Hoar Frost, Sleddale
On Tuesday night the air was still, the sky clear and the temperature fell to -5c. In the sub-zero conditions small ice crystals formed upon frozen surfaces. As Tuesday turned to Wednesday, fed by a gathering mist, the crystals began to grow …
On Wednesday morning we awoke to find the trees, marsh grass, wire fencing and our weather station covered by a magical hoar frost.
When dressed, and after the obligatory cup of tea (without which I find it impossible to function) I walked down to one of my favourite locations, just a few minutes from our home in Sleddale.
The last time I visited Tongue Wood it was thick with snow. This time, while the branches and marsh grasses were covered in a delicate feathery white, the trunks of the trees and the ground below remained bare, revealing shade, colour, structure and features; providing a wonderful contrast to the white.
The images below represent my attempt to record the wood and the frost. Hopefully they do it some sort of justice.