Moss Drapes from Trees in Ethereal Photographs of England’s Forests by Neil Burnell

A photograph of moss-covered, gnarled trees in a misty forest.

All images © Neil Burnell, shared with permission

England has long been a haven for rich woodlands of oak, birch, hazel, and pine, chronicled in famous stories like Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest or the real-life 11th century king William the Conqueror, who established a “Forest Law” that claimed woodlands as hunting grounds for kings. In the 19th and 20th centuries, native forests were increasingly transformed into pasture for grazing livestock, replaced with modern developments, or re-planted with commercial timber. The remarkable atmosphere of Dartmoor’s forests are captured by Devon-based photographer Neil Burnell (previously), who focuses on the mystical, otherworldly environments through all four seasons.

Burnell was inspired as a child by a visit to Wistman’s Wood, a remote, upland area of old, gnarled oak. “Little was I to know the lasting impression this would leave me with as a young lad, as I find myself re-imagining how I felt, and how I could spread this awe and wonder through my passion for photography,” he explains. Although Dartmoor National Park currently advises that visitors avoid walking through Wistman’s Wood to allow it to heal from damage caused during lockdowns, Burnell’s images offer a glimpse of moss-coated limbs and fern-covered forest floors that seem to freeze time. He also visits dense stands of conifers, with canopies that create dreamlike effects as they block the sunlight from reaching the ground below.

Burnell often teaches workshops around South West England that focus on nature and landscape photography, which you can learn more about on his website. You can also find more of his work on Behance.

A photograph of trees in a misty forest.

A photograph of moss-covered, gnarled trees in a misty forest.

A photograph of moss-covered, gnarled trees in a forest.

A photograph of trees in a misty forest.

Two atmospheric photographs of trees in the mist.

A photograph of a beam of light coming down through the forest canopy in a tree plantation, illuminating a gnarled tree.

Yellow ferns and leaves in a misty forest in autumn.

A photograph of moss-covered, gnarled trees in a misty forest.

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