Whispering Wood

Wood, Forest in West Lothian

Scotland

Whispering Wood

Dechmont Moss Wood As with all woods, the fun starts when you leave the paths, or path in the case of this small wood, as there is only one, that leads from the road to a hard path running alongside the railway. Due to the fact that the road is busy and there are regular trains, the &#039;Blair Witch&#039; effect is drastically reduced.
The wood gets denser the further East you go, and there is a lot of deadwood kicking about. I&#039;m fairly sure I have mentioned this in write-ups before, but an infuriating thing about the Woodland Trust&#039;s brilliant online documents about their woods is that they split their urban woodlands into &#039;compartments&#039; but never actually state where each compartment is located. This is probably 10a or 10b, and called Dechmont Moss West Wood, increasingly broadleafed due to gradual felling of 1970s-planted conifer.
I have been looking into ferns lately - it&#039;s akin to learning a foreign language. One thing I have discovered rather late in life, all things considered, is that most ferns have little dots on the underside of their leaves. These are spores which eventually fall off and due to some bewildering process eventually make new baby ferns. The spots are called sori (singular sorus), and the darker they are the closer they are to falling off. They can be seen next to the birch tree on the right of the picture, and the sori of the oldest leaves are already darkening. — Dechmont Moss Wood Credit: Ian Dodds

Whispering Wood is a picturesque forest located in West Lothian, Scotland. Covering an area of approximately 100 acres, it is a popular destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. The wood is characterized by its dense trees, tranquil atmosphere, and diverse wildlife.

The forest is predominantly made up of native Scottish species such as oak, birch, and pine, which create a stunning canopy overhead. The towering trees provide a sense of seclusion and shade, making it an ideal spot for a peaceful walk or a family picnic. The forest floor is covered with a thick carpet of moss and ferns, adding to the enchanting atmosphere.

Whispering Wood is home to a variety of wildlife, including red squirrels, roe deer, and a wide range of bird species. Birdwatchers flock to the wood to catch a glimpse of rare and migratory birds that inhabit the area. The gentle rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of birds give the wood its name, creating a soothing aura that envelops visitors.

The wood is also a popular spot for recreational activities such as hiking and mountain biking. Several well-marked trails wind through the forest, offering visitors the opportunity to explore its beauty. The trails cater to all skill levels, from beginners to experienced hikers, ensuring there is something for everyone.

Whispering Wood, with its natural beauty and serene ambiance, is a true gem in West Lothian. It provides an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the tranquility of nature.

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Whispering Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 55.905443/-3.564332 or Grid Reference NT0269. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Dechmont Moss Wood

As with all woods, the fun starts when you leave the paths, or path in the case of this small wood, as there is only one, that leads from the road to a hard path running alongside the railway. Due to the fact that the road is busy and there are regular trains, the 'Blair Witch' effect is drastically reduced. The wood gets denser the further East you go, and there is a lot of deadwood kicking about. I'm fairly sure I have mentioned this in write-ups before, but an infuriating thing about the Woodland Trust's brilliant online documents about their woods is that they split their urban woodlands into 'compartments' but never actually state where each compartment is located. This is probably 10a or 10b, and called Dechmont Moss West Wood, increasingly broadleafed due to gradual felling of 1970s-planted conifer. I have been looking into ferns lately - it's akin to learning a foreign language. One thing I have discovered rather late in life, all things considered, is that most ferns have little dots on the underside of their leaves. These are spores which eventually fall off and due to some bewildering process eventually make new baby ferns. The spots are called sori (singular sorus), and the darker they are the closer they are to falling off. They can be seen next to the birch tree on the right of the picture, and the sori of the oldest leaves are already darkening.

Ian Dodds

Nell Burn, Livingston

Although Nell Burn is shown on the largest-scale maps as being a small pond upstream of the mini-waterfall, it is unlikely that this is often the case. There has been a lot of rain over the last few days, and from the point the burn leaves the trees in the distant background, to its passage under a railway line just South of here, it flows through - and sometimes over - grassland. This is an odd site in an urban environment; usually such grassy meanderings are only found in remote countryside. The burn begins as a series of drains in Dechmont, then goes underground through the North of Deans, the Northernmost area of Livingston. When the water re-emerges in central Deans it achieves named status (this didn't happen until relatively recently though); then, by way of an old reservoir, it flows through the Eliburn area of the town, before joining Lochshot Burn. According to one website it sometimes also goes by the name of 'Eli Burn', which is obviously how that area of the town got its name. Nell and Ellie are interchangeable shortenings of some female names - e.g. Ellen. 'Eli' is an odd spelling of Ellie - it turns out though that it has something to do with some old noble family (startlingly, still lording it about in 2023!) who occupied Livingston Peel in the mid 1600s, shortly after they were granted the use of the title of Lord Elibank for some favour or other back in the day. Livingston Peel was basically a fancy house masquerading as a castle which once sat in the Eliburn area, and was all there was around here in mediaeval times apart from a few fields, and is the basis for the town's name. Elibank presumably derives from the area that belonged to the Murray family (aka the Elibanks) at the time the peerage was bestowed. A hill, a burn, some crags and a ruined castle still have the name. All are near Walkerburn, in what used to be Peeblesshire, and look to be close to where the family once owned (and no doubt probably still do own) land.

Ian Dodds

Twilight mist over Eliburn Reservoir

Whilst I know the difference between mist and fog (fog is just created by clouds being at ground level), quite why mist forms escapes me. It has something to do with water vapour (in this case from the reservoir) coming into contact with other colder passing air and turning back to water again I think! The odd thing here was that the mist only occupied the middle third of the water for whatever reason; it wasn't the case that if you moved to where the mist is in the photo, that that bit was clear close-up, and the top and bottom section looked misty. This is now a fishery. It may always have been so as there is no water board mentioned on old maps of here, as is usually the case with regular reservoirs. The most interesting thing I unearthed about the reservoir is that somebody had a lucky escape almost a year ago to the day when the ice gave way whilst he was doing a bit of ice hockey (?!) Old maps indicate that the reservoir is a bit over a hundred years old.

Ian Dodds

New signage on Railway Path in Knightsridge West

By railway bridge over Glasgow to Edinburgh line via Airdrie and Bathgate.

artful

Junction on Railway Path and path through Moss Wood in Knightsridge East

artful

New signeage by railway bridge on Railway Path in Knightsridge West

artful

Path leading to Sutherland Way from Railway Path in Knightsridge West

artful

Paths converging in Sutherland Way in Knightsridge West

artful

Kirk Road South Stripwood

Livingston is awash with stripwoods, almost all of which predate the building of the newtown by a century or more, being former farmland shelterbelts. This one heads roughly South from a cycle path that runs alongside the railway line, but the path running through it is easy to miss - as is the path through the adjoining wood further South across the road - as the signs all direct you to another perfectly adequate (but far duller) tarmacked cycle path that runs parallel to it. The Woodland Trust seems to own the majority of these woods; therefore Ordnance Survey maps are full of small narrow purple rectangles around here. All their woods come with detailed management plans, available online. They also all come with names, though these can sometimes be hard to tie in with what's on the ground when as small as this one, as the plans often have no maps included. Zooming in on the Historic Environment Scotland website's map, though, usually provides an answer. Although this name suggests some kind of historical link - the Kirkton area of Livingston being close by - in all probability it has been given because heading North along it you eventually reach a church, built as part of the newtown. The Woodland Trust is a charity and receives most of its funding through private donations, though businesses (some of which could be charged with greenwashing practices no doubt) and government top this up. Interestingly, a third of their annual income comes from money donated by the dead in wills.

Ian Dodds

The A89 near Bathgate

Viewed at Tesco’s massive distribution centre on a very cold December morning.

Mary and Angus Hogg

West Lothian Townscape : On the rampage at Livingston North

To facilitate diversity and inclusion, Daleks of all genders (and those that identify as hydraulic-fluid) are welcome to use the ramps provided. However, eternal quests for world domination will not be tolerated and anyone heard using exterminationist language will be no-platformed.

Richard West

Fintry Avenue, Livingston

Stephen Sweeney

Looking northwest from Starlaw Road

On the western outskirts of Livingston, looking towards Boghall, to the east of Bathgate.

M J Richardson

Alderstone Path

The equivalent of Alderstone Road running from Deans to the town centre. If travelling to Livingston by train, this is a good walk in through pleasant woodland.

Richard Webb

Livingston North Station

A railway station on the now through route between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Tags refer to the track's heritage as this is a modern station, opened around 1986.

Richard Webb