Tangled Shadows in Black-a-Tor Copse

Hidden away on the steep slopes above the West Okement River, Black-a-Tor Copse is one of Dartmoor's most remarkable ancient woodlands. Here, twisted oak trees grow amongst a jumble of enormous granite boulders, their branches intertwining to form a dense and wonderfully atmospheric canopy.

This remote woodland is one of Britain's finest examples of high-altitude oak woodland. Centuries of exposure to the harsh moorland climate have helped shape the trees into extraordinary forms, while the cool, damp conditions encourage a rich covering of mosses and lichens across the rocks and branches.

Photographed in October 2017, I was particularly drawn to the tangled patterns of the trees and the way sunlight filtered through the canopy, picking out the rounded granite boulders scattered across the woodland floor.

The black-and-white treatment emphasises the intricate shapes of the branches, the rough textures of the granite and the contrast between the deep woodland shadows and the brighter landscape beyond.

There is something almost otherworldly about Black-a-Tor Copse. Sheltered beneath the twisted oaks, surrounded by moss-covered boulders, it feels quite different from the open, windswept moorland just beyond the trees.

For me, this photograph captures that wonderful sense of quiet, untamed beauty that makes Dartmoor's ancient woodlands such fascinating places to explore.