As I had seen one or two elsewhere, I thought perhaps the Marbled Whites had forsaken Toft Wood Meadow but today there were more than a dozen newly hatched males flying around and nectaring. First recorded in the wood as a newcomer to the area on July 11th 2012, they spread through England as the climate has gone warmer and appear earlier each year. Also lots of Skippers now and other moths and butterflies plus the usual quota of plant bugs and flies (ID sheet included).
Planned in the 1960s at the height of brutalism architecture in the UK with construction taking place 1970-73. The exterior cladding is pre-cast concrete panels of pink Aberdeen granite aggregate, with contrasting white concrete piers marking the angles and portals. Concentric stages of walling rise to a steep double pyramid roof. A cross in a tripartite spire of bevelled fins, rises to 167' . In plan the church is an irregular hexagon subdivided internally into varied polygons. The controlling module for all angles and dimensions is an eighteen inch equilateral triangle; a classical approach giving unity. The exposed white concrete interior was cast in-situ using Russian redwood formwork giving very crisp texture. The concrete was all mixed by one man. The plywood tetrahedra in the nave ceiling are part of the acoustic scheme.
Due to the very thick mud on the paths, Hardwick Wood will be closed from Monday along with other Wildlife Trust woods in the area. After I had finished my usual Saturday morning coppicing session, I took a few images of the wood looking great in the winter sunshine (phone images). I love the way the trees just lie seemingly relaxed on the floor of the wood as mosses and fungi gradually cover them and eventually return them to the soil.
