Mystery in the woods

[Muddypause]

There is little I like better than to stroll through woodland. There are several fairly remote areas of woodland around where I live (well, as remote as you can get in this part of the world), and in all of them, I keep finding structures that I can only describe as 'unfinished shelters'. I'm really not sure what they are. Here are three I saw today.

(clickable thumbnails)


Usually made from fallen branches, propped up against a tree, they wouldn't provide any protection from wind or rain, because there is no covering on them. Some of them are really pretty small - dog kennel size, others are bigger, but still a tight squeeze for more than one person inside. Some are right adjacent to footpaths, others you only come across when you are lost. I don't think they are shooter's hides, because all the woodland has open access to the public, and there is no sign of any cartridges, or other litter. Maybe a hide for watching wildlife? Or maybe just children exploring the primitive urge to build shelters? Anyone got any other ideas?

[hedgewitch]

Nope haven't got the foggiest - though it looks a bit Blair Witch to me

[Wombat]

Preparations for burning someone at the stake?

Just asking.............

Nev

[Shelle]

does look like preparation & thought has gone into these ... obviously someone did have purpose ... perhaps a meditation place or ritual of some sort??

[Andy Hamilton]

perhaps it is for some kind of wildlife? What would benefit from that structure is anyones guess though.

[Boots]

Oooh i love a good mystery!

Do you have a protected animal there, that someone may be attempting to assist with a breeding shelter?

Has something been removed from the environment maybe, alongside development, that they are attempting to recreate?

Absolutely fascinating....

You will keep us posted on this, yes? I am intrigued.

[woolcraft]

Reckon it could be the little primitives we term children - or someone who hasn't watched Ray Mears too closely!

[Libby]

Let,s hope the 'little primitives' aren,t just planning a bush fire.

[Boots]

Any news on this, Muddy?

[Muddypause]

I think they must be shelters of some sort. I've seen a few others lately, a couple of them quite big (well, 2 person tent sized). One had some signs of a camp fire near it, and had the remains of some sort of polythene bag type of covering to it. Another looked like it was once covered with bracken.

Maybe there is some sort of outward bound course type thing going on around here.

[albert onglebod]

It looks like cubs or scouts might have been there.

[wulf]

It's the kind of thing my brothers and I used to do when we were taken to trips to the woods. Often we'd break them down at the end of the day but not always.

Wulf

[justkate]

Nope haven't got the foggiest - though it looks a bit Blair Witch to me

. . . those were my thoughts too LOL

Kate :-)