Wonderful Woods and Scuttling Squirrels

Telegraph Hill and its ancient wood, is a very interesting place at any time of year but it looks amazing in the Autumn. I always try to come for a wander here when the Chestnuts are dropping and believe me, there are plenty of them to drop. 

The landscape is fascinating and the name Telegraph stems from a shutter signalling station that existed here during the Napoleonic Wars. The remains of an historic Armada beacon, is still visible atop the hill (it must have been one hell of a bonfire). Looking even further back into time, the remains of an Iron Age Hill Fort can be found, further into the woods. Other craters and holes look as if they could have been formed by bombs, I’m no expert though, just an amateur scrutineer.

I always enjoy a short run around a steep hill fort and the ramparts of the enclosure must have proved a pretty grim obstacle for any enemy. Now though the hillsides are covered by pine trees. The coniferous trees give the place an eerily quiet atmosphere; the dropped needles and lack of light are enough to stifle any growth under the canopy.

Part of the woods though, is given over to Chestnut coppicing. The yellow of the autumnal leaves, with the sunlight glimmering through them, highlights the carpet of spiky husks and shiny mahogany nuts and this is a magical sight to behold.

Unsurprisingly, squirrels abound in this perfect place, as do dog walkers and mountain bike riders. They (the squirrels) scuttle around on the floor, before scampering off to feast on their findings or bury them in some secret spot. While I was there exploring the area, I filled my pockets with the fattest chestnuts I could steal away from the cheeky rodents.

Telegraph Hill

Telegraph woods has a wonderful avenue of coppiced chestnut trees there are also pine trees and broadleaved oaks.



Towering Chestnut Trees

The woods also play host to an old Armada beacon and an even more ancient Iron Age hill fort. A diverse and truly fascinating landscape all tucked away in one small spot.

Coppiced Avenue

It is a handsome and intriguing place for a short autumnal walk and also a great place to collect Sweet Chestnuts. In places an eerie quiet descends, all sound muffled by the pine needles.

Eerie Exposed Root Systems in the Fort

Always be prepared; bring boots stout gloves and bags or a coat with big pockets.

Steep Banks of the Enclosure Now Pine Covered

Your main competitors will be the vast number of squirrels that inhabit the wood as well as the noisy jays.

A Fairytale Vista

Fill the coat pockets with your brown beauties and collect a few dry sticks while you are there.

A Squirrel's Breakfast Table

Then you can use the twigs to build a little fire to warm your extremities and roast your nuts on when you get home.

Sweet Chestnuts

You know that Autumn is in full swing when the Sweet Chestnuts start to pop onto the floor. Normally the first nuts to fall are the runts of the crop, too small and skinny to be of any use.

Meanwhile the finest, mahogany mammoths are safely swelling, encapsulated in their hedgehog-like homes.

There is a vast amount of substantial chestnut trees in some areas of Southampton.

In some places flour is made out of chestnuts but I find them dead fiddly; so I just build a fire in my BBQ and let the flames burn the shells off.

DON’T FORGET TO PIERCE THE SHELLS BEFORE COOKING OR THEY WILL EXPLODE!

Telegraph Hill/Woods

I recently took a short, damp November walk in Telegraph woods near Hedge End. I had not visited this place before but it is a very popular spot for dog walkers and nature enthusiasts alike. The most abundant animals I spotted though were grey squirrels, greedily gathering and burying acorns and chestnuts.

Watch Out For The Big Bad Wolf

Like a sinister illustration from a Hans Christian Anderson book, the first thing that strikes you as you enter these woods is that you are plunged into a twilight zone due to a stand of firs. These tall straight trees let through very little sun and this can look foreboding. However, the constant background drone of the M27 does tend to spoil the fairy-tale effect.

Coppiced Sweet Chestnut

The main path leads downhill and fairly soon breaks out into a sun-dappled grove of coppiced Sweet Chestnut trees. This is something that I have not come across before but I will definitely be back here next year to gather nuts, it really was an enchanting place. It was a bit late in the season for foraging these nuts and the recent wet weather had caused many of the nuts to begin sprouting shoots.

A Damp November Day

I was surprised to discover that there was an Iron Age hill fort in the area too, these structures have always held a fascination for me and I love to visit them whenever I can. Sadly my lunch hour did not permit further exploration, so I will have to report back at a later date on this very intriguing place.

Very Pretty Even On A Bleak Day

Beech, Holly, Chestnut, Oak and Fir