Too late for early purple?

On By geoffspagesIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

A different day… The warm sunny weather ended (as it so often does) with thundery rain yesterday evening, and now it’s cooler and grey, with more rain to come. It’s a dry morning though – let’s see how the orchids are doing on the Wenlock Edge. We had high hopes after yesterday’s outing, but there were only a few, in the woods with the last remnants of the bluebells. Are we too late for the early purple orchids?

View OS Map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=360775&Y=299775&A=Y&Z=120

Blue, indigo, violet

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

We’re in the woods on Benthall Edge, a good place to be on a warm morning. There are still a few bluebells, though their season is more-or-less past. A few wood violets soldier on, and the swamp near the hall is full of beautiful water violets. Indigo: Not sure, but there are certainly some early purple orchids, the first we’ve seen this year. As one season ends, another begins.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=365990&Y=302765&A=Y&Z=120

 

Westwoods

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

That’s Stretton Westwood and Bourton Westwood – and almost into Bourton itself. It’s an amble through arable farmland on the slopes of the Wenlock Edge, taking it easy on this warm afternoon. The old quarry at the start provides an interesting and pleasant alternative to a short walk along the edge of a busy road, and the well-preserved remains of old kilns are an interesting and unexpected bonus.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=360205&Y=297680&A=Y&Z=120

Witchend and Black Knoll

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Sounds rather daunting! Malcolm Saville’s Witchend is reckoned to be Priors Holt, in Nut Batch, where we begin our walk up to the southern end of the Long Mynd ridge. We’ll amble along to Black Knoll then down towards Plowden, and return by the path around the south-eastern side. It’s a bit of a plod at first, but never steep, and the view from our picnic spot (some comfortable heather armchairs) is wonderful, looking over the hidden world around Bishop’s Castle and beyond to the Welsh border. And what a great day for it! Hazy at first, the air gradually clears: it’s sunny, pleasantly warm with a light breeze – and there’s no mud! At last!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=340295&Y=288880&A=Y&Z=120

Short but sweet

On By geoffspagesIn Uncategorized2 Comments

…or do I mean steep? It’s a bit of a pull up Round Hill, but after that, it’s downhill all the way. Plenty to see on this short leisurely wander, starting with the family of belties near the start, and at the other end of the scale, a green-veined white butterfly enjoying the wild garlic flowers, and posing very obligingly too.

Caption note (the daisies, photo 5): Very many years ago (in the days of black and white) as a small child I was sent to Sunday school. Hated it! (I wanted to be out and free!). We sang a strange song: “Daisies are are silver, buttercups are gold”. Why “are are silver”? Years later, on reflection, I realised that it was “are our silver” and “our gold”. Our teacher may have pronounced “our” as “are”, but we certainly didn’t. How easily is confusion sown, and meaning lost!

 View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367165&Y=297465&A=Y&Z=120

Blue Blue Peter

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

It may have been obvious from the photo on my previous post, though I didn’t mention it. After many years of only being seen in shades of green, 60532 has been turned out in the early BR blue livery. It’s blue Blue Peter for the foreseeable future, and though the paint job needs finishing off, the overall effect was very impressive.
For more from this afternoon’s short trip to Oakengates to see the test train, visit “Blue Blue Peter” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries.

Blue Peter

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment
Click for larger view

No, not the TV programme. This Blue Peter is LNER-designed A2 60532, back on the main lines after a lengthy absence. Today’s trip was a loaded test run – five (very assorted) coaches and a locomotive at the rear, there only for emergency and shunting. Recent rain would probably have made our favourite spot inaccessible – “Let’s try Oakengates…”. A few more photos from Oakengates will appear on Geoff’s Rail Diaries – soon.