Bowsie's Diary

Hurt No Living Thing

2008-06-23T20:54:00.001+01:00

By Christina Rossetti

Hurt no living thing:

Ladybird, nor butterfly,

Nor moth with dusty wing,

Nor cricket chirping cheerily,

Nor grasshopper so light of leap,

Nor dancing gnat, nor beetle fat,

Nor harmless worms that creep.

King Arthur

2008-06-19T11:16:00.002+01:00

When good King Arthur ruled the land,

He was a goodly king:

He stole three pecks of barley meal,

To make a bag-pudding.

A bag-pudding the king did make,

And stuffed it well with plums;

And in it put great lumps of fat,

As big as my two thumbs.

The king and queen did eat thereof,

And noblemen beside;

And what they could not eat that night,

The queen next morning fried.

Anonymous

Soudley Ponds

2008-06-09T10:46:00.002+01:00

Wow! Wasn’t yesterday fun!

It’s about time we had a bit of sun, isn’t it?

I went back to my sock drawer for a couple of weeks, the weather was so miserable.

Yesterday, I was out in the Forest. It was beautiful.

Down by the ponds the Damselflies and Dragonflies were out and about.

We are so lucky to be so close to the Forest.

I'm off to Soudley Ponds again today – see you there!

Ciao!

Bowsie

The Vision

2008-06-08T11:50:00.003+01:00

by Vivienne Corby

One day, just at sunset, we came to a hill,

The three of us, me, little Judith, and Bill,

And we saw such a wonderful sight, we three,

That it seemed like a marvellous dream to me.

For there on the grass, in the shade of the trees,

Were hundreds of fairies who danced in the breeze;

And how their wings shone in the fast sinking sun!

We wanted to kiss them, yes, every one.

And then Billy sneezed, and they all flew away.

But still we are hoping to this very day

That we’ll see them again, on top of the hill,

The three of us, me, little Judith, and Bill.

The Ride-by-Nights

2008-05-31T11:07:00.002+01:00

by Walter de la Mare (1873-1956)

Up on their brooms the Witches stream,

Crooked and black in the crescent’s gleam;

One foot high, and one foot low,

Bearded, cloaked, and cowled, they go.

‘Neath Charlie’s Wain they twitter and tweet,

And away they swarm ‘neath the Dragon’s feet.

With a whoop and a flutter they swing and sway,

And surge pell-mell down the Milky-Way.

Betwixt the legs of the glittering Chair

They hover and squeak in the empty air.

Then round they swoop past the glimmering Lion

To where Sirius barks behind huge Orion;

Up, then, and over to wheel amain,

Under the silver, and home again.

Oxfordshire Children’s May Song

2008-05-05T13:05:00.002+01:00

Country Rhyme

Spring is coming, spring is coming

Birdies, build your nest;

Weave together straw and feather,

Doing each your best.

Spring is coming, spring is coming

Flowers are coming too:

Pansies, lilies, daffodillies,

Now are coming through.

Spring is coming, spring is coming

All around is fair;

Shimmer and quiver on the river,

Joy is everywhere.

We wish you a happy May.

Old Shellover

2008-04-29T14:11:00.002+01:00

by Walter de la Mare (1873-1956)

“Come!” said Old Shellover.

“What?” says Creep.

“The horny old Gardener’s fast asleep;

The fat cock Thrush

To his nest has gone,

And the dew shines bright

In the rising Moon;

Old Sallie Worm from her hole doth peep;

Come!” said Old Shellover

“Ay!” said Creep.

Bowsie Awakes

2008-04-29T09:10:00.008+01:00

Bowsie: (yawns)

Boddington: Ahh I see you have woken my friend.

Bowsie: Yes, I have. How’s bluebell?

Boddington: Fine, fine.

(Bluebell appears)

Bluebell: Oh hello Bowsie. I thought you were awake!!!!!!!!!!!

Bowsie is Awake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome Back Bowsie

Written by Ellie

A Child’s Poem

2008-04-26T11:14:00.010+01:00

by Robert Bridges (1844-1930)

Look! Look! The spring is come :

O feel the gentle air,

That wanders thro’ the boughs to burst

The thick buds everywhere !

The birds are glad to see

The high unclouded sun :

Winter is fled away, they sing,

The gay time is begun.

Adown the meadows green

Let us go dance and play,

And look for violets in the lane,

And ramble far away

To gather primroses,

That in the woodland grow,

And hunt for oxslips, or if yet

The blades of blue bells show :

There the old woodman gruff

Hath half the coppice cut,

And weaves the hurdles all day long

Beside his willow hut.

We’ll steal on him, and then

Startle him, all with glee

Singing our song of winter fled

And summer soon to be.

Whoopee!! I'm awake!!!

2008-04-08T12:17:00.003+01:00

Hi Everybody!

I'm awake. It's a little early for me but it was warmer last week.

Today it's freezing.

Perhaps you saw me Saturday? I was out walking in the Wet Wood near Boys Grave.

It was VERY WET. I nearly fell into a puddle a couple of times.

I had a cup of tea with Bonnington and Boddington yesterday. They said they have enjoyed looking after my blog, but they got a bit tired towards the end!

Well I hope I can stay awak, because Im looking forward to som new adventures!

Ciao

Bowsie

Alms in Autumn

2008-04-05T00:56:00.002+01:00

by Rose Fyleman (1877-1957)

Spindle-wood, spindle-wood, will you lend me, pray,
A little flaming lantern to light me on my way?
The fairy folk have vanished from the meadow and the glen,
And I would fain go seeking till I find them once again;
Lend me now a lantern that I may bear a light
To show the hidden pathway in the darkness of the night.

Ash tree, ash tree, throw me, if you please,
Throw me down a slender bunch of russet-gold keys;
I fear the gates of fairyland may all be shut fast;
Give me of your magic keys that I may get past;
I’ll tie them to my girdle, that as I go along
My heart may find a comfort in their tiny tinkling song.

Holy bush, holly bush, help me in my task,
A pocket full of berries is all the alms I ask;
A pocket full of berries to thread in glowing strands
(I would not go a-visiting with nothing in my hands);
So fine will be the rosy chains, so gay, so glossy bright,
They’ll set the realms of fairyland a-dancing with delight.

(12) The Night Watch

2008-02-18T15:58:00.002Z

Bonnington and Boddington are doing the night watch. They are happy with that. It is their best time of day. Their eyesight is perfectly adapted for seeing things in the dark. Their sense of smell gives them an early warning of anything untoward.

Bonnington and Boddington are very brave badgers. They are afraid of nothing… but tonight is not like any other night.

‘If we see the litter louts, should we say anything?’ says Bonnington

‘No! Bowsie asked us to watch what they do and find out who they are’ said Boddington.

‘Find out who they are? They are the Tall People like Emma and Jane only very naughty.’ said Bonnington.

‘That’s right.’ said Boddington.

‘I’m confused now,’ said Bonnington, ‘let’s have a nice cup of tea!’
‘We are two miles away from the sett. How can we have a cup of tea?’

‘Emma lent me a special bottle for keeping tea hot, called a “Thermos”, look.’ and with that Bonnington poured two cups of strong tea.

‘Two sugars, please!’ said Boddington.

‘Hmmmmm! Hmmmm!’ said Bonnington and Boddington together.

Bowsie's Forest of Dean Adventure (part eleven)

2008-02-05T15:39:00.001Z

Bowsie and his friends have decided to set up a 24 hour watch for litter louts. They are all very excited.

They trotted down to the Cannop Ponds and walked along the path towards the stone works.

(this is a view of Cannop Pond from The Stone works)

They were shocked by the amount of rubbish that had been left along the bank. There were lots of beer cans, plastic bottle, cigarette packets and even supermarket bags full of rubbish tied to trees!

‘Oh! This is terrible!’ said Bowsie, ‘I didn’t realize it was this bad.’

‘Please be careful. It would be so easy to cut your feet.’

‘It’s not a very pleasant place to bring children.’

‘Or Grannies!’ said Emma and Jane.

‘This is the place to watch.’ said Bowsie.

‘We’ll have to have a rota. Who wants to do the night watch?’

‘We’ll do the night watch.’ said Bonnington and Boddington together, ‘we’ll be awake anyway.’

‘Me too.’ said Bluebell.

‘We’ll do some of the day watch.’ said Emma and Jane together.

‘I’ll fill in the gaps with some Forest friends.’ said Bowsie.

‘Let’s get together on Saturday to discuss our findings.’

‘Anyone for a cuppa!’ said Bonnington.

‘I thought you’d never ask!’ said Boddington.

So they all went back to Bonnington and Boddington’s sett for a nice cup of tea. They were all very excited about the adventure and little bit frightened too.

Coal Seams

2008-01-17T23:18:00.000Z

Boys Grave and Cannop Ponds Forest Trail

Stop 6 – Coal

You are standing in front of an outcrop of shaley Pennant sandstone and thin bands of coal. Look at the diagram notice how numerous coal seams of the ’Crow Delf’ series, tilt and come to the surface (‘outcrop’) between here and Cannop Ponds.

This particular outcrop is thin and unworkable so has not earned itself a name, but it lies between two much thicker bands of coal called ‘Starkey’ and ‘Rockey’, both of which have been mined extensively.

When you move on you will see across the stream grey, clay coal waste tips which are now tree covered, evidence that ‘freeminers’ of the Forest once worked here, mining the ‘Starkey’ seam.

Other seams you will cross have romantic sounding names like ‘Breadless’, ‘No Coal’, ‘Bry’, ‘Twenty Inch’, and ‘Little’, names that almost tell a story in themselves. Can you imagine what heartbreaks ‘Breadless’ caused before it earned such a name?

All these coal seams were formed 300 million years ago by plants in shallow lakes dying and accumulating as peat; this is compressed, as sand is piled on top, and eventually fossilizes into coal. You can almost see the plants have been laid down in layers with the occasional washing over them of sand laden rivers.

Follow along by the Stream

The path goes through a mixed oak wood. The leaves decay quickly and give a rich humus to the soil which enables many small animals to live in it. You are approaching the main part of the circular valley round the Forest, where most of the important coal seams are found, and the stream crosses these every few yards. If you look carefully, you will see traces of some coal seams mentioned above in the banks.

Brambles are common. The thorns they carry are to help them clamber over the brushwood, not just to hurt people.

The stream you have been following is called the Mersiche Brook, and odd name, probably from the Anglo-Saxon meaning ‘boundary stream’.

It has many meanders here, which is typical of a stream flowing over a fairly flat floor to a valley.

___

This text was written by B. V. Cave of the Wilderness Wildlife Centre Mitcheldean and M.J. Dunn, Forest Warden, for the Forestry Commission 'Boy's Grave and Forest Trail'. © 1974

___

Bowsie's Forest of Dean Adventure (part ten)

2008-01-06T17:42:00.000Z

Bowsie and all his friends were relaxing by the small pool.

Bonnington and Boddington were sipping tea.

Emma and Jane had Lemonade.

The Blue Fairy was drinking nectar from a buttercup.

Bowsie was trying to relax, but he had a question nagging him. He turned to the others and said, ‘Why has the litter problem got so bad recently?’

‘We’ve always had a problem,’ said Boddington, ‘but it seems to have got a lot worse.’

‘Especially around the ponds.’ said Bluebell.

Bonnington rubbed his nose gently, ‘When I was in the hospital, everybody was talking about it!’

‘It was so sad to see all those injured animals.’ said Emma and Jane together.

‘The cigarette burns are the worst. I wouldn’t like one of those!’ said Bonnington.

‘Where did you get that metal thing from in the first place?’ asked Bowsie.

‘Down by the large ponds a bit further down the path.’ said Bonnington.

‘I know what we’ll do!’ said Bowsie jumping up suddenly.

‘What!?!’ asked every body at the same time.

‘We’ll keep a watch and see who is leaving all this rubbish’.

‘Wow! Spy on the Litter Louts! You ARE BRAVE BOWSIE!’ said Bonnington, spilling his tea.

‘We know that! ‘ said Emma and Jane together.

The Forest of Dean

2007-12-29T13:44:00.000Z

The Forest of Dean is a place of natural beauty and poetry as well as mystery and magic. It is the home of beasts and fairies, men and elves. All these elements form the warp and weft of Forest history. Nature and Supernature combine to create this multi-dimensional environment only equalled within the liberties of Old London Town.

Many have come here with the lust for land and domination but none could subdue the spirit of freedom and equality permeating the very air itself and coursing through the bodies of these unique and enchanted beings. Soon they would be absorbed and became part of this body, adding and enhancing the whole.

Every molecule of every breath you breath in the Forest has wafted through the hair or blown the fires or cooled the blood of a thousand Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Normans who walked these trails.

Within these woods many characters of legend and myth have breathed and walked.

A Small Pool

2007-12-27T20:52:00.000Z

Stop 5 – A Small Pool

This pool, formed artificially by the diversion of the stream, will eventually fill up by silting and the growth of plants, but meanwhile gives the chance for water plants and animals to live. The tall alder trees by its edge usually grow close to the water. The roots of these trees have large reddish swellings on them which contain bacteria which help the roots get nutrients – a difficult process in water-logged soil. The stems lying around are in many cases attacked by fungus which will result in their decay into dust. Bacteria also help in this decay.

(Follow the path on the other side of the stream downhill and soon you should cross the brook and climb up the other side to the open ground.)

As you travel along you will see the cut stumps of trees. Trees stop growth each year and this leaves a ring. You may be able to count the rings and see how old these trees were at felling.

Squirrels jump from branch to branch hereabouts. Kestrels hover over open ground seeking for mice. A large winged buzzard may be seen circling, also seeking prey. A strong ‘musky’ odour will tell you if a fox has passed nearby.

A number of the trees have ivy climbing up them and wild honeysuckle clambers over others. Neither hurts trees, unless they circle and strangle them, which honeysuckle is more likely to do.

Through the trees dark spruces can be seen in the distance. So many greens can be seen: dark green spruce, yellow greens of the grass, and various greens of ivy, oak and other trees. Why are they all green? Why are plants green?

This text was written by B. V. Cave of the Wilderness Wildlife Centre, Mitcheldean and M.J. Dunn, forest Warden, for the Forestry Commission 'Boy's Grave and Forest Trail'. © 1974

Bowsie's Forest of Dean Adventure (part nine)

2007-12-27T20:25:00.000Z

After a couple of days of the special ointment and the green spotted bandage and lashings of sweet tea, Bonnington’s nose healed beautifully.

Nurse Florence removed the bandage for the last time and took a good look.

‘This is much better.’ she said.

‘Good! Thank you very much.’ said Bonnington.

‘What do you want to do today?’ said Emma and Jane and Bowsie.

They had come to see Bonnington every day while his bandage was on, but they couldn’t understand anything he said. Now, with the bandage off, his voice was clear again.

‘It’s lovely and sunny today. Let’s go and sit by the pond. It’s just a little way down this path.’ said Bonnington.

‘Goodbye Nurse Florence. Thank you for everything. We’ll be back later.’

They followed the path down to a beautiful quiet spot by a little pond.

‘Oh, it is nice here.’ said Emma and Jane.‘Yes, it is, ‘ said Bowsie, ‘but what are we going to do about all this litter?’.

King Arthur's boyhood was spent in the Forest of Dean

2007-12-21T14:01:00.001Z

The Forest of Dean is a place of beauty and history as will as mystery and magic. It is the home of beasts and fairies, men and elves. Every molecule of every breath you breath in the Forest was here when the Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Normans walked these trails. Within these woods many characters of legend and myth have breathed and walked.

…and none of these heroes is more entwined in the tapestry that is the story of the islands of Briton than Arthur.

Between the departure of the Romans and the domination of the Anglo-Saxons, Arthur was born: Son of King Uther Pendragon and Lady Igraine.

Arthur was brought to the Forest of Dean by Merlyn to protect him from the sorceress Morgana le Fay. Merlyn carried the baby Arthur to the cave, now bearing his name: King Arthur’s Cave, on the Little Doward near Symond’s Yat. The cave was well protected below the Hill fort. Merlyn’s next task was to find a family to bring up the boy Arthur.

The woods were more extensive then and covered all the land between the Severn and the Wye.

As he watched the blacksmith hammering a horse's shoe or fashioning the blade of a sword, neither knew anything of his lofty birth nor could guess at his illustrious future.

Arthur would run with the deer and climb with the polecats and pine martens. He became fast and agile on the ground and in the trees. He respected the animals and they him.

A fraction of the blood that ran in his veins was from his faerie forefathers, so he was aware of the elven folk that inhabited the Forest and understood their ways. Sometimes, he was allowed to cross that gossamer web that separated the two folk that inhabited the Forest, and live amongst them for a while.

Bowsie's Forest of Dean Adventure (part eight)

2007-12-21T12:49:00.000Z

‘First of all, let me take a look at Bonnington’s nose.’ said Florence the Nightingale.

‘Oh dear! How did you do this?’

‘I got my nose stuck in a a shiny cylinder thingy.’ said Bonnington.

‘You should know better at your age!. We’ll soon have you cured. I’ll just rub on some of this special ointment and you’ll have to keep this bandage on for a two days.’

‘Hmnnnmm! Nghgiigj! hnnnmm!’

‘I know you won’t be able to speak or eat, but it will be worth it when you’re better.’

‘Hiimlkklklk! Uyyu! Gneee!’.

‘Cup of tea! If you can’t go without a cup of tea, perhaps you may take the bandage off for a couple of minutes. ‘

‘But you be sure to wipe your nose dry and put the bandage back on.’

‘ssHiiwaaaynccy’ ooo!’

‘You’re welcome.’

Bowsie's Favourite Games: What kind of Animal am I?

2007-12-19T16:05:00.001Z

This game is fun to play with your friends or you can play it with your Mum and Dad, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles!

Attach a picture of an animal to the back of one of the children or grown-ups playing the game.

Be careful not to show the picture to the person because they have to guess who they are by asking questions.

Ask the person to turn round so that everyone else can see what the animal is.

The chosen person then has to discover who they are by asking questions.

For example:

‘Have I got four legs?’

‘Have I got stripes?’

‘Do I live in Africa?’

The other children can only answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Take it in turns. It’s great fun!!!

Fairy Stories (i) (by William Shakespeare)

2007-12-10T15:16:00.000Z


     Over hill, over dale,
         Thorough bush, thorough brier,
       Over park, over pale,
         Thorough flood, thorough fire,
         I do wander everywhere,
         Swifter than the moone's sphere;
         And I serve the fairy queen,
         To dew her orbs upon the green:
         The cowslips tall her pensioners be;
         In their gold coats spots you see;
         Those be rubies, fairy favours,
         In those freckles live their savours:
       I must go seek some dew-drops here,
   And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear.

A Deciduous Wood

2007-12-08T22:17:00.000Z

Stop 4 – A Deciduous Wood

‘Deciduous’ means the leaves fall off in Autumn, evergreen trees also shed their leaves, but they always have a new set on first.

Here is a little holly tree, common enough. Do you see that some of the leaves are marked as though an animal has eaten between the layers of the leaf? This is indeed what has happened. A fly maggot has done this damage. In the wild, such diseases are kept in balance, so that plants would not normally die. In cultivation, diseases often get the upper hand. In the wild, certain tiny wasps attack the fly maggots, and birds also winkle them out of the leaves.

The woodland floor is here carpeted with the plants characteristic of an English woodland. Bluebells, wood sorrel and celandines are here. Such plants produce leaves early in the year to make use of the sunlight before the trees shade them too deeply. They are well adapted to their life.

As you go along you will see that many trees have grey crusty lichens on them. This shows that the air is reasonably pure here. They will not grow in smoky towns. Lichens are curious plants, half fungus, half algae.

You now pass into an open area recently felled and replanted; there is a luxuriant growth of grasses. As you cross the man-made ditch you will see its bottom consists of heavy clay. The clay was formed by the action of ice in the ice age grinding the surface rocks into a heavily compacted clay mass.

Keep to the path by the edge of the Oak Wood and turn towards the stream.

Grasses have greenish flowers like rushes but have flat leaves. The flowers have pollen blown from plant to plant by the wind to fertilize the female parts to produce seed, quite unlike other flowers which use insects to transfer the pollen. The pollen blown in the wind causes hay fever in some people.

This text was written by B. V. Cave of the Wilderness Wildlife Centre Mitcheldean for the Forestry Commission 'Boy's Grave and Forest Trail'.

Bowsie's Forest of Dean Adventure (part seven)

2007-12-07T14:49:00.000Z

Bonnington looked around the hospital ward, which was spread about the clearing amongst the Oak and Beech trees. The sun shone through the branches and the clearing was bathed in mottled golden light.

Nearly every patch of grass was taken. There were rabbits and wood mice. There were squirrels and dormice. In one corner was a whole flock of sparrows in loud conversation with a flock of blue-tits. The noise was like an orchestra tuning up.

He had never seen it so full! At first, he not could see anywhere to lie down. Then he heard a familiar voice.

‘Over here’, the pine marten called. ‘There’s a space next to me.’

‘What are you doing here?’ asked Bonnington.

‘I burnt my foot on a cigarette thrown from a car window’, said the pine marten, ‘but it’s getting better already thanks to Florence. She’s the best nurse in the Forest.’

As Bonnington settled down on his comfortable bed of moss and heather, he looked around the other beds and saw all the animals were injured: cuts and bruises; burns and blisters; bandaged arms and legs; eye patches – EYE PATCHES!

‘What is going on?!?’ Bonnington asked Bowsie, Boddington, Emma and Jane who were busy plumping up his bed, and making sure he was comfortable.

‘I don’t know’, said Bowsie, ‘but I am going to find out and whoever is hurting all my friends had better look out!!!’

The North Wind Doth Blow

2007-12-07T08:46:00.000Z

The north wind doth blow,
And we shall have snow,
And what will the robin do then,

Poor thing!

He'll sit in a barn,
And keep himself warm,
And hide his head under his wing

Poor thing!

How large unto the tiny fly (Walter de la Mare)

2007-12-02T19:37:00.002Z

How large unto the tiny fly
Must little things appear! –
A rosebud like a feather bed,
Its prickle like a spear;

A dewdrop like a looking glass,
A hair like golden wire;
The smallest grain of mustard-seed
As fierce as coals of fire;

A loaf of bread, a lofty hill;
A wasp, a cruel leopard;
And specks of salt as bright to see
As lambkins to a shepherd.

The Ant and the Dove (Aesop)

2007-11-30T14:46:00.000Z

An ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of drowning.

A dove sitting on a tree overhanging the water plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to her.

The ant climbed onto it and floated, in safety, to the bank.

Shortly afterwards a bird-catcher came and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the Dove, which sat in the branches.

The ant, perceiving his design, bit him on the foot.

In pain the bird-catcher threw down the twigs, and the noise made the Dove take wing.

Stop 3 - An Evergreen Forest

2007-11-29T21:12:00.000Z

There are few tall green plants like grasses and rushes growing here: it is far too dark. Only mosses are able to manage on some of the stumps and stones.

There are stumps from old woodland that was here, and from the thinnings of present woodland.

Later, as the wood grows older, it will be ‘thinned’ again, pools of light will penetrate the canopy and the vegetation will return.

How thick are the spruce needles on the ground? They decay slowly compared with the leaves of an oak wood.

What causes the leaves and stumps to decay?

What would the world be like if nothing decayed?

Cross the forest ride

This text was written by B. V. Cave of the Wilderness Wildlife Centre Mitcheldean for the Forestry Commission 'Boy's Grave and Forest Trail'.

Bowsie's Forest of Dean Adventure (part six)

2007-11-28T11:07:00.001Z

‘What I could do with now, is a nice cup of tea!’ said Bonnington.

‘Kettle’s on!’ said Boddington.

They all sat down for a nice cup of tea.

‘Ouch!’ said Bonnington.

‘…and ooohh!’ he said again.

‘I can’t drink this. My snout is too sore!’

And his snout did look very red and there were little cuts on it where the sharp edges of the can had cut in.

‘We’d better take you to the hospital.’ said Bluebell.

‘Can you walk?’ asked Emma and Jane.

‘I’m fine. It’s not far to Florence’s Hospital. I hope they are not too busy!’

‘It’s just down here at the end of the ride.’

‘Careful! Sometimes the spruce needles can be quite sharp.’ Said Bluebell

They were now surrounded on either side by the Evergreen Wood. As they walked along the ride, they were joined by other another friends who had heard the voices and wondered what was going on. Two young fallow deer followed behind. Squirrels leapt from branch to branch chattering to each other.

‘Look. It’s Bonnington. He’s hurt.’
‘They are taking him to Florence the Nightingale’s Hospital.’

When they came to the Deciduous Wood, they pass the Holly Tree to a small clearing.

There was a small wooden sign, ‘Florence the Nightingale’s Woodland Hospital’.

The clearing was full of injured animals and birds.

Florence flew down to a branch close to Bonnington and said, ‘Please come in and find a moss bed. We are very busy, as you can see…’

Kindness to Animals (poet unknown)

2007-11-26T21:44:00.001Z

Little children never give
Pain to things that feel and live:
Let the gentle Robin come
For crumbs you save at home, -
As his meat you throw along
He’ll repay you with a song;
Never hurt the timid hare
Peeping from her green grass lair,
Let her come and sport and play
On the lawn at close of day;
The little lark goes soaring high
To the bright windows of the sky,
Singing as if ‘twere always spring,
And fluttering on an untired wing, -
Oh! Let him sing his happy song,
Nor do these gentle creatures wrong.

The Curliest Thing (poet unknown)

2007-11-25T18:29:00.001Z

The squirrel is the curliest thing
I think I ever saw;
He curls his back, he curls his tail,
He curls his little paw,
He curls his little vest so white,
His little coat so grey –
He is the most curled-up wee soul
Out in the woods at play!

A Mossy Bank

2007-11-25T15:05:00.000Z

A Mossy Bank (Forest of Dean Trail - Stop 2)

From Black Penny Wall Well follow the trail down the hill.

You are entering a plantation of Christmas Trees (Norway Spruce), planted in 1937.

In front is a mossy bank beneath a Sweet Chestnut tree. This tree arises as a number of stems from its base. Originally a tree was cut down and its re-growth has produced this effect. Frequently, the young long stems are cut to use for fencing, but here this stage is long past.

Have you ever wondered what makes a moss, a moss? You never see flowers on a moss. You may be fortunate enough to see a number of spore cases standing tall on the moss plants. These produce tiny structures – spores – which blow in the wind and may, if landing on the right soil, grow into new moss plants.

As you go down the ride between the dense woods, you may in muddy places, see the footprints or slots, of the fallow deer that are to be found here. You will also see how, beneath the Norway Spruce plantation, there is almost no vegetation. Only in the driveway are there any green plants growing.

Why do you think this is?

This text was written by B. V. Cave of the Wilderness Wildlife Centre Mitcheldean for the Forestry Commission 'Boy's Grave and Forest Trail'.

Bowsie's Forest of Dean Adventure (part five)

2007-11-22T20:35:00.001Z

Bluebell flew out of the MAGIC FAIRY CIRCLE and disappeared!

‘Where has she gone?’ said Emma.

‘Down the hill!’ shouted Bowsie and then he ran out of the MAGIC FAIRY CIRCLE.

‘EEE EEE!” he said.

‘That’s it - we can’t understand him anymore.’ said Jane.

‘Please hurry,’ said the Elf ‘you can help Bonnington’, and he ran out of the MAGIC FAIRY CIRCLE.

Down the hill they all raced.

They soon came to a beautiful plantation of Norway Spruce.

‘Christmas Trees! This is it.’ said Jane.

‘There’s the Sweet Chestnut Tree!’ said Emma, out of breath now.

‘And there’s the moss-covered bank and a beautiful Badger – but there is something blue and shiny stuck on his nose.’

Bluebell suddenly appeared on the mossy bank. ‘This is Bonnington. Please help.’

Emma carefully lifted Bonnington and sat him on her lap. He was warm and quiet heavy. His eyes were full of tears.

Jane had a good look at how the beer can was attached to his snout.

‘I think I can do it without hurting you too much.’ she said to Bonnington.

She placed her handkerchief around his nose, on the edge of the can and gently tugged.

The can slid over Bonnington’s snout and he was free!

‘Hurray!’ shouted the Bluebell and the Elf.

‘Hurray!’ shouted Bowsie.

‘Thank you very much.’ said Bonnington with a very nasal voice.

‘Hurray for Emma and Jane!!!’ said everybody at once and they held hands and danced and danced on the mossy bank

The Elves (poet unknown)

2007-11-21T20:33:00.000Z

If you make a daisy chain,
And hang it on a tree,
Elves will have it for a swing -
You just try and see.

If you put a bunch of May
Somewhere in the ground,
Elves will trim their hat-brims with it,
And then dance round and round.

If you shake the petals down
From a crimson rose,
Elves will come and gather them
To make their Sunday clothes.

If you drop an apple blossom
When the dew is on it,
Elves will set to work and make
A baby fairy’s bonnet.

Bowsie's Forest of Dean Adventure (part four)

2007-11-20T20:21:00.001Z

‘I’m feeling better now after that cup of tea.’ said Bonnington.

‘Me too!’ said Boddington.

‘Get on with the story then!’

‘I will, I will…..’ said Boddington.

Emma and Jane got over the shock of hearing Bowsie speak very quickly.

Bluebell had told them that Bonnington, Bowsie’s best friend (or at least one of them), had a beer can stuck on his nose.

‘Can we help?’ said Emma and Jane together in unison.

‘I was hoping you would say that.’ said Bluebell.

‘Bonnington is down the path in the Spruce Wood plantation. You will find a mossy bank beneath a Sweet Chestnut Tree. You’ll find him there.’ said Bluebell. She had stopped sobbing now that help was at hand.

‘I’ll fly down and meet you there. Once we leave the MAGIC FAIRY CIRCLE you won’t be able to see or hear me any more, but the mossy bank is another Magic Fairy place.’

‘Please hurry!’ and off she flew with a flutter of her gossamer wings.

Who has seen the Wind? By Christina Rossetti

2007-11-19T21:53:00.001Z

Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you,
But when the leaves hang trembling,
The wind is passing through.

Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I,
But when the trees bow down their heads,
The wind is passing by.

Black Penny Wall Well in the Forest of Dean

2007-11-19T21:22:00.000Z

Black Penny Wall Well (Forest of Dean Trail - Stop 1)

This was probably commonly used as a drinking place by travellers through the Forest. Its importance is indicated by the way it has been lined with stonework. The name is a corruption of Blackberry.

Around the well are rushes, foxgloves, and plants of hard-fern. Rushes grow only in wet places. Their leaves and stems, like onions, are hollow. Can you see how greenish flowers are set on the stems a few inches below the tip? Dried rushes were strewn on the floor as carpets in the Middle Ages, and bunched and soaked in grease, were also used as lamps.

In the water a green scum can usually be seen. This is the algae, a primitive form of plant life.

The spring is caused by water collecting between a layer of clay and a layer of sandstone above, and flows out here where the two layers surface.

This text was written by B. V. Cave of the Wilderness Wildlife Centre Mitcheldean for the Forestry Commission 'Boy's Grave and Forest Trail'.

Hibernation

2007-11-18T14:00:00.000Z

Emma has written to recommend an interesting web-site. Here is her note:

'...Bowsie is still safely snuggled in my sock drawer, but she was talking in her sleep today. She said she worried that Mr Hunt might be lonely without her special visits.

I found this website that I thought might cheer up all the people who were missing Bowsie over the winter, as it is all about hibernation.

http://www.mrsjonesroom.com/themes/hibernation.html

...'

Ciao

Bonnington xxx and Boddington xxx

About the Fairies by Jean Ingelow

2007-11-18T12:08:00.000Z

Pray, where are all the bluebells gone,
That lately bloomed in the wood?
Why, the little fairies have each taken one,
And put it on for a hood.

And where are the pretty grass-stalks gone,
That waved in the summer breeze?
Oh, the fairies have taken them, every one,
To plant in their gardens like trees.

And where are the great big blue-bottles gone,
That buzzed in their busy pride?
Oh, the fairies have caught them, every one,
And have broken them in, to ride.

And they’ve taken the glow-worms to light their halls,
And the cricket to sing them a song;
And the great red rose leaves to paper their walls,
And they’re feasting the whole night long.

And when Spring comes back with its soft mild ray,
And the ripple of gentle rain,
The fairies bring what they’ve taken away,
And give it us all again.

Bowsie's Forest of Dean Adventure (part three)

2007-11-17T19:46:00.000Z

‘Why don’t you get on with the story?’ said Boddington.

‘Which story?’ said Bonnington.

‘The story about Bowsie and Bluebell at the Black Penny Wall Well in the Forest of Dean. You got to the bit where Bluebell, the blue fairy, was sitting on a stone sobbing.’ said Boddington.

‘Yes, yes. I remember now.’ said Bonnington, thoughtfully, ‘But why was she crying?’

‘You should remember. It was your fault. You are always poking your nose into things!’

‘Should I? Was it? Am I?’

‘Dooooh!’ said Boddington, getting very impatient.

‘Yes, I remember now, it was my fault.’ said Bonnington.

‘Well, why don’t you finish the story then?’ sighed Boddington.

‘I’m tired Boddington. You do it.’

‘OK. If you insist. You are hopeless at telling stories anyway!...’

‘As you were saying, Bluebell, the fairy, was sitting on the large moss-covered stone crying.’

She was so pleased and relieved to see Bowsie, but she could not stop crying as she told Bowsie about what had happened.

‘It’s Bonnington,’ she sobbed ‘he’s got his nose stuck in one of those horrible metal cylinders the TALL PEOPLE throw about all over the forest. Nobody can help him.’

‘Is it a beer can? Asked Emma.

‘Yes.’ said Bluebell.

‘Litter louts!’ said Jane.

'Vandals! said Bowsie.

'You can speak!!!' said Jane and Emma together.

'You can understand me because you are standing in a MAGIC FAIRY CIRCLE.' said Bowsie.

'I can hear the kettle whistling, it must be boiling!' said Bonnington.

'Me too! Sorry, tea-time, must be off.' said Boddington

'Me too.' said Bonnington.

Ciao

Bonnington xxx and Boddington xxx

Boddington and Bonnington

2007-11-15T18:23:00.000Z

Hi Everybody!

Isn't it cold! I've built myself a lovely big fire in my set (that''s what I call my den).

I've got my twin brother staying with me for the winter - so we are going to share the diary until Bowsie wakes up.

Say 'Hallo' Bonnington.

'Hallo Bonnington!'

'Hallo Boddington!'

'Hallo Everybody!!!'

Ciao

Bonnington xxx and Boddington xxx

Black Penny Wall Well

2007-11-12T21:57:00.000Z

The blue fairy was sat upon a stone crying. She was so pleased to see Bowsie that she didn't notice that Emma and Jane were there too.

'Oh Bowsie. I'm so glad you've come today! ' said the blue fairy, in a voice like the tinkling of little bluebells.

Emma and Jane had forgotten that when they entered a fairy circle, they could understand every word that Bowsie said. Normally, his voice sounded like two high pitched squeaks, 'EE EEE'.

They were surprised when they heard Bowsie say, 'What is the matter Bluebell? Why are you crying?'

Just at that moment an elf stepped from behind a stone and said, 'Be careful Bluebell! There are two TALL PEOPLE in the circle!'

Emma and Jane looked around searching for the TALL PEOPLE. Then they realized that the elf was talking about them!

Ducks' Ditty

2007-11-12T13:11:00.000Z

by Kenneth Grahame

All along the backwater,
Through the rushes tall,
Ducks are a-dabbling,
Up tails all!

Ducks' tails, drakes' tails,
Yellow feet a-quiver,
Yellow bills all out of sight
Busy in the river!

Slushy green undergrowth
Where the roach swim--
Here we keep our larder,
Cool and full and dim.

Everyone for what he likes!
WE like to be
Heads down, tails up,
Dabbling free!

High in the blue above
Swifts whirl and call--
WE are down a-dabbling
Up tails all!

Hi Everybody!

2007-11-09T13:24:00.000Z

Hallo!

My name is Bonnington. Bowsie and I have been friends for years.

I'm not at all surprised that he's tired. He's had so many adventures this year.

The biggest adventure of all was the day he visited Black Penny Wall Well with Emma and Jane.

As you know, the Forest of Dean is full of Elves and Fairies and the best place to see them is at Black Penny Wall Well. Normally, you have to be very quiet and they can be seen drinking the water from buttercups and talking amongst themselves.

When they arrived this time, however, there was just one blue fairy sat on a stone sobbing.

'Oh Bowsie,' she said 'I'm so glad you've come today. '

Oh dear, my kettle has just boiled. I'll be back to tell you more later.

Salute!

Bonnington xxx

Say 'Hallo' to Bonnington

2007-11-08T11:09:00.000Z

Well, as you know, this is my hibernation time.

I've been lent a nice comfortable sock drawer (thank you Emma!) and I shall not be able to keep my eyes open much longer.

I've asked my friend Bonnington (here's his photograph from last winter) to look after my diary while I'm asleep.

He gets a bit sleepy too, but he's got a nice warm study in his burrow with a little lap-top computer.

See you in the spring!

Ciao!

BOWSIE

The Dormouse Web-site

2007-11-07T11:36:00.000Z

One of my diary readers left this lovely story about me ( I remember it happening!).

She has also recommended an interesting web-site:

'One winters day Emma and Jane were busy getting ready for Christmas and I was asleep in my box of ribbons.

Emma ran over and picked me up. "Aren't you excited about Christmas Bowsie" said Emma and swung me around in the air.

Emma put me down and Jane came over.

"I'd like to find out about dormice" and they went onto the computer and looked

at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/263.shtml

GJB x

... '

Bed in Summer

2007-11-06T13:51:00.000Z

In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.

I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree,
Or hear the grown-up people's feet
Still going past me in the street.

And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?

By Robert Louis Stevenson from Child's Garden of Verses

Guy Fawkes Night

2007-11-05T14:00:00.001Z

Remember remember the fifth of November

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason why gunpowder, treason

Should ever be forgot...

(http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/guy/)

Months of the year

2007-11-05T13:08:00.001Z

Thirty days hath September,

April, June and November;

All the rest have thirty one

Except for February which has twenty eight!

(And twenty nine each leap year)

How I got my name (Part Three)

2007-11-04T12:35:00.000Z

While Emma and Jane were busy discussing a name for me, I had fallen asleep on the dressing table.

I had fallen asleep in a box of ribbons and bows - it was very cosy!

'Ahh, just look at him, he's fallen asleep. How cute!' said Emma.

'Right in the middle of our box of bows!' said Jane.

'I know - let's call him BOWSIE!!!!' they both shouted together and woke me up.

...and that is how I got my name (and a very comfortable bed).

Ciao!

BOWSIE

How Bowsie got his name (Part Two)

2007-11-01T13:31:00.001Z

Emma and Jane carried me carefully into their house.

It was nice and warm and I had a good look round.

“I remember that!” said Sidney the house mouse.

Sidney used to live up Emma and Jane’s Daddy’s sleeve! Every so often he would poke his head out and surprise everybody – especially Jane. Look how cheeky he is in the picture!

“I remember you coming to the house for the first time. You had your nose into everything!”

“I’m not nosey!” I said.

“Oh yes you are! In fact Jane wanted to call you Nosey, but Emma didn’t like it.” Said Sidney.

“No, they wanted to call me Cosy because I snuggled up in the cushions on the couch!”

“That was Emma’s idea.” squeaked Sidney.

“I remember Emma and Jane saying ‘Dozy, Cosy, Rosie, Nosey – what shall we call him. We’ll never agree!”

“That’s right”….

The Dormouse and the Doctor

2007-10-31T09:42:00.000Z

The Dormouse and the Doctor

by A. A. Milne 1882-1956

There once was a Dormouse who lived in a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red),
And all the day long he'd a wonderful view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).

A Doctor came hurrying round, and he said:
"Tut-tut, I am sorry to find you in bed.
Just say 'Ninety-nine' while I look at your chest....
Don't you find that chrysanthemums answer the best?

"The Dormouse looked round at the view and replied
(When he'd said "Ninety-nine") that he'd tried and he'd tried,
And much the most answering things that he knew
Were geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).

The Doctor stood frowning and shaking his head,
And he took up his shiny silk hat as he said:
"What the patient requires is a change," and he went
To see some chrysanthemum people in Kent.

The Dormouse lay there, and he gazed at the view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue),
And he knew there was nothing he wanted instead
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).

The Doctor came back and, to show what he meant,
He had brought some chrysanthemum cuttings from Kent.
"Now these," he remarked, "give a much better view
Than geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).

"They took out their spades and they dug up the bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red),
And they planted chrysanthemums (yellow and white).
"And now," said the Doctor, "we'll soon have you right."

The Dormouse looked out, and he said with a sigh:
"I suppose all these people know better than I.
It was silly, perhaps, but I did like the view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).

"The Doctor came round and examined his chest,
And ordered him Nourishment, Tonics, and Rest.
"How very effective," he said, as he shook
The thermometer, "all these chrysanthemums look!

"The Dormouse turned over to shut out the sight
Of the endless chrysanthemums (yellow and white).
"How lovely," he thought, "to be back in a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red.)

"The Doctor said, "Tut! It's another attack!"
And ordered him Milk and Massage-of-the-back,
And Freedom-from-worry and Drives-in-a-car,
And murmured, "How sweet your chrysanthemums are!

"The Dormouse lay there with his paws to his eyes,
And imagined himself such a pleasant surprise:
"I'll pretend the chrysanthemums turn to a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red)!

"The Doctor next morning was rubbing his hands,
And saying, "There's nobody quite understands
These cases as I do! The cure has begun!
How fresh the chrysanthemums look in the sun!

"The Dormouse lay happy, his eyes were so tight
He could see no chrysanthemums, yellow or white.
And all that he felt at the back of his head
Were delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).

And that is the reason (Aunt Emily said)
If a Dormouse gets in a chrysanthemum bed,
You will find (so Aunt Emily says) that he lies
Fast asleep on his front with his paws to his eyes.

Halloween!

2007-10-31T09:03:00.000Z

"eeee!", "eeee!" . I am going to make sure I'm somewhere warm and friendly tonight!

This is an interesting site for finding out about all the special calendar days!

http://woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/calendar/oct07.htm

Ciao!

BOWSIE

Why was I called Bowsie? (Part 1)

2007-10-30T20:09:00.000Z

..just at that moment a Robin landed beside me and said "I know. I was there when Emma and Jane found you fast asleep amongst the roses in the garden."

"Yes, you were", I said " I remember, now".

"Emma wanted to call you 'Rosie' because you were found amongst the rose bushes in the garden covered in petals." said Robin.

"Jane wanted to call me 'Dozey' because I kept falling asleep." I said.

"They couldn't agree on a name. Then they took you indoors, so I don't know what happened next", said Robin and flew off.

"I remember" I said...

Naming a Dormouse

2007-10-30T09:09:00.001Z

Pooh's friend, A. A. Milne, also had trouble naming his dormouse:

The Christening

by A.A.Milne 1882-1956

What shall I call
My dear little dormouse?
His eyes are small,
But his tail is e-nor-mouse.

I sometimes call him Terrible John,
'Cos his tail goes on -
And on -
And on.

And I sometimes call him Terrible Jack,
'Cos his tail goes on to the end of his back.

And I sometimes call him Terrible James,
'Cos he says he likes me calling him names...

But I think I shall call him Jim,'Cos I am fond of him.

My Friend Trevor

2007-10-29T21:25:00.001Z

Today, I was walking along the river bank with my friend Trevor, the Water Vole.

This is a picture of him.

We've been friends for a long time, but Trevor didn't know how I got my name Bowsie.

"How did you get the name Bowsie?" he asked "Most of the dormice I know are called Sleepy or something like that".

"I was nearly called something like Sleepy, too. " I said "Luckily I was given this very special name by Emma and Jane when they adopted me."

"Let's sit down here and I'll tell you how it happened... "

Winter Quarters

2007-10-29T21:04:00.001Z

Hi Everybody

Good News. I have found somewhere to stay this winter. Emma has offered me her sock drawer.

So I'm going to be a 'Country Dormouse' for a while.

Thank you Emma.

Ciao

BOWSIE

The Elf and the Dormouse

2007-10-29T09:39:00.000Z

... and here's the picture that goes with that Nursery Rhyme:

The Naughty Elf (By Oliver Herford)

2007-10-29T09:32:00.001Z

Here is a little Nursery Rhyme about an Elf and a Dormouse:

Under a toadstool crept a wee elf,
out of the rain to shelter himself.

Under the toadstool, sound asleep,
lay a big dormouse, all in a heap.

Trembled the wee elf, frightened and yet
fearing to fly away lest he get wet.

To the next shelter? Maybe a mile:
sudden the wee elf smiled a wee smile,

tugged 'til the toadstool toppled in two,
and holding it over him away he flew.

Soon he was safe at home, dry as could be.
Soon woke the dormouse- "Good gracious me!

Where is my toadstool?" loud he lamented.
And that's how umbrellas first were invented.

Winter - time for snoozing!

2007-10-28T22:47:00.000Z

Yes. It's nearly winter again and I'm feeling a bit sleepy!

It would be lovely to find a nice place to spend the winter.

I wonder if Emma and Jane will look after me?

Let's find out...

BOWSIE

Hi! I'm back!

2007-10-28T22:39:00.000Z

Hallo!

Yes. It's me Bowsie!

How are you?

I've been away for a while, but now I'm back and I've decided to keep a diary.

So watch this space!

Ciao
BOWSIE