Poetry in motion

THE barmy blockades are over but they have certainly concentrated the mind on perhaps the main environmental issue of our time. As I encourage people to drive hither and thither, I had better state my position, as has everyone else.

Ideally, I would like to be able to crawl out of bed, tap my day's destination into the computer, and receive, printed out, my calculated, quick, cheap, comfy, convenient, reliable, bus/train/minibus schedule. And then walk out the door, with dog or bike, and with hardly a wait and be whisked off without a care.

The car would be sold. In the uncertain and messy interim, hydrocarbon fuels should be very expensive, except for certain people, and certain circumstances.

I drove to Dalby Forest, paid my dues, then drove the leaf-dusted Forest Drive to the visitor centre.

Inside were the usual knick-knacks, including wind chimes (hate), and some unusual info, including a 'wanted' poster for the Asian Longhorn Beetle (black with white spots), a contact number for a 'Great Trees of Yorkshire' survey, and sepia photographs of the Timber Corps girls, the woodland equivalent of the Land Army.

They looked very nice, brandishing bow saws, 'cross cutting in the forest', and 'on the tractor'.

They may be big on trees here but they aren't big on food, effectively sandwich, tea and KitKat under the boughs of a Sycamore. I sat, supped, watched the occasional helicopter seed spin down, and studied the new and amended issue of the forest walks map.

Having found a new route, new to me, I drove, yet again, to a far corner of the forest. On the way was a trolley laden with plum jam, pickles and eggs; a selection went into the boot, a fiver into the honesty box.

Fireweed blazed in the verges, the sun came out, the day was looking good. Cyclists swished by on the Olympic-smooth, lorry-undamaged Tarmac.

We have two toddles to do. First a mile and a half dip into Deepdale. Within 20 yards is the first little info board under a Lodge Pole pine, and I learned 'North American Indians' propped up their wigwams with these, and so on for Spruce, Western Hemlock etc.

We are diverted from the normal Deepdale route because of harvesting, so this could be new for you even if a Dalby regular. Anyway it's lovely, varied, not a giant block of forest.

Having waffled so much on fuel my word tank is running dry. Luckily, the Forestry Commission does the job for me here with plaques more poetic than I would dare: "Nightjar and Tawny Owl witness the many creatures that become active after dark, from bats to badger and moths to toad. The churring song of the male Nightjar on a warm summer's evening or the hooting of a Tawny Owl on a frosty winter's night suggests contentment for what life has to offer in the forest."

The rest is briefly - "Verge and Edge"' as "linear meadows", conservation area with Fragrant Orchids, a pond for "frogs, newt and toad", crystal limestone spring water, then a climb (Deepdale is deep). "Secretive" Roe Deer are betrayed by their droppings, Black Bryony entangles a birch, and voluble birds are invisible.

Walk number two is a flat smooth mile and a half that takes you to a bench with a pastoral view out of the forest, a reminder of the landscape before the trees.

Fact file

Distance: Under three miles.

Time: Two hours

Start: Bickley Gate Car Park, Dalby Forest.

Right of way: The complete route is on permissive paths.

Date walked: Saturday, September 16, 2000.

Road route: North of the A170 at Thornton-le-Dale, left turn after one and a half miles (sign).

Car parking: Free, but forest road toll £3 per car.

Lavatories: Near visitor centre.

Refreshments: Kiosk near visitor centre, seasonal opening. Visitors centre for gifts and info seasonal opening.

Tourist and public transport information: Pickering TIC 01751 473791. Forest Visitor Centre 01751 460295. Forest Enterprise 01751 472771.

Map: Based on Outdoor Leisure 27, North York Moors eastern area, and 'North Riding Forest Park' maps.

Terrain: Forested valley and tops.

Footwear: Walking boots for Deep Dale, shoes for Wait Cliff.

Points of interest: Habitat trail, viewpoint, some wheelchair access.

Difficulty: Habitat trail, easy/moderate. Wait Cliff, very easy.

Dogs: Suitable for dogs but keep on leads or under close control.

Weather forecast: Evening Press and recorded forecast 0891 500 418

Please observe the Country Code and park sensibly. While every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers set out at their own risk.

Directions

When in doubt look at the map. Check your position at each point. Keep straight on unless otherwise directed.

1. Engineered path from car park, signed Wait Cliff and Deepdale Habitat. NB. Maps on info-boards out-of-date. Some of the coloured route markers over-ruled by diversion signs.

2. Left at T-junction to track.

3. Straight on at tracks junction, track becomes path/track downhill.

4. Right at T-junction to track and follow it round head of valley.

5. Turn left to path downhill (signed blue/white arrow), 25 yards, cross stream, uphill, rejoin outward route and retrace as far as junction at top of hil.

6. (same as 3). Right to track which loops around Wait Cliff and back to car park.