Visions of Belize

************************* Photography from Belize ************************* Copyright © Tony Rath Photography All Rights Reserved

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The Roman Baths are a well-preserved thermae - the term “thermae” refers to large Roman imperial bath complexes - in the city of Bath, England. The water for the natural hot spring here comes from rainfall on the nearby hills, which then percolates down through limestone to the aquifers below. Geothermal energy heats the water in the aquifers to as high as 205 °F. Under pressure, the heated water rises along fissures and faults in the limestone, until it bubbles up from the ground into the baths. The hot water rises here at the rate of 257,364 gallons every day. Archaeological evidence indicates that the site of the baths may have been a center of worship used by the early inhabitants of Britain. A temple was constructed on the site between 60-70AD in the first few decades of the Roman occupation. The presence of the hot spring led to the development of the small Roman urban settlement known as Aquae Sulis around the site - today the city of Bath. At their peak, the baths where enclosed in a large vaulted ceiling and included a caldarium (hot bath), tepidarium (lukewarm bath), and a frigidarium (cold bath). Interestingly, about 130 curse tablets have been found at the site. A curse tablet is a small tablet with a curse written on it during the days of the Roman Empire. The tablets were used to ask the gods, spirits, or the deceased to perform an action on a person. Many of the curses are related to thefts of clothes whilst the victim was bathing. #uk #romanbaths #bathuk #romanruins #romanbritain (at Bath, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTPPF4sDltN/?utm_medium=tumblr

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There’s little I need say about this Neolithic monument. It is beautiful, awe inspiring, and spiritual all at the same time. 5000 years of English history - Stonehenge is likely the most architecturally sophisticated prehistoric stone circle in the world; certainly one of the most iconic. #uk #stonehenge #prehistoric #neolithicmonument #neolithic #ukparks #englishheritage (at Stonehenge - Salisbury, UK) https://www.instagram.com/p/CS_0G-9jVoh/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Wood berry Wetlands-London has over 3000 green spaces ranging in size from less than an acre to the massive 339 km2 Epping Forest. In-between lie numerous protected areas from wetlands to meadows to forests. Woodberry Wetlands is a series of old reservoirs that have been converted into a wildlife refuge . In 1613, what once was a mosaic of pasture land and forest with deer and boar, became the site of an aqueduct to bring clean water to the growing city of London. 200 years later, the aqueduct was transformed into two large reservoirs. These large bodies of water - so close to a major city - attracted money and huge mansions where built with the reservoirs in their back yards. The two world wars led to the abandonment of many of the mansions and housing projects sprung up along the northern banks of the lakes in 1955. The water was treated with chlorine and sodium phosphate, killing everything that touched it. The reservoirs where scheduled for filling in 1992 to make way for development, but after a long campaign by local residents, the reservoirs were saved, chlorine and sodium phosphate use ceased and the clean water began to attract wildlife. In 2016, the area was turned into a wetlands park, and of course the developers took advantage by building high rises along the west banks of the lakes. It seems that times never change. The monied people will provide land for the people to enjoy, but those with means will benefit from using this land to attract profit. The contrast between the surrounding high rises and the “wild” wetland habitat is almost unbelievable. Once again Nature in London is human contrived, managed and profited from as well as providing some taste of “Nature” to the people. Everyday I spend in the UK searching for real Nature, the more I realize what a natural paradise Belize is - if only we can save it so we don’t have to build pretend nature, called “rewilding” here. #uk #ukparks #london #woodberrywetlands #londonparks #abelizeansearchfornatureinuk (at Woodberry Wetlands) https://www.instagram.com/p/CS9PWvMDKDd/?utm_medium=tumblr

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I paid my respects to an ancient tree in London. After 24 years of research, the Totteridge Yew was found to be 2000 years old, old enough to have “witnessed” the founding of London by the Romans. The girth is 26 feet and its gnarly, contorted, hollowed trunk grows peacefully - unassumingly - in a church yard, surrounded by graves from the late 16th century. This ancient organism is easy to pass by - the branches and leaves hang to the ground hiding the hideous trunk - and instead to marvel and wonder at the headstone engravings from mere centuries past. Time and history is easily twisted in the UK. Ruins and monuments and plaques interplay with skyscrapers and roadways and high-rise condos. Most of these historical markers pay homage to white European history - if I knew only London, I would think that all of history and art and literature was created by old white men. Just like not seeing the Totteridge Yew, the diversity of human history would be easy to miss if all you ever learn are the gravestones to Englishness that prevail around London and are never exposed to the myriad other cultures around the world that flourished during the lifetime of the Totteridge Yew. #uk #london #totteridge #tree #ukhistory (at Totteridge & Whetstone) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSwxQRBDbHZ/?utm_medium=tumblr

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I paid my respects to an ancient tree in London. After 24 years of research, the Totteridge Yew was found to be 2000 years old, old enough to have “witnessed” the founding of London by the Romans. The girth is 26 feet and its gnarly, contorted, hollowed trunk grows peacefully - unassumingly - in a church yard, surrounded by graves from the late 16th century. The ancient organism is easy to pass by - the branches and leaves hang to the ground hiding the hideous trunk - and instead marvel and wonder at the headstone engravings from centuries past. Time and history is easily twisted in the UK. Ruins and monuments and plaques tangle with skyscrapers and highways and high-rise condos. Most of these historical markers pay homage to white European history - if I knew only London, I would think that all of history and art and literature was created by old white men. Just like the Totteridge Yew, the diversity of human history would be easy to miss if all you see are the gravestones to Englishness that prevail around London and are never exposed to the myriad other cultures around the world that flourished during the lifetime of the Totteridge Yew. #uk #london #totteridge #tree #ukhistory (at Totteridge & Whetstone) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSwwFGljizt/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Gutteridge Wood, in Hillingdon just outside London, stands an area of traditional countryside where ancient woodland and wildflower meadows meet. This part of the Yeading Brook Valley is a haven for birds and wildflowers. The woodland is ancient and has been standing here for many hundreds of years; it was once called Great Ditch Wood. I met my first proper country gentleman walker today. I met him as I emerged along a muddy path bordered on both sides by a wall of wildflowers. An overgrown fence with barb wire on top and what looked like a broken cross beam blocked my way. He, on the other side of the fence, was dressed in tweed with a grey beard and ascot hat, binoculars over his shoulders and map in hand. He looked in his late 70’s, but fit. “Good day” he said. ”Where you headed?”. “Not sure” I replied “I’m just wandering. But looks like I need to back track.” “What do you mean?” he said glancing at his map. “This fence looks a bit dicey to climb over” (FYI-not the same one in the photo) He looked at me like I was simple, Then he says “You are new here?” “Yes, first time exploring” “Well” he says “this is a step stile, see what looks like a broken post? Those are steps to climb over the fence” “Really?” was all I could reply. As I climbed over, he tipped his hat and disappeared up the trail. Birds must be more interesting than chatting with this simple foreigner. #uk #london #londonparks #londonwildlifetrust #ukhiking #uktrails (at Gutteridge Wood) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSuI4ZqsuZj/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Belize has much to learn from the United Kingdom when it comes to managing natural areas - mainly how hard it is to reintroduce wild areas, a process called rewildling. The UK has destroyed over 95% of its wild lands with agriculture and development over the two centuries of human occupation. A 2016 study ranked the UK as the 189th least biodiverse country in the world with a 41% decline in species since 1970. Only recently has the concept of rewildling taken hold, and in London there are now close to 3000 green spaces being nurtured, many of them as nature reserves and parks. I recently visited one called Ten Acre Wood. This woodland has largely developed from a plantation of oaks, planted in the late 19th century - much of the canopy stands over an understorey of prickly hazel, hawthorn, and blackthorn making exploring off trail a painful adventure. Isolated huge oak trees lord over the forest like the Ents of Lord of the Rings fame. Dedicated volunteer groups have worked tirelessly to conserve this area for more than 30 years and persuaded the landowner to designate Ten Acre Wood as part of a local nature reserve in 1990. Coppicing at Ten Acre Wood – which was reinstated in 1983 - rejuvenates the hazel and ground flora and creates woodland glades. Coppicing is a woodland management technique of repeatedly felling trees at the base and allowing them to regrow. This forest management technique apparently has a number of benefits over replanting, as the felled trees already have developed root systems, making regrowth quicker and less susceptible too browsing and shading. It also increases woodland biodiversity, as greater amounts of light can reach the ground, allowing other species to grow there. Many of these species are food sources for butterflies and other insects, which in turn provide food for birds, bats and mammals. Coppicing can be dated back to the Stone Age by the discovery of Neolithic, wooden track ways that have been constructed entirely from coppiced material. #uk #london #londonparks #tenacrewood #rewild #londonwildlifetrust (at Ten Acre Wood) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSrGSLcjTRC/?utm_medium=tumblr

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In R‪ichmond Park, originally a R‪oyal hunting ground established by Henry VIII, thrive 345 R‪ed deer. They are almost like vermin, except they are large, tame and beautiful, keep the grassland trimmed and create a distinctive browse line beneath the canopy. The abundance of food, and lack of natural predators, means they breed quickly, and an annual cull is necessary to keep their numbers down. #uk #richmondpark #london #londonparks #reddeer #tonyrathphotography (at Richmond Park, London, UK) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSOv0TmDnP6/?utm_medium=tumblr

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WWT - Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust - is an organization that protects, restores and creates wetlands for wildlife and people. I recently visited the one in London, created from 4 reservoirs that were no longer needed by the city. Instead of building residential homes or office buildings, a dedicated group of people fought to develop the area as a wetland nature park in the middle of London. The WWT has done a wonderful job of building an educational center with tons of activities for children, and a park with well groomed trails and blinds (hides in the UK) that people can sit and observe the coming and going of birds and cattle. But it also demonstrates just how difficult it is to build a true natural habitat. I would call this “human’s nature”, a thing that people have created after they destroyed the Nature that was there. The birds are a combination of species that have adapted well to humans (various species of seagulls, magpies, ravens for example) and those that are exotics, not naturally found here in the UK (Southern Screamers, Egyptian Geese, Mute Swan for example). They have even brought in a pair of Asian river otters, keeping them in a large enclosure with running fresh water, as the UK has no native fresh water otters. When asked why bring in an exotic species of wild otter, the volunteer guide replied “because they like it here” - better than their natural habitat? I am sure during migration, birds will use this park as a stop over, and the occasional rare species is seen here, but mostly the park demonstrates how much harder it is to rebuild nature - wild areas - than to protect and nurture them from the start. #WWT #wetlands #waterbirds #london #londonparks #tonyrathphotography #uk (at WWT London Wetland Centre) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSMc6VDDSEp/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Over the centuries, Hampstead Heath has inspired writers and poets, painters and photographers. It is referred to as a wild park of woodlands and meadows tucked just outside London’s center - the hazy views of London’s skyline to the northeast are like a field of crystals sprouting from the earth. The parkland is large enough (800 acres) that even on a sunny Sunday only the paved paths are crowded; the dirt trails and grassy meadows allow for solitude, picnics and fields of flowers and butterflies. Of course, the British concept of “wild” is a bit different than Belize’s, but I am learning that there is no comparison needed between the two countries, the contrast is too great. Belize has true wilderness, the UK is trying to revive a natural habitat that was destroyed centuries ago. UK parks are quaint, manicured, and maintained to allow thousands of people and hundreds of dogs to enjoy at the same time. #uk #london #londonparks #hampsteadheath #tonyrathphotography (at Hampstead Heath) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSHJcL7DTkK/?utm_medium=tumblr

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Over the centuries, Hampstead Heath has inspired writers and poets, painters and photographers. It is referred to as a wild park of woodlands and meadows tucked just outside London’s center - the hazy views of London’s skyline to the northeast are like a field of crystal growing from the earth. The parkland is large enough (800 acres) that even on a sunny Sunday only the paved paths are crowded; the dirt trails and grassy meadows allow solitude, picnics and fields of flowers and butterflies. Massive solitary trees hint at what once was. Of course, the British concept of “wild” is a bit different than Belize’s, but I am learning that there is no comparison needed between the two countries, the contrast is too great. Belize has true wilderness, the UK is trying to revive remnants of natural habitat that were destroyed centuries ago. UK parks are quaint, manicured, and maintained to allow thousands of people and hundreds of dogs to enjoy at the same time. #uk #london #londonlife #londonparks #hampsteadheath #abelizeanintheuk (at Hampstead Heath) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSHIo73DoD8/?utm_medium=tumblr

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The first park I visited out of quarantine in London was a short 10 minute walk away from home - Old Paddington Cemetery. I find these old cemeteries humbling. Each headstone tells a story of a life lived and lost - from recent ones with photos and fresh headstones to old ones hidden beneath bush to those reduced to mounds and bare rock erased - both headstone and memories - by wind, rain and time. This first image made me stop and imagine a 19 year old pilot flying a bi-plane. World War I was over, but there were conflicts in Ireland. Was it a training accident? I found the military record in online archives. He died of injuries in an aero accident. I imagine how adventurous and exciting flying a bi-plane at 19 years old - what a thrill … and dangerous. RIP Frank Henry Herbert Biddle. #uk #ukparks #cemetery #londonparks (at Old Paddington Cemetary) https://www.instagram.com/p/CR8xv-yD46m/?utm_medium=tumblr

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The view from my office veranda now in London. A bit different than what it use to be…😐 #uk #londonlife #rainbow #uklife (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CR5uGTXFY4_/?utm_medium=tumblr

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When I first saw this fellow in my backyard in the middle of London, I wasn’t sure what I was looking at. Snout too long and ears too tall for a feral dog. Besides, I hadn’t seen a stray dog or cat for that matter anywhere yet in London. A red fox! A pup at that. Two more pups came out followed by an adult. They ate a few ripe fruits on the ground, then jumped the fence into the next yard. I kind of feel like this fox looks, lost and out of place. Hope I adapt as well to city life as they have. #london #uk #ukwildlife #redfox (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CR3ZrKKF9Fc/?utm_medium=tumblr

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The first evening in London a flock 15 strong of these parakeets zipped across the sky above our house, squawking like they do in Belize. Made me a little homesick. They are ring-necked parakeets (Psittacula krameri), a non-migratory species of bird native to Africa and the Indian Subcontinent. The origins of these birds in the UK are subject to speculation, but they are generally thought to have bred from birds that escaped from captivity. Scientific research has analysed the behaviour of parakeets and found that they compete with native bird species and bats for food and nesting sites. Although not aggressive, parakeets have been shown to deter smaller birds due to their behaviour and noise; their large size means that they often crowd small bird feeders, further increasing competition for resources and disrupting local ecosystems. #uk #ukbirds #londonwildlife #parakeet (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CR1gnxuliyB/?utm_medium=tumblr

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The eye of the toucan. #belize #toucan #birds #thisisyourbelize (at The Belize Zoo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRJRLcPlOF1/?utm_medium=tumblr

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During all the packing this week, I found this old print with water damage. It is from the first Cockscomb expedition in the early 1990’s. We lowered the two Mayan guides by cable from a British helicopter and left them for three days to clear a LZ. The rest of us returned for a 10 day exploration of the Western Basin. I know most of you will recognize the young lady to the back right, but who can name the rest of these pioneers in conservation and exploration? #belize #historical #expedition #cockscombbasin #thisisyourbelize (at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRJOo7nFF3X/?utm_medium=tumblr