Autumn treasures

Autumn is a wonderful time of year and Broadwater is a great place to enjoy it in all it's glory. 

I spent the morning looking at some of the newly created heathland areas and the stunning views which have been opened up across the landscape - a patchwork of golden and orange woodland.

The area has one of the most unusual specimens of fungi - the Green Elf Cup. This colours pieces of rotten wood a bright blue-green and was used to provide the bright green colour for Tunbridge ware.

The woodwork, from the 18th and 19th centuries, was decorated using an inlaid mosaic of countless small pieces of different coloured woods.

I was also treated to the sight (and nip) of the industrious wood ants which live here and build their huge mounds out of leaves and woodland debris.

There are also lots of archaeological features around the site such as ancient boundary lines known as 'pales'. Hence the phrase 'beyond the pale'  meaning to be outside the area accepted as 'home'.

Broadwater is a fascinating place, rich in both wildlife and history.