ever be funded just by donations or any kind of government funding, and rely heavily on the amount of coffees sold or trinkets purchased in the gift shop. It'd be nice to think none of that was necessary, I honestly regret all the tat I see people leave with our logo on - stuff that is surely destined for landfill sooner or later, but there's no other way to meet the costs of maintaining these landscapes. The resiting and redevelopment of the visitor centre at Sherwood was a similar compromise of impact and long-term benefit. Give it 50 or 100 years, and Sherwood will be much more recognisable because of it.
The ticks thing could be due to the cattle, could also be a consequence of climate change, or perhaps both.
Maybe but they're not on there yet. I think they are the deer ones and I am seeing more deer than usual.