Once you're wet you can always get wetter!

Natural learning: the outdoor classroom at Foundry Wood, Leamington.

IF there’s one word to describe the weather recently – as if it needs saying – it’s ‘Wet!’ I tested out a theory a few days ago. It was pouring but I reckoned that once I’d reached ‘saturation point’ I couldn’t get any wetter. So, what the heck? Brave the rain and go on the walk!

Have you noticed how water has the knack of finding its way into places you never even knew existed? To cut a long story short, my theory was (perhaps unsurprisingly) rubbish! I reached saturation point and beyond. It was more swim than stroll!

But it wasn’t cold and, oddly, quite enjoyable. Refreshing, in fact!

Field and woodland tracks have become overgrown as plants thrive in the rain and relatively mild
weather, and now it's a case of wading through almost 

Going green (and white): Not too bad, 

but the cow parsley is slowly taking over!

shoulder high nettles, cow parsley and the like; which, actually, all contribute to giving you a soaking if they’ve been rained on!

Yesterday, the sun was out and the walking was far more leisurely as I ran a photo day attended by  two lovely photo enthusiasts, Janet and David, at the Foundry Wood community woodland in Leamington Spa, 
Warwickshire. Volunteers have worked hard to make the site accessible by creating paths and facilities for all to use.

Now the woodland is open for workshops, conservation and educational activities. Pizza-making using a real stone oven is popular, the first ‘Gig in the Woods’ was held there last month (April), with acoustic folk singer Eleanor Brown, and yesterday’s event was the first of a series of photography workshops as part of the woods’ programme.

The outdoor classroom was great and although the woods are relatively small, there are plenty of  pictures to be taken. I like the sculptures and evidence of craftwork dotted among the trees.

We spent a day thinking, talking and doing photography!

Thankfully, the rain held off - so we didn't even need to worry about getting saturated!

Art in nature: Children's craft work in the trees.

All fuelled up: Wood store at Foundry Wood community woodland.

Log trio: On a wall of the open classroom. 

Al fresco treat: Stone oven used for
 making pizza.

Cool shade: Some walkers may find their 
way blocked, while for others (below)
the advancing plant life provides 
a comfortable resting spot!

Wood appeal:  Above and below, beautiful patterns, 
textures and colours in a weathered log.