Friday 27 March

Dry morning so we made the most of it, had a good walk and took lots of photos

Bud burst on the Firethorn - Pyracantha coccinea

 Fish Carving on the new play area

Another garden throw out, Garden Grape Hyacinth - Muscari armeniacum

Take Care

Sunday 1 February

Looks like the young swan is getting the elbow from dad, he forced him out of the water this morning, unfortunately he/she had no room to gain height and came down near the car park we tried to get him back up the banking but ended up with this very patient gent chaperoning him back the long way, thankfully a few Canada Geese had flown in and Billy Swan was chasing them giving the youngster some respite

Take Care

Friday 30 January

Back to the light dusting of snow - it's just nuisance value, worse than a good covering.

I noticed the Blue Tit hanging around my camera nestbox, this has happened for the last two years it's been up, they have never used it for nesting only roosting, maybe this year :) I live in hope.

Sunny Brow

 Sunny Brow Bridge

Top Lodge 

 

Charlie Robin

 

Car Park Bridge

 

Tree Art

 

Play Area

Take Care

Monday 26 January

Damp this morning

 Lords & Ladies - Arum maculatum

 Scaly Male-fern - Dryopteris affinis

 Barren Strawberry - Potentilla sterilis

 Velvet Shank

 Jelly Ear - Auricularia auricula-judae

King Alfred's Cakes

Take Care

Tuesday 16 December

Damp & above freezing

Not many clouds in the sky

Black Headed Gull

Trying some new feed for the wildfowl, a corn mix, they seem to like it. I am still feeding the smaller birds with sunflower hearts they love them and no waste.

The Play Area

Take Care

Thursday 11 December

The weather overnight was bad, windy and sleety hail stones so we visited the tree to see if there had been any casualty's, Sue had already called and tidied the tree up, the wind had blown a few off.

Still looking good but needs some more visitors

The play area has gained another bit of play equipment.

Take Care

Wednesday 26 November

Another amble round the valley this time we walked part of the river

 Big Lodge

 Play Area Pathways

 River Yarrow overflow from the Lodge

 The Overflow

River Yarrow from the 2nd Bridge

Take Care

Friday 3 October

Just a couple of photos from this morning

A large litter/dog bin has appeared on the play area just to draw attention to dog owners and picking up after them. The photo shows the normal bin on the left.

The Coot was very photogenic today

Take Care

Thursday 7 August

Since Monday I have been hanging round the lodges, I thought I would do the edge of the new play area as it has been disturbed and new soil & sand added, to my surprise this was on the edge, Centaury never seen this in the valley - I did not recognise it at first due to it's size, the ones we see at the coast are tiny, this is at the top end of it's size, I wonder if it will stay?

Common Centaury - Centaurium erythraea

Take Care

Thursday 31 July

Had a walk through the play area, I really like this - I can only described it as a story tellers throne, I am not sure but it has small seats all round it perfect for stories.

Take Care

Sunday 27 April

Weather still okay, we are being promised a good summer, I have not got my shorts out yet :)

This has been lovely this year, Bird Cherry - Prunus padus

Another patch of Bluebells

 Bush Vetch - Vicia sepium

 Dandelion - Taraxacum

Finally in flower but I was unable to get near due to bramble & nettle, Fringe Cups - Tellima grandiflora

 Guelder Rose - Viburnum opulus

 Meadow Foxtail - Alopecurus pratensis

Play Area from across the river

 Weigela - Weigela florida

I always think the buds are more attractive than the flower. Welsh Poppy - Meconopsis cambrica

Yellow Iris - Iris pseudacorus

Take Care

Thursday 13 March

Misty morning

Goat Willow bud

This memorial bench has always been of interest as it is set back and up a slight incline, next to the old cottage site. We often wondered about this lady and recently had it confirmed she lived in the cottages, she must have looked at the view many times and what a lovely view - there are often fresh flowers among the cottages ruins, she must have loved this area.

Frog Spawn

Misty view of the Big Lodge

& the new Play Area

Lonely misty footpaths

This is a very large tree that we think has been hit by lightening at sometime as it is split three ways.

Take Care