"The Witch and the Beast" is an intriguing story that captivates readers from the very first chapter. This chapter begins by introducing the two main characters, a mysterious witch and a fearsome beast. The witch, known as Eve, lives secluded in a dark forest. She possesses magical powers and an enigmatic past. Despite her isolation, she is well-aware of the dangers that lurk in the forest and has taken precautions to protect herself. The beast, on the other hand, is a creature feared by all.
Hopefully this information provides a valuable context and background for our countryside Halloween event, to be held this Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th October at Trelissick. Happy Halloween!
The natural witches brooms that can often be seen up in birch trees are actually a gall, which can be defined as an abnormal growth reaction of a plant in response to an intrusive organism, such as a fungus. A caption above the heads of the flying women identifies them as vaudoises, or Waldensians, members of a breakaway Christian sect that was declared heretical by the Holy Roman Church in the early 13th century.
The beast, on the other hand, is a creature feared by all. Its monstrous appearance sends shivers down the spines of anyone who sets eyes upon it. With its sharp claws and intimidating presence, it is no wonder that people steer clear of its territory.
Besom brooms, Witches brooms and broomsquires….. it must be Halloween
Many of you will already be familiar with our Halloween activities in the countryside at Trelissick. Each year, in the copse if weather permits, we put a slight twist on the theme of the witches’ broom and make traditional besom brooms with the children who come along to the estate.
The ranger team try very hard to make each event we put on as relevant to our everyday work as we possibly can. It is very important to us that we use artistic and creative ways to interpret our woodland management for an audience that may not usually take an interest in such areas, especially young people. It is our hope that these events plant a seed, however subconscious or subtle, of understanding, appreciation and respect for our beautiful British woodlands and the rich history, both natural and anthropological, that is irrevocably tied to it, within the minds of those who attend. The following blog post shines a light on the humble besom broom and demonstrates the ties of this simple item to the history of traditional woodland management.
Etymology:
The word ‘besom’ derives from the Old English ‘besma’, meaning ‘bundle of twigs’, specifically in the form of a broom for sweeping. Although that word itself is taken from the Old High German ‘besmo’, also meaning brush. The word even appears in the bible, in ancient Hebrew language, where it means ‘sweeper’ or ‘the sweeping away’ of the utter ruin, of Babylon. Locally, the place-name Bissoe is believed to derive from the Cornish word besow, meaning birch trees. So, as you can see, besom brooms are ancient, appear across many cultures and countries and remain unchanged for thousands of years….
Background:
Besom brooms are a traditional form of produce from woodland coppice, made using the plant broom (hence the modern name for a besom), birch and heather.
Historically they were made by a craftsman called a broomsquire and the materials were often cut from areas of heathland with the birch and heather cut on rotation each year to allow materials to re-grow.
Boxall the broomsquire:
The following is an excerpt from the book ‘Tales of the old woodlanders’, included here because it a fantastic and evocative snap-shot of an old way of life and a more traditional method of countryside management:
William Boxall of Hammer Vale, on the borders of Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire, died at the age of ninety-one in the early 1920’s, when he was one of four broomsquires living in the village. His broom-shops were rough, open-fronted sheds on the common and he made his brooms from either birch or heather. His nephew, Ernest W. Boxall, looking back in the early 1950’s, remembered helping with the heather harvest towards the end of August as a boy. ‘For me, that meant a day on Bramshott Common and I usually spent it hunting for mushrooms; the flavour of the heather-grown mushroom is far superior to that of the meadow variety.’
The birch would be cut from local copses ‘when the catkins were still on them’ and the long, feathery twigs would be stored until winter. They were trimmed with a curved knife by an expert woman, who sliced them to just over a yard long. She judged the length by eye, consistently within an eighth of an inch.
The raw material, whether birch or heather, was bundled into broomheads, tightened by a leather thong and then bound with two withies cut from willows growing by a garden stream – a stream in which the bundles would then be soaked for several days. Then they were trimmed with a sharp axe and fitted with handles made from pointed birch or hazel saplings, which had been shaved with a two handed tool. The handles were fixed in place with a wooden peg.
The finished brooms were gathered into dozens (thirteen to the dozen) and piled high in an enormous wain hired from a local farmer in the early spring. For the next few weeks, Uncle William would be on the road, selling his bundles of brooms to country houses, stables and stores as far away as Kent and Wiltshire. When stocks were low he would send a telegram to his mother, who dispatched fresh supplies from Liphook station. ‘A telegram sent at ten o’ clock in the morning brought a fresh supply within twenty four hours without fail,’ Ernest remembered. Oh, the good old days!
Why do we manage the birch at Trelissick?
The birch we are using this Halloween was cut as part of the ongoing woodland management at Roundwood on the Trelissick estate. Here, the ranger team are creating and managing an area of characteristic Cornish oak woodland with a heathland understory – this mosaic of habitat is very specific to Cornwall and, as a result, supports a characteristic set of species associated with estuarine woodland in the county.
Our other consideration in this area is archaeology – Roundwood is home to a very important Iron Age/Romano-British promontory fort, designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument. It is one of the very few estuarine encampments still present within Europe and you can still explore and enjoy its well defined inner outer and inner ramparts. Birch, a vigorous pioneer species, would quickly take over the diminutive heathland areas and obscure the archaeology if it wasn’t managed effectively. As a creative solution, we cut birch from this area each October and use it to create a product for our Halloween event – besom brooms!
Witches’ brooms in nature:
The natural ‘witches’ brooms’ that can often be seen up in birch trees are actually a gall, which can be defined as an abnormal growth reaction of a plant in response to an intrusive organism, such as a fungus. The fungus is question with birch is of the Taphrina species which finds its way into the buds and bark of the tree. In spring, the new shoots and leaves emerge already infected.
To many, these growths are an interesting and appealing curiosity but they can also be of significant ecological importance – the ‘brooms’ are often inhabited by a variety of organisms apart from those that initially caused the growth, such as invertebrates and even squirrels. Several species of moth are also specific to certain types of witches’ brooms, depending upon them for food and shelter for their larvae. Next time you see one, think of these riches suspended above our heads….
Hopefully this information provides a valuable context and background for our countryside Halloween event, to be held this Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th October at Trelissick. Happy Halloween!
-The National Trust ranger team, Trelissick and North Helford
William Boxall of Hammer Vale, on the borders of Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire, died at the age of ninety-one in the early 1920’s, when he was one of four broomsquires living in the village. His broom-shops were rough, open-fronted sheds on the common and he made his brooms from either birch or heather. His nephew, Ernest W. Boxall, looking back in the early 1950’s, remembered helping with the heather harvest towards the end of August as a boy. ‘For me, that meant a day on Bramshott Common and I usually spent it hunting for mushrooms; the flavour of the heather-grown mushroom is far superior to that of the meadow variety.’
Eve and the beast have never had any contact, their paths having never crossed before this fateful chapter. However, fate brings them together when Eve stumbles upon the wounded beast deep within the forest. Instead of reacting with fear, Eve's curiosity gets the best of her, and she decides to help the wounded creature. As the chapter progresses, the bond between Eve and the beast begins to form. Eve's kindness and compassion towards the beast surprise both herself and the readers. Despite the warnings and tales she has heard about such creatures before, she takes a leap of faith and starts tending to the beast's wounds. Throughout the chapter, the author weaves an atmospheric and suspenseful story. The forest is described in vivid detail, emphasizing its dark and mysterious nature. The reader can almost feel the tension and uncertainty surrounding Eve and the beast's encounter. By the end of the chapter, a connection between Eve and the beast is established. They share a moment of understanding that holds the promise of an intriguing and unpredictable journey ahead. In conclusion, the first chapter of "The Witch and the Beast" sets the stage for an enthralling story. The encounter between Eve and the beast hints at an adventurous and potentially transformative journey for both characters. The reader is left eagerly anticipating the next chapter, eager to delve deeper into the story's mysteries and the evolving relationship between the witch and the beast..
Reviews for "Uncovering the hidden messages in "The Witch and the Beast: Chapter 1"
1. Jess123 - 1 star
I found "The Witch and the Beast Chapter 1" to be extremely boring and uneventful. The story did not capture my attention and the characters felt underdeveloped and uninteresting. The pacing was slow and there were too many unnecessary descriptions that dragged down the narrative. Overall, I was disappointed and don't believe I will continue reading the series.
2. Storylover22 - 2 stars
"The Witch and the Beast Chapter 1" had an intriguing premise, but the execution fell flat for me. The writing style felt disjointed and the story lacked cohesion. The dialogue also felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Additionally, the artwork, which plays an important role in manga, was lackluster and did not enhance the reading experience. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and would not recommend this manga.
3. Bookworm123 - 1 star
I had high hopes for "The Witch and the Beast Chapter 1" but unfortunately, it failed to meet my expectations. The plot was confusing and jumped around too much, making it difficult to follow. The art style was also not to my liking, with characters appearing stiff and lacking emotion. Even the action scenes felt lackluster and failed to create any sense of excitement. Overall, this manga was a disappointment and I will not be reading any further chapters.