Photo Blog Week 65 - Wed 29 April 2015
I've been in the Park several times this week as I am still working on the survey I mentioned last week but I tried to remember to take photos of more than gates and sign posts on Wednesday.A day of varied weather.
The Park vegitation has a half-way feel about it with some trees covered in abundant fresh green leaves whilst others are barely past the bud stage into leaf burst. The grasses in the lower meandows are bright green and lush whilst on the higher moorland areas, the tan colour of long winter grasses is only just fading as a tinge of green pushes thyrough.
Wild flowers are appearing like jewels of colour on the woodland floors with Wood Sorrel and Lesser Celandine delivering white and yellow and along Westparkgate Drive and in Crow Wood a carpet of Bluebells is on its way.
Group of trees on Turfhouse Meadow silhouetted against a bright sky at 08:45
The high part of the Moor and top of Lantern Wood appear over the trees
Reflections in the pond on Turfhouse
Crossing through onto the Moor I was greeted by some of the new residents
(soft ould things the lot of them, just chat to them as you amble by)
The lower grasses of the moor changing from tan to green
This 'Lunky' hole is in regular use going by the track passing through it
Larch with young needles sometimes looks like misty water falling through the air
Brilliant Gorse coming into flower
Oak Apples? No actually.
These are Oak Marble Galls, the Oak Apple Gall is larger and differs in colour and location on the host tree. Both are however the left overs from a type of wasp larvae, the eggs having been laid into a bud.
Common Wood Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella)
I love this plant at this time of year. Growing in clusters on the woodland floor among the mosses, the leaves are an incredible luminescent green when the sun catches them and the white flowers sometimes with pink streaks are beautifully delicate. The trefoil leaves fold themselves up like little tents.
Try rubbing a leaf between your fingers and smell - Fresh Green Apple.
Manchester in the sunshine.
People frequently express amazement at how close the City looks to be and yet how far away it feels with the surroundings of the Park.
South face of the House from the angle originally intended as first sight for a visitor to Lyme.
The high hedge at the side of the Car Park would not have been there so the lower view would have been the Italianate gardens below the walls.
Car Parking Improvements
The Park had to close several times early this year due to car parking capacity being exceeded. The snow and rains had left the grass overflow parkinhg areas soggy and unusable which was a major problem when the good weather suddenly arrived and visitors flooded in.As well as evening out the main parking area, other improvements have been made which should help maintain the capacity to accept visitors when the ground is wet.
This new high tensile matting on the grass areas of the car park should make it usable for more of the year when weather has been wet. The grass will grow through the matting. This has also been laid on the Equestian field over-flow car parking area.
Another enabler for increased capacity is marked bays. Cars tended to park with massive gaps or diagonally which greatly reduced capacity. The material is recycled plastic waste so they will not degrade as wood would.
Work continues on resurrecting the Nursery Plots which will produce food and flowers for the house.
New Antlers
A few Stags still have last years antlers but most are now cast and this years growth is already obvious
This large stag already has significant growth and the soft 'velvet' protective covering can be seen clearly here.
Deer antlers are bone and grow with blood vessels and nerves before closing off and hardening when fully grown. A broken antler in the growth stage has the capacity to be fatal.
The Lantern
The Cage and Manchester viewed through the side window of The Lantern
The view from the doorway of The Lantern looks across the pond in Turfhouse Meadow to the House.
If you visit the house, notice the tree which has a corner cut out of it to maintain the view of The Lantern. This trimming extends back to when the Legh family owned the property.
Rear-Side of The Lantern
path through Lantern Wood in dappled sunshine
Approaching the summit of Lantern Wood, grey clouds gathering
View over the western boundary wall to the high Kinder Plateau.
If you subscribe to the greater than 2000ft definition, then you are looking at a Mountain as Kinder Scout at the right of the ridge reaches 2088ft.
Contrast: Beetham Tower (Hilton Hotel) and The Cage
The House benefiting from a gap in the clouds
Rain Cells could be seen all over the place and this one seemed to be heading my way.
I missed the worst, just catching the edge of it but that was accompanied by freezing blustery wind and fine hail battering my face. Not nice and a reminder that even though we are close to the city, the weather up on the moors needs respect and appropriate clothing.
Mr Blue Sky over Sponds Hill...
(apologies to Jeff Lynne and ELO)
... and looking the other way hail filled squalls continue reducing visibility
Fungi Fest'
Fallow Deer grazing on the spring grass
Sight line through Knightslow Wood continuing from the Lime Avenue.
This sight line goes through to the location of the ruin of Stag House high on the Moor. Only the foundations remain.
Spring Lambs
This year's lambs in Drinkwater Meadow are stocky little things.
The lambs are usually more curious and less 'skitty' than their mothers ...
... but this year's adults seem more easy going than usual not jumping and
running away in mad panic when you approach.
I'm hiding, you can't see me.
Darcy's Pool looking less uninviting than in recent months.
Location of Darcy's Pool
If you or anyone you know are intending seeing Darcy's Pool (above) where the BBC Pride and Prejudice filming of the wet shirted Colin Firth took place, note that it is incorrectly labelled on most of the maps and leaflets distributed at Lyme Park.
It is in the far corner of Drinkwater Meadow next to two oaks and behind a slight embankment which means you don't see it until you get there.
Try to get hold of the A4 printed whole park map usually available at the Admissions Hut, Information and in the Timber Yard Cafe.
Locate 'Drinkwater Meadow' and the pool is in the far corner from the Car Park.
Cluse Hay greening up nicely
Nature's Artwork: Sun lighting up layers of young translucent Beech leaves.
Tall Tree
Young Ferns uncurling as they grow
Contrasting copper coloured leaves on the floor and new bright green on the trees in the old quarry in Knightslow Wood
And as I finish for the day, the sun comes out on the Timber Yard.
The Timber Yard houses a Cafe, Outdoor Picnic area, Shop, Plant sales and Toilet facilities.
Today's track and profile
total: 8.3 miles (13.4 km) 6 hr 00 min
This Time Last Year
Have a look at This Time Last Year
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