Sunday 1 March

I was fooled this morning, the temperature was up and I thought lighter clothing would be fine, the wind factor made it well below, it cut right through us. After two hours I was glad to get home to a cup of tea & my porridge but before I could have that, boots had to be hosed down along with Meg having her legs washed all in cold water. 

Billy Swan was looking every inch the powerful top male he has become, the youngster is still on the lodge but not for long.

Crocus planted near a memorial bench

Plenty of Lesser Celandine - Ficaria verna in flower

Memorial Bench near the site of the old cottages, the lady lived here as a girl.

Take Care

Saturday 14 February

We walked up to the Lower Burgh this morning - I have not been up for ages it's too depressing, it has been mowed flat as a bowling green apart from a small patch of reed bed, there are no hiding places for wild life, it's desolate and totally uninteresting, I hope that the mower stays away for the next year to allow some recovery, I doubt it though as it reminds me of the strimming of undergrowth once the machine is running they can't stop and you have a bald patch which takes ages to grow back.

Planted by a memorial bench Dutch Crocus - Crocus x stellaris

 Late this year but finally found one in flower, Lesser Celandine  - Ficaria verna

This is the large Goat Willow - Salix caprea that glistens in the sunshine when in flower, it will stand out this year as there is nothing else to look at.

 There are plenty of Gorse - Ulex europaeus shrubs on the Lower Burgh

Plenty of  Snowdrops - Galanthus nivalis open now, most have been planted but we still see the odd group in odd places, found two small groups in a hedgerow this morning.

Take Care

Friday 28 February

Looks like it is becoming the norm - splitting the photos over a few days.

Frosty morning

Toots doing her best to keep the ball from the boys.

Dandelion in flower

Oil Seed Rape on the new building site - they have been bringing soil in

Crocus 

Snowdrops out everywhere

Take Care

Wednesday 25 January

Damp this morning.

Brooklime - Veronica beccabunga

Male Flowers Dog's Mercury - Mercurialis perennis

Dutch Crocus - Crocus x stellaris

Lord & Ladies - Arum maculatum

Wild Garlic or Ramsons - Allium ursinum

Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis

Take Care

Sunday 20 February

Dry morning just above freezing.

We had the lodges to ourselves - this usually happens in bad weather but this morning it was good for rambling.

Fungi on fallen Silver Birch

We see lots of these as Birch is one of the most common trees in this area.

Butterbur - Petasites hybridus just showing.

Butterbur - Petasites hybridus - flowers are open but it will get much taller.

Butterbur - Petasites hybridus - it's one that flowers first, the large leaves will follow.

Across the lodge we spot a cyclist who seems to be doing a bit of bird watching, well at least we have seen someone out and about. A moment later they were gone.

Dutch Crocus - Crocus x stellaris

Foxglove Leaves - Digitalis purpurea

Garlic Mustard Leaves - Alliaria petiolata

King Alfred's Cakes

Moss

Oak covered in moss.

Robin

Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis 

Spring & Dutch Crocus

Tern Raft still in the same spot.

We walked to the River and along - 

These are various views from the river path.

Take Care.

Friday 11 February

Mild & Raining.

We found these at Worthington.

Dutch Crocus - Crocus x stellaris

Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis

Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis

Take Care.

Wednesday 24 February

Above freezing today, we did a walk around the park today - just to see what is happening - we found a few bits of new life.

Canada Geese

Dutch Crocus with what looks like Spring Crocus just showing a bit of colour.

Fungi

Female Hazel Flower

Mallard

Meg

Moorhen

Ramsons also known as Wild Garlic Leaves

This a left over from the industrial era, part of an old boiler I think.

This is also a small holding lodge man made it looks like it's always been there.

This small holding lodge lies at the side of the previous photo, it has been drained and cleaned up, I can tell you it was wonderful to see the bottom and sides as they are brick lined a lovely job.

Another left over from times past.

This is part of the river wall.

Close up of the pipe in the previous photo this must have lead to the river from the Big Lodge.

Two views of the Small Lodge this is an average size when I think of the old mill lodges that use to be about when I was a youngster.

Three years gone over - I could hardly believe it.

A few new nest boxes have been put up - let's hope the yobs leave them alone.

Picnic area - the memorial stone is among the birds.

Rust on the trees along side the river.

Silver Birch stump.

Lonely Lucy was living up to her name this morning.

The others finally joined her.

Tern Raft

River Yarrow with bits of the old industry.

Take Care.