I think, when Shakespeare wrote A Midsummer Night’s Dream, he had strolled in a forest like mine. Perhaps he had strolled in this very forest.
On evenings like this, words fail me. And so does my camera. For an English forest in the heat of midsummer, emerald-green, fairy-enchanted, filled with furtive birds and lazy wingborne creatures: an English forest is simply a fairytale.
Tonight the air was heavy with the perfume of pine and honeysuckle and there were patches of light which must surely have been bewitched. Languid sun shone through the leaves and possessed them, warm wind shimmered each line and detail of emerald so that a personality emerged, right there, in that very patch of light.
And for all the world, its seemed possible that Titania stood behind a tree just out of sight, and Oberon postured beyond the turn in the path.
Days like this: they frustrate the wordsmith in me. The blowsy, browsy warmth of an early English teatime, far from the madding crowds of London and the workplaces of the towns nearby, it will not be pinned down. The mesmerising light cannot be contained on a flat, man-made pixel-trap.
This is wild light, the kind you long to bottle. Fairy-light.
Kate Shrewsday 
THANK YOU FOR TAKING ME ON YOUR WOODLAND WALK
Pleasure, Sidey 🙂
*skips off tra-la-laing*
When we visited England, David’s wish was to see Robbers’ Bridge in Lorna Doone country. We stopped there for a few minutes. It was possibly the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. And I think your words bottled the light beautifully.
Thank you. High praise coming from a writer like you, Kathy.
Fairy light! I love this, Kate; your photos catching the wild light and your word painting such an ethereal picture of the enchantment in your forest. Thank you.
Penny, I am delighted to be able to communicate even a measure of what it was like. Days like that make writers humble.
Loved it Kate. Loved the way you have described it.
Thank you, Jas!
The light of beauty. It almost haunts me – my camera finger twitches when I am not free to be out in it.
I know exactly what you mean, Amy. My walk took twice as long as usual yesterday.
I enjoyed your walk in the woods. I would have taken some of the same pictures :-). You know that I like to take pictures of flora and fauna.
I do, Steven. I love following you on your travels.
Well said and very beautiful pictures as well. I can relate to the way a particular place or view can leave you almost speechless, but luckily you found just the right amount of words.
Originaltitle, how nice of you to come along and take the time to look and read. The words fell short, as did the pictures, though 🙂 You can’t best nature…
Looks as though Macaulay’s enjoying it almost as much as you, Kate. It’s a pretty cool day here, so I’m feeling how the air was limpid around you, your pictures fill in some of the details of the forest, and your words remind me of that shimmering fairy light. What a wonderful walk through the woods with you both!
Reblogged this on Brook Of Inspirations.
There is enchantment in the woods. As light plays upon shadow and we pause, between breaths, a glimpse of magic filters by.
Just to prove what a small, but magical world we are spinning around on, I have included a link to my fairy forest post: http://ninecentgirl.com/2012/06/03/forest-fairy/ Hope you have a moment to take a peek! Thanks for sharing yours!!!
‘To the woods!’ ‘But I’m only thirteen.’ ‘No time to be superstitious!’
Gorgeous scenes, indeed.
Wonderful description, Kate. I can picture it so easily – so summery, so English.
The frustrating thing is that no photo seems to do it justice. I took so many pictures of that light and landscape when I was there on my Rotary trip, and I look at them often. None of them capture the enchanted quality that hung in the very air.
Did you leave a trail of bread crumbs so as to find your way home? Macaulay looks like a natural part of that landscape. Look out for witches in candy cottages.
Kate -Fairy-enchanted says it perfectly and your wordsmithing skills are intact!
Chris
I have never loved your beloved forest more, Kate . . . especially those impossibly green ferns marking the path and beckoning to walkers, “Walk on!”
Moments like these are priceless 🙂
It looks like Macaulay had a rollicking good time. These photos make me yearn for the woods of a nature center back home. Just lovely, Kate.
How magical, Kate! I can see why words just aren’t enough, although your photos are lovely and give a strong sense of deliciousness! 🙂 I understand why you would just want to drink it in and hold onto summer!
Absolute fairy tale quality light Kate! And your words transported me to your magical forest! Thank you for sharing such beauty 🙂