The Magnificence of Trees

As we make our way into November I think it's a good idea to mark the Magnificence of trees with some pictures I took while out scouting.

The textbook sight of many an English field at this time of your in it's rich colourful glory before the leaves die back for Winter, for me that is so unmissable.

It is interesting to observe just how different leaves on branches turn to a more coppery complexion at different times and that makes for interesting effects.

Perfection, the glory of sunlight coppery leaves taken very much into the light in their magnificence sums up just what is magical at this time of year.

Race Round The World

 

Pix credit: Scout Association

This year has not been a great one due to that one thing we cannot control although the Scout Association (and other members of the scouting family) did much sterling work keeping scouting alive during lockdown and are are working through arrangements subject to local guidance on reopening, something many beavers, cubs and scouts are beginning to enjoy again.

There is however a worry on the horizon and it is this:

Traditionally fundraising has involved various kinds of community events, sponsored activities. car boot sales, fireworks displays and the like but thanks to Covid much of this has proved impossible meaning some 500 Scout Groups are at risk of closure due to insufficient funds to pay for activities and the like.

Now like me you may well feel this is would be a terrible shame for children and young people because you learn so much though scouting apart from the friendships that are formed so the Scouting Association are holding a fund raising campaign and event "Race Round The World" to try to avoid this.

Race Round The World

You can either take part in an event OR make a donation for which you will need a debit or credit card.

I've donated, perhaps you may like to help out?

Cubbing Autumn 2020 style

Rovering, exploring call it what you want, it's all a part of scouting and so this week gone I was out exploring the woodlands near where I live

As we enter the wood from a residential area, you can see how denuded the top of the tree is looking very stark.

Further along though and you see the colourful tree canopies where often you can see and hear the local birds during the daytime.

Here you can see the interesting shapes of the branches as they throw out from the trunk and the glistening sun kissed foliage.

The thing I love most of all about the autumn is the riot of deep crisp colour and here you can see just how some of the foliage has changed to a copper colour.

It is just magical.

Something we see a lot of at this time of year is Acorns that are collected and stored by the resident squirrels which I have seen a fair bit of this year.

Poised

Just what this Scout may be doing with latex gloves on in the outdoors is hard to say as what his knee is resting on is like shingles or tiny pebbles in a walled off area while his opposite number is standing up also in gloves.

The pose suggests some degree of attentiveness, looking forward with his back straight os maybe he's waiting some instructions from the Scout leader???
Given the surface, the leather boots with a thick sole would appear to make sense. 

It's very much much the Conker season as every Cub and Scout used to know so we'd look around for them before strengthening in vinegar and threading string in them to play that old British schoolboy game.

Autumn in the field

 

Continuing on Autumn, across the fields I have spent quite a bit of my spare time exploring this year it's showing itself as the harvest season is over and the leaves are turning a coppery colour.

You'll spot the tractor tracks along the pathway that leads to the gate of the next field you need to enter.

In the background you can see the bales ready for next year.

The Nursery in Autumn

 I was out exploring last week so today we're off to a working Nursery.

The nursery itself is made up of a number of traditional farmers barns which go back many decades and this is the main entrance with old school rustic wooden gates.

Situated on the left hand gate, I saw this teddy bear carefully positioned who has been keeping an eye out since March at least as that was when I first saw it.

Here you can see the wall detail on the barnyard buildings.

The old wide barn door entrance is towards the centre and depending upon the time of day you see workers going in and vehicles driving on and off site as it is a right of way leading to nearby countryside.

That in the current situation has been a godsend for locals looking for fresh air and to escape feeling locked in and isolated.

Obviously you must take care and remember it is working site with some plantations to the rear of the nursery buildings and across the road so there is some traffic apart from deliveries.

Think big

Engineering abilities and the art of improvization are on display here as the Explorer scouts build a big structure between the trees from wood showing strong teamwork too as one looks on supervising.

These Scouts would be hard to beat and a very real reflection of what they have learnt every since they joined as young boys, a credit to the movement.