Savernake Forest by danob
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Description
First mention of a woodland "Safernoc" was made in 934 in the written records of the Saxon king Athelstan, but the land passed into Norman ownership soon after the Norman invasion of 1066.
The Royal Forest was established in the 12th century, and it covered an area of some 150 square miles. As such it would have extended to the villages of East Kennet, Inkpen and Collingbourne (west, east and south) while the River Kennet was its northern delimiter. But it was not continuous forest. Early Royal Forests were a mixture of woodland, copses, common land and rough pasture.
This was the area of land put into the care of Richard Esturmy, one of the victorious knights who fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Since then Savernake estate and forest has passed down from father to son (or daughter, on four occasions) in an unbroken line of hereditary "forest wardens". In 31 generations, it has never once being bought or sold in a thousand years, and today it is the only ancient forest in Britain still in private hands.
Comments (32)
marybelgium
superbe photo !
Hendesse
Wonderful colors and light. Excellent and very beautiful shot.