Good Friday at Blists Hill

I won't provide all the background the Blists Hill in Shropshire because I have posted about it previously here. However, it is understandably very popular with tourists.
I was not sure about going on such a busy bank holiday but, as Andy has been working, I thought I would go along and take some activity shots. I went early to ensure I got a parking space! Due to it being more widely dispersed with some of the additions of late, I even managed to get a few shots before the crowds arrived. You may need to click into the images if you want to see the detail of either the people in their Victorian clothes or the enamel signs dotted about.





It was lovely to see it in the sunshine :)



They always do lovely themes for the holidays and so I knew to expect a few Easter activities too. One of the shop fronts had chicks in the window, they always raise a smile don't they?



As usual the provided some old fashioned entertainment in the form of drama/plays.



There was egg dancing! Now if you don't know what that is, all I am going to say is that is was to the tune of "Knees up Mother Brown". The tune seems to be coming up a lot lately. Anyway, I reckon the image gives you the idea.



Down on the old fairground , everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.



I enjoyed watching an artist at work. In keeping with the 1900's theme, he was working at an old easel with charcoal and dressed accordingly. I was slightly amused that the little boy did not want to take off his sunglasses!



The Easter bonnet competition provided some very lovely contributions and they all looked beautiful.



Meanwhile, it was also planned to drop in on my talented wood turner friend. Those who have been around long enough will know that Simon is the maker of numerous things but, blogged previously on here, the famous Teddy Bears Bunk beds. I took this image today with a selection of his other makes. Although, it doesn't cover them all, he also makes gorgeous hand turned pens. But, he doesn't take those along, they weren't invented in 1900!



It was good to catch up and he kindly gave me one of his lovely hand turned oak acorns which I am delighted with :-) So here is a last image for this post of him at the lathe ....



Happy Easter everyone.

Why Nature Enthralls Me

As most of you will have gathered by now, all of nature inspires and enthralls me. The beauty of it is an endless fascination. This little insect landed on me yesterday and I can honestly say I have no idea as to what it is. No doubt I may go searching at some point but, for now all I look at are the beautiful colours and perfection when you get up close. In the photo the weave of the cloth is my cotton trousers which may provide you an idea of how little it was but think small ladybird and you will be about right.



It seemed to be quite happy looking around my fibres, LOL and I wondered what his view of it all was. Did it look like a big cotton grassy bank? He stayed for several minutes, hence the fact that I even had time to swap lenses, although reaching around myself to hold the camera really steady for a shot of my own leg was not so easy! And, no don't go there....I sincerely hope no-one was watching me on the banks of the river!

He opened his wings several times as if to take off and I was mesmerised through the lens of my camera.



Then after providing me with that beautiful little display, he flew away!

Spring in the Severn Valley

Springtime was definitely here at the weekend and with the temperatures soaring, there were signs everywhere down at Severn Valley Park. The birds were singing so loudly that it almost hurt your ears. Everywhere I looked I could see them busily collecting nest material and in and out of the nest boxes.





The butterfly population is steadily increasing and this week has seen the emergence in Shropshire of the Speckled Woods, a little earlier than last year I think.
The bees are humming and over the pond are the first signs of life although I have yet to spot a damselfly!



Walking down to the river through the meandering woodland paths, Peacock butterflies flitted in the sunlight and nestled among the trees are all the spring flowers: little wild viola's, cuckoo flowers, cowslips and primroses.



Come to thy bowers, sweet spring,
And paint the gray, stark trees,
The bud, the leaf and wing--
Bring with thee brush and breeze.

And soft thy shading lay
On vale and woodland deep;
With sunshine's lovely ray
Light o'er the rugged steep.

More softly warm and weave
The patient, timid grass,
Till heard at silvery eve
Poor robin's lonely mass.

Bid faithful swallows come
And build their cozy nests,
Where wind nor storm can numb
Their downy little breasts.

Come at the sad heart's call,
To empty summer bowers,
Where still and dead are all
The vernal songs and flowers.

It may be months or years
Since joyous spring was there.
O come to clouds and tears
With light and song and prayer!


Mary Baker Eddy

Down at the river, the water was unusually still, so much so that it created the most fabulous reflections in the water with deep hues created by the surrounding trees and clear blue sky.



The trees look almost yellow with the new leaves in bud and hawthorn blossom is particularly striking. We sat there for some time soaking up the sun, watching the birds and the butterflies. The Chiffchaffs were singing , the orange tipped and brimstone butterflies patrolling backwards and forwards. Unusually, I watched a Brimstone settle and captured my first image of one for the year. This male looks almost Green here but, in flight they are a deep vibrant yellow!



I definitely saw a mammal swim across the river and wondered if it was a water vole. It was much smaller than a rat. However, it made me recall “Wind in the Willows”, the River Bank by Kenneth Grahame:

He thought his happiness was complete when, as he meandered aimlessly along, suddenly he stood by the edge of a full-fed river. Never in his life had he seen a river before--this sleek, sinuous, full-bodied animal, chasing and chuckling, gripping things with a gurgle and leaving them with a laugh, to fling itself on fresh playmates that shook themselves free, and were caught and held again. All was a-shake and a-shiver--glints and gleams and sparkles, rustle and swirl, chatter and bubble. The Mole was bewitched, entranced, fascinated. By the side of the river he trotted as one trots, when very small, by the side of a man who holds one spell-bound by exciting stories; and when tired at last, he sat on the bank, while the river still chattered on to him, a babbling procession of the best stories in the world, sent from the heart of the earth to be told at last to the insatiable sea.

Over in the far meadow, we saw a kestrel in the tree and watched him take several graceful flights over the field until eventually he caught his supper.




As the sun began to go down across the valley, it was time to go home....we left this Comma basking in the final rays of sunshine.

Venus Pool Wildlife Reserve in Shropshire

As today has now developed into a typical April day with breezy and heavy showers, it is perhaps time to look back on the last couple of weeks. We have been blessed with some very lovely weather for the time of year. This led us to make the most of the opportunity and get out and about as much as we could. The Spring has arrived in full force with the first buds, wild flowers in the hedgerow and the first insects have been spotted. My first butterflies of the year were the Peacock, followed swiftly by Tortoiseshells, Comma's, Orange Tips and yesterday, I saw a pair of Brimstone's flying through the woodland.



Peacock Butterfly

Last week we paid a visit to Venus Pool which is a nature reserve of the Shropshire Ornithological society. The website can be found here. We spent some time in the hides watching both the small birds and those out on the water. While in the smaller hide we caught a glimpse of this little one who was clearly rounding up some of the fallen bird seed.



Bank vole

There was plenty on the feeders and even the occasional reed bunting was coming in which I hadn't noticed on previous visits.



This time we also took a trip up to the top field because there appeared to be a big flock of yellowhammers. I was busy taking photo's of birds I couldn't even see with my eye, I really do need to treat myself to a set of bins as well! On closer look in among the flock there were also these lovely little birds.


Corn Bunting



Brambling

We met a gentleman there who very kindly identified some of the birds in my pics but, also let us study the flock through his scope. It really was quite delightful to see them all so clearly for a change. A lovely day, good company and made even more special by bumping into another pleasant enthusiast.