Pagan Pens

25/05/2026

A group of 5 Scirocco black ballpoints with Cherry burr.
A group of 5 pens made for a group of 5 friends going their separate ways after finishing university.
I don't get hold of much cherry burr and this looks lovely, but was tricky to turn with lots of bark inclusions that had to be stabilised.

18/04/2026

Sometimes it's difficult to get out of bed at 5.30am.
It's a short walk to the woods. Before dawn the colour still hits me, but the blues are flatter and in the pre dawn light there's not as much definition between dark and light.
Then, suddenly the first rays of sun rise above the horizon and the sea of flat blue is transformed. Plugged in to electricity and lit up. Massive contrasts, bright sun and dark shadow. The bluebells shift second by second and as the angles change as you walk, blues, purples explode across your eyes.
Every time the sun rises over the bluebells it takes my breath away for a second and I always take a moment to soak in the kaleidoscope of colours. I'm not sure there's many things as good for the soul....and it makes dragging myself out of bed at ungodly hours so worth it.

08/04/2026

Another early morning stroll in the woods.
The bluebells are probably 1-2 weeks away from being in full bloom.
The long-range forecast is for cloudy weather and occasional rain so I'm making the most of bright sunrises over the bluebells and amongst the trees. .

06/04/2026

It's been a while since I posted any woodland pics. A dodgy knee prevented me from wandering the woods as much as I'd like, but it's nearly bluebell season so I had to get back in the woods to see them.
They're not fully out yet but they're only a week or so away from their full magnificence.
I've been seeing pictures of nearby woods in the valley with carpets of bluebells, but with Chawton Park Woods being on one of the higher hills in Hampshire, spring always seems to be a week or so behind the surrounding valleys.
The forecast said clear skies but there was a thin bank of cloud on the horizon that diffused the usual orange dawn light.

20/12/2025

21/09/2025

Sometimes when it feels like the world's going all to s**t, take a moment of calm in nature. If you can't get out deep in the wilds of the countryside, stand under a tree cloaked in autumn colours, in a garden, park or even just in the street.
Soak in the changing colours. Bathe in the varying textures. Watch a leaf float to the ground. Touch the bark.
Sometimes a little Shinrin-yoku can help stop the dizziness and madness of everyday life, even if just a short while.

01/05/2025

What better way to start Beltane than sitting in the long shadows amongst the bluebells. An absolutely perfect start to the day.

22/04/2025

Out in the woods before sunrise to catch some sun over the bluebells. Magical.

20/04/2025

Sunshine. Makes such a difference doesn't it?
Whether you take a coat with you or a sunhat. Whether you have to walk briskly to keep warm or whether you'll stop an linger - caught in a sunbeam.
And...........whether your dawn walk in the bluebells feels like you've entered an other-worldly realm of a benevolent Fae, a land of honey and joy........ Or as today the darker icy realm of a cruel Fae queen.

The bluebell has a long folk history of association with the Fae. And sat amongst them either in sun or cloud you can see and feel why.

Heavy cloud obscured the sunrise so there was no 'golden hour' for photos this morning. Over to the West there was an indication that down in the valley a watery sun might be blessing Alresford and Ropley with more gold than grey. But an easterly wind was bringing cloud from Alton and stacking it up against the hill, making for a dreary dawn.

Instead of golden hour making the greens greener and the bluebells nearly purple, the blue filter of the impending rain made the bluebells bluer, and colder.

Spring may be springing, leaves may be unfurling and bluebells blooming, but the windchill cut the temperature from 4C to 0C.
I still enjoyed the walk in the woods this morning, but I'm hoping we'll see some more sun at dawn before the bluebells fade so I can sit and doze in the golden light and heady scent of the warmer bluebells.

02/03/2025

It's been a while since I was able to get out into the woods to watch the sunrise.
But the sunrise this morning did not disappoint. Nothing better than bathing in that early morning orange glow, even if it was below freezing.