Climbing and Hugging

Tree climbing where I grew up was the preserve of certain small boys, and girls, who were not content with staying on solid ground. Oaks were always preferred and the most successful climbs in summer got you into the denser foliage where you could not be easily seen.  At times tree-hugging was necessary as one of the scrambling techniques.

Users of the now pejorative term 'tree hugger' as a sneer against environmentalists now include not just apologists for logging but also supporters of  the vested interest profiting from land being kept artificially empty of trees, usually for grouse shooting but also for other exploiting practices including farming. The origin seems to have been a protest movement in India where villagers linked arms to prevent loggers destroying their local woodland.

The eastern parts of Blacka are where you're most likely to find the younger oaks that we used to favour for early attempts. One such oak stands close to the Strawberry Lee Lane entrance, a fine meandering specimen.

The beeches along the track further on are old and splendid, suitable for only more advanced climbing.

But a turn uphill to the right alongside the boundary fence brings us to several more oaks.

These are behind Lenny Hill and overlook some wilder private land. This has remained undeveloped and largely unmanaged for many years. Long may it remain so.