Exploration of the Lost World by Brian Herring

22nd April 2015  

A well-equipped team of Wrekin Forest Volunteers ventured boldly (0r boldly ventured ?) into the remote dense forest of the Lost World, known to the local indigenous people as the Loamhole and Lydebrook Dingles. In the local language a dingle is a steep sided valley with dense vegetation.

Led by intrepid explorer/naturalist Keith Fowler, we followed boardwalks,steps and bridges,ancient routes constructed and maintained by the manual labour of indigenous people, as shown by the occurrence of their sacred symbols SGCT. Margaret was soon busy noting examples of ancient flora, while others attempted to capture and identify the abundant invertebrate fauna. Fortunately we did not encounter any of the venomous diptera known to inhabit the undergrowth.
     
Struggling onwards and upwards, now along tracks made over countless years by locals searching for mineral wealth, or maybe bushmeat, we eventually discovered a well constructed wooden bridge,which leads to the only means of reaching the old trade route down to the River Severn, known as Jiggers Bank. Nowadays mainly used by eco-tourists.
     
We rested for a few minutes on the bridge to contemplate. The little stream beneath is doubtless a raging torrent come the monsoon season, or perhaps somebody saw a photo opportunity.

     















We returned to civilisation via a shorter route along the ancient Rope Walk, a reminder of old local skilled trades. Returning safely as the sun sank slowly in the west, thankful that we had not lost any members in this remaining area of primeval forest.   
Brian Herring