15th January 2017: A morning stroll around Stockhill.
In the woods there is plenty of evidence of the long gone mineral extractive industry. The landscape is pock-marked with pits and rakes. In this area the mineral of most interest was lead.
The ground here is tainted with the by products of the St Cuthbert’ smelting works and was given over to forestry many years ago.
Lichens and mosses have taken over the decaying stump of a felled tree.
There are several natural depressions found in this area, in the side of this one, a small stream sinks in a fissure in the underlying limestone shale.
There are plenty of fungi to be seen throughout the woodland.