Here Be Dragons

I found another new open space today; Buckler's Forest near Crowthorne. This recently reclaimed area, next to yet another large housing development, is a 103 acre site on land originally part of the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL).  Some of the elements of the research establishment can still be found, including a fire tower, a banked track for testing cars travelling up to 155mph and a hill start hill for testing brakes!

A series of ponds also cross the site. These were originally covered culverts, but have been exposed and now serve as storm drains, though with the current dry weather many were very low or dried out. However they are home to damselflies and dragonflies, and I spent a happy couple of hours searching them out. This female common darter posed nicely for me on the tip of a gorse bush.