Fancy a dip?

 

I kid you not, this is a swimming pool.  Well, obviously it isn't anymore but it used to be in Victorian times.  Now, its a lovely little wet habitat in an ancient woodland called the Gill near Goudhurst. You cant see in this picture but there are steps going down into it. These steps, which once bore the weight of ladies and gents donning splendid bathing suits and tunics, now host a funky little array of mosses and ferns.

The Gill is a fascinating little woodland with an avenue of old lime trees, planted to commemorate the birth of the landowner's son, and various other interesting features such as the remains of a marker's hut...

Lime tree avenue

Marker's hut remains from an old rifle range

Remains of some poor sod

Unidentified bracket fungus

A full archaeological survey should hopefully turn up some more interesting features so watch this space.  It may also turn up some more unwanted creatures as I delve deep into the woods, in light of which I have tweaked the poem from my last blog.  Enjoy:

There was a young lady with big hair,
One day she woke up to quite a scare,
Two spiders and a gnat,
Three wrens and a bat
Had all made a nest in her hair!