Charred Mist

In the summer of 2010 an area measuring 86 acres of sandy heathland was devastated by a wild fire, this killed all the vegetation and wildlife living there, leaving only the skeletal remains of trees.
For three years (so far) I have been visiting, and photographing, the trees in their charred state at different seasons in various weather conditions.
Nature is a great healer and slowly the landscape is beginning to regenerate, the Heather has started to flourish and saplings of Silver Birch are appearing in amongst the scorched branches scattered over moss covered ground.
I have seen, and evidence of new burrows, gives indication that some wildlife, at least rabbits, have started to repopulate the location, I am also lead to believe that reptiles too are returning.

This is ‘Charred - Mist’, here the trees are silhouetted against a background of near nothingness, an echo of the smoke that filled the air when they met their demise. The shape and structure of the blackened boughs create a striking bleak memory of what once was.

Each time I visit the location I notice a change in the scenery, as time and nature progress the trees lose branches and some have fallen completely, new growth overtakes and they slowly disappear from view. My intention is to get some shots of them in the snow after which my project will be complete and I will publish the remaining collection of images.