Off to the woods . . . . part one

The local woods have been there since . . . . . Doomsday and beyond . . . . they were thought to be part of the forest of Arden . . .

I used to go there often as a child, mainly in springtime to collect frogspawn from the pond.  As I have grown older, and taken my children there, I have been unable to find this pond but today  . . . . we go pond hunting . . . 

Definitely in the right place . . .  teddy bears and all that . . . .

Ray (the teddy) accompanied us on our journey and we all had great fun.  This was a journey of discovery for all of us as none of us knew where the pond was.  Ray just raced on ahead  . . . 

He popped up everywhere, so eager to be the first to find the pond.

We found some small balls and decided they must be fairy things so left them well alone.

We found the first of lots of dens and, of course, Ray claimed it as his . . . he looks really lost in there.

Always amazes me how trees grow so differently. 

 I think that this Rowan tree will have a lot of growing to do to catch up with this oak tree . . 

. . wonder if this is one of the 'Arden Oaks'.

The canopy overhead rustled gently as we walked/ran along the woodland paths.

We didn't find any animals in the undergrowth although the birds could be seen here and there . . . . not bothered by us at all.

Suddenly we came upon a bridge and there before us was . . . . .

A playground!!!

This is a new addition, well, new to us.  It was well thought out and I think thanks must go to the 'Friends of Jacy Road Park' who look after this area.

Time to go exploring . . . .

 The usual playground equipment was there and then several additions outside the fenced off area.

I don't know what you would call this equipment . . . .  right by a medical centre so perfect!!

It was very good for the older children . . . . 

this little fella wasn't allowed into the play area so he enjoyed himself outside with the big boys!!!

Oh!  Look!  There's Ray . . .

or is this Ron . . . .

or maybe Richard . . . 

or Robert . . . .

or Ryan  . . . . .

The grownups were making their own amusement!

Time for lunch and a reminder that we still hadn't found the pond . . . . .