Delta Ged, Volunteer Ranger @ National Trust Lyme Park : Week 48 10/12/2014

Photo Blog Week 48 - Wed 10 December 2014

A cold damp day threatened to be awful according to radio, TV and Internet, especially after 1PM. I did get all my waterproofs on early in the day when rain came in but I had barely finished when it stopped and it only drizzled a couple of times after that. Still, waterproofs are warm so I kept them on.
The rain coming and going meant confusion with cameras, my larger one staying in my pack some of the time and an old pocket camera with a fogged lens fitting in between. Late afternoon was beautiful with a low bright sun though the wind certainly had an edge to it. Winter is here!

route: North Face of House; Green Drive; drop down to Elmerhurst Wood; across grassland to North ladder entrance; Admissions Hut

Courtyard Christmas tree sourced from the estate

Tasteful garlands decorate the pillars in the courtyard of the house

Manchester in the sun

Mandatory shot of The Cage

Cyprus Pines are favoured in landscaped parkland over Scot's Pine due to the branches and foliage distributing along the trunk rather than just being at the top.

Nature's Artwork

Oaks in Elmerhurst Wood reaching for the skies

Remains of Rosebay Willowherb amongst the brambles.

Are they seed heads or has Santa Claus been along hear and caught his beard?

Poynton Brook meandering through grassland by Elmerhurst

Water plants abound in one tributary.

route: Admissions Hut; Reservoir Dam corner; follow Boundary Wall across back Coalpit Wood and Red Deer Sanctuary; East Lodge

Coalpit Wood and the Red Deer Sanctuary

There is no public access to these areas but a boundary check is regularly needed.

The route behind Coalpit Wood is very boggy, full of low branches and invested with flies. In summer it is a most unpleasant place but in winter at least there a few insects and less foliage to push through. The ground however is soaking and I was constantly sinking ankle deep.