Cadnam Bog, 6 Jan 2024 09:30
New Forest Bogs
When you hear 'New Forest', forget fairy tale images of Hansel and Gretel or Robin Hood. The New Forest is far more than just trees with about half its area covered by wild open heaths, grassy lawns and waterlogged wetlands. Cadnam Bog is typical of the lowland wetland areas found in the Forest. Slightly raised areas are drier and covered with grass, heather, gorse and trees; depressed hollows are waterlogged, creating mires and bogs. These valley mires and bogs are permanently inundated, the wettest areas retaining year-round ponds of dark peaty water, and are nationally important habitats, home to a remarkable variety of native bog-associated insects and amphibians.
Navigating mires and bogs can be tricky and needs a little applied plant ecology to avoid embarrassing mishaps. Someone without the plant understanding, or who doesn't precisely follow the footsteps of a more experienced companion, will likely stagger out with sticky black mud stockings, cursing the 'stupid' route taken by their more knowledgeable companion who emerges with little more than slightly damp soles. When approaching boggy areas, the transition from heath is presaged by increasing orchids and sundew plants, then sphagnum moss and cotton grass. Venture deeper in and the bog becomes increasingly waterlogged and difficult or impossible to traverse as bog myrtle, bogbean and pools become increasingly frequent with the sodden underlying peat growing softer with each step. Keep to pony tracks and prominently raised hummocks of grass, heather or bracken and you should be safe. But, a word of caution, getting it wrong can be tragic. Although the animals have an innate understanding and sure-footedness, they too can misjudge their footing or slip, and l've stumbled upon a cow and a deer that became trapped and perished in this deceptively tame environment.
Drone photography is often about abstract shapes, texture and unexpectedly jarring perspectives. Viewed through the drone camera, Cadnam Bog's varied mini islands of habitat coalesce almost unrecognisably into a colourful mosaic, a complete contrast to the ground-level aspect of an expansive, grey, melancholic bog blanketed by the muted tones of a sombre sky.
Photo details - DJI Mini Pro 4, Processed in Lightroom (macOS)
Navigating mires and bogs can be tricky and needs a little applied plant ecology to avoid embarrassing mishaps. Someone without the plant understanding, or who doesn't precisely follow the footsteps of a more experienced companion, will likely stagger out with sticky black mud stockings, cursing the 'stupid' route taken by their more knowledgeable companion who emerges with little more than slightly damp soles. When approaching boggy areas, the transition from heath is presaged by increasing orchids and sundew plants, then sphagnum moss and cotton grass. Venture deeper in and the bog becomes increasingly waterlogged and difficult or impossible to traverse as bog myrtle, bogbean and pools become increasingly frequent with the sodden underlying peat growing softer with each step. Keep to pony tracks and prominently raised hummocks of grass, heather or bracken and you should be safe. But, a word of caution, getting it wrong can be tragic. Although the animals have an innate understanding and sure-footedness, they too can misjudge their footing or slip, and l've stumbled upon a cow and a deer that became trapped and perished in this deceptively tame environment.
Drone photography is often about abstract shapes, texture and unexpectedly jarring perspectives. Viewed through the drone camera, Cadnam Bog's varied mini islands of habitat coalesce almost unrecognisably into a colourful mosaic, a complete contrast to the ground-level aspect of an expansive, grey, melancholic bog blanketed by the muted tones of a sombre sky.
Photo details - DJI Mini Pro 4, Processed in Lightroom (macOS)