Thursday 31 March 2016

Week 87 30/03/2016 - First of Spring

Photo Blog Week 87 - Wed 30 March 2016

The clocks moved forward at weekend heralding the arrival of spring and, though still not patrolling, I thought it time I brought the camera in with me as the weather looked promising.
I am still working with the walling team and tend to have just one work site each week and enough to carry with tools etc so the camera doesn't get many outings.
I'll try to be a little more regular as the year progresses.

And so, to today

Arriving through the gate from the A6, I was greeted by a 'Host of golden daffodils'.

 North Park gate

Daffodils on the bank by the drive 

 A faint moon hanging in the blue spring sky

 Heading up the drive, the sun catching the trunks of the Corsican Pines

The weather vane over the Stables building suggests the norm' of a SW wind today

Four trees on the small rise at the entrance to Turfhouse Meadow present a wonderful silhouette in winter and lush green canopy in summer. 

Lots of work has been going on at the Nursery plot over the past 12 months. More and more of this area is being brought back to life. It also looks as if some work is going on at the Kennels Cottages. 

 I like this angle on the Cage where it seems to stand 'sentry' over the landscape

A Lime tree has had a good professional haircut. It looks rather drastic but it is the way to maintain their appearance and extend their life.

 The Limes have been pruned alternately for the sake of the visual impact. 
3 cones are just visible where one tree was lost in recent winds. 

'Lyme' Park and 'Lime' trees are not linked other than phonetically

 The North face of the House with the new ramp next to the steps from the car park. 
A big help for buggies etc. and hopefully will allow the mud strip worn by people avoiding the steps to recover.

 A peaceful Mill Pond.

 Early morning swim anyone?

 Morning sun catching the South Face


Today's Work Site

This wall at the bottom of Drinkwater Meadow has many weak spots and this section in being repaired after a break formed. Although the break, or 'nip', is often quite short it is usually symptomatic of wider problems and to get back to wall that is stable often requires a considerable strip out sideways and downwards. Six of us were to work building today, 3 either side of the wall.

 Approaching work site from main car park.

A good view of the 'A' frames which guide the shape the wall is built to

 On the floor nearby, a vivid yellow sign of spring in the undergrowth.

 The rush residue shows where the brook has flooded over its banks. 

 Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria), always one of the first flowers to greet spring at Lyme

 Trying to build with the old stone is challenging. 
I am in awe of the people that built these wall out of these shapes.

 end of day

Low Pressure - Long Views

It may be against expectation, but the best long distance views are not in the periods of high pressure and long hot days, they occur during Low Pressure when, as long as it isn't raining, the air is clearest.
After I left my workmates for the day, I made my way onto the edge of Cage Hill to take in a few views before heading home.
 Manchester city centre with Winter Hill to North

 Kinder Plateau

 Sunbeams streaming down through dramatic clouds to South West

 Welsh hills clearly visible in the distance and the escarpment at Frodsham sharply defined

The high area of Park Moor. The young trees at Bowstonegate Farm showing over the ridge at right.

This Time Last Year


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