Toadstools and dragonflies

On 12 Sep 2020 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

The toadstools are really coming into season now – there’s a wide variety of shapes and sizes down Ned’s Lane. Further on, as we approach Round Hill, I remember the dragonfly that posed for us here a week or so ago. Today there are two of them, both posing obligingly (a brown hawker and a southern hawker – I think…). Elsewhere a red admiral basks in the sunshine. It may be autumn meteorologically, but astronomically it’s still summer…

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Chestnut Coppice and the riverbank

On 10 Sep 2020 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

There are toadstools galore in the woods! Later, stopping to gaze upon the river, there’s a flash of blue as a kingfisher flies to a bush on the opposite bank. Perhaps if we wait he’ll re-emerge? Yes – to fly away downstream and out of sight. Sometimes it’s the briefest of moments that make the day special.

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Corvedale old ways

On 09 Sep 2020 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

It’s a beautiful afternoon for exploring some quiet ways in Corvedale – revisiting the old road (see https://geoffspages.blog/2020/07/05/the-old-road/) and finding a well-hidden bridleway, perhaps two-thirds of a mile between high hedges, with occasional glimpses of the world outside.

Horse chestnut (it shouldn't look like this!)

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Drawing in

On 07 Sep 2020 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Sunset is coming earlier – the nights are drawing in, and there’s a distinct lack of light this evening .Soon such walks will be out of the question. Deep in the woods below Hawthorn Bank it’s really gloomy, but the camera can just-about cope.

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More crabs

On 06 Sep 2020 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hillsLeave a comment

There’s a lovely aroma wafting through from the kitchen – a jam pan of crab apples, simmering gently. We had a reasonable haul yesterday, but we could do with a few more. Perhaps there will be some up at Shirlett?

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Wyke and Posenhall

On 05 Sep 2020 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

A shortie – in search of some crab apples… It’s a fine afternoon, good to be out in this (mostly – apart from the hedge trimmer) quiet country.

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Pools and toadstools

On 04 Sep 2020 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

It’s a grey afternoon, but there’s plenty of interest around and beside the quiet lanes near Willey and Linley Brook. The fungi are really getting geared up for the season!

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A Cound Round

On 03 Sep 2020 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

It’s not exactly circular, and it doesn’t rhyme either… A pleasant walk nevertheless, brightened by the local inhabitants dressed as scarecrows, by fungi and autumn fruits in the hedgerows and, as ever, good views of the Wrekin, which is a fine shape from this angle.

He may be a scarecrow, but he's got a decent pair of wellies.

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Shirlett and the dragonfly

On 31 Aug 202031 Aug 2020 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

The weather’s good – cool, perhaps, definitely a hint of autumn. But it’s bank holiday Monday – the crowds will be out. Can we avoid them?* We walked this way just a few days ago, but there’s always something interesting to see. Today, it’s a dragonfly, perched in the bushes at the foot of Round Hill – and he’s prepared to pose for the camera, for as long as it takes.
* Yes, we did!

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Westhope and Wenlock Edge

On 30 Aug 2020 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

Woodland wandering… A five-mile circuit at the south-western end of the Edge, from the car park at Harton Hollow, down the lane to Westhope, onwards along Hope Dale until we’re below the tower of Flounders’ Folly, then up the farm lane (away from the folly) to the woodland of the westernmost edge. The tiny car park is busy, but apart from some particularly loud-voiced walkers just behind us (we decided to let them go ahead…), it’s very peaceful in Hope Dale. It’s not quite so quiet through the woodlands – there’s the rumble of traffic on the unseen A49 below, less than a mile away at first. By the time we’re at the northern end of this most-enjoyable stretch, it’s quiet again.