World within a world.

A wander through ‘Raven Wood’ on a fogbound Tuesday – 8th March 2016. 

When I left home for Tavistock – it had been a cold, bright March morning but by the time I’d reached Mary Tavy, roughly three-quarters of an hour away – Dartmoor was fogbound – it was as if the Moor had been smothered in a vast grey prison blanket. Despite its heaviness and harshness, I found a clear pocket, where I lost my head in the clouds only, with a wander through my favourite Dartmoor wood for an indeterminable time…

After a temptatious visit to the antiques market in Tavistock where I bought something rather raven-ish (later) – I arrived at ‘my’ parking spot near ‘Raven Wood’.  Overhead – a lone raven was sitting on the line – as I got out of the car it disappeared into the greyness – no doubt still keeping a watchful eye on me as I headed-off down the slippery bank towards the trees…

Apart from droplets dripping off branches, nothing stirred within the wood – their treetop nest seemed unattended and no black feathers to be found anywhere, just a tree stump that resembled Corvus corax…

‘Raven Wood’

Silent witnesses to my audible delight…

About here, under this spreading Beech tree – I found a gem of a skull, completely intact and cleaned by nature – an exquisite little thing. I wrapped it up carefully and put it in my pocket for safe keeping…

A squirrel’s skull – a new one for my collection.

Identification made easy. A wonderful vintage book called – ‘Our Country’s Animals’ by W.J. Gordon

The Ravens patrolled the sky…

I can be certain they’re never faraway even when it seems they are not in.

Picture-perfect for a fogbound day.  Raven-haired beauty that I bought in Tavistock market. To me – she’s ‘Emily’ after Emily Bronte – she looks like she has just come-in off the fogbound Moor – I love the woven blanket around her shoulders. Emily’s sister Charlotte described her as “a solitude loving raven” – I get that.