Tree Tunnels © Debbie Arnell
I signed up for this event as it was much closer to home - just 30 minutes by car - than my previous trip to The Lake District!
The walk leader was Peter Stott ARPS, who lives locally. He sent a comprehensive email to the five attendees, including a ground conditions update, location information, equipment suggestions, and details of a local pub for lunch. The weather on the day was as expected, with some mist and light rain initially but dry for the remainder of the event.
Four of us and Peter met as planned, but unfortunately, one member was unwell and didn’t attend. We were discussing the walk when Howard Klein, LRPS—Landscape Group Exhibitions and Member-Led Events Manager, arrived to introduce himself and take pictures of us all before we started off.
We entered the woods, and Peter provided some history of the area as we walked along. This included information on the large bomb craters we would encounter, created when Banstead Heath was used during the Second World War as a 'Starfish' site - where decoy fires were lit to tempt the Luftwaffe away from nearby Kenley, Biggin Hill and Redhill airfields. Many unused bombs were also dropped when pilots were unable to locate their targets. We were also close to Walton Heath Golf Club, famous for its heathland and the Ryder Cup, and to Tadworth Court, home of the Children's' Trust.
Roots © John Horne
As the walk progressed to the "tunnels", Peter highlighted the almost luminous moss on the branches and roots and the lichens hanging from the trees—a benefit of the wet weather and an otherworldly sight that I felt was absolutely stunning. Peter explained that the lichens had been even more impressive previously, but they had been affected by recent strong winds, which had caused some of them to fall.
Moss and leaves © Mike Walker
We spent some time photographing the whole area, then continued to the end of the tunnel and onto the open heath beyond. Our route took us to the opposite end of the “tunnels” and an adjacent pond that was full due to the recent heavy rainfall in the area. More pictures were taken, and we then made our way back out of the woods towards the hills in the distance. Some shots of an isolated tree on the horizon, with a couple walking along on the skyline, ended my photography for the morning. We then returned to where we had started.
Peter made our visit really enjoyable and was an excellent guide to a really interesting location.