Delta Ged, Volunteer Ranger @ National Trust Lyme Park : Week 70 10/06/2015

Photo Blog Week 70 - Wed 10 June 2015

Strap in, there are a lot this week. I was in the Park early for an engagement that was cancelled so headed off early with my still new camera into a bright sunny English summer day; without my hat unfortunately, so my scalp is a little tingly this morning under my now thinning hair.

A gorgeous day full of happy smiling faces among the lush fluffy greens of the now fully leaved trees and the grass and woodland floors full of sparkles of colour from the many wild flowers.

Is Anybody Out There?

I would love to know who looks at these posts and why, I occasionally meet other volunteers who tell me they do but I am intrigued by statistics suggesting I have readers all over and outside the UK and what brings you back.
I'd love it if you would give me a few minutes anonymous feedback Reader Survey (9 questions)

route: Main Car Park; Timber Yard; Crow Wood (circle); The Stables building; Turhouse Meadow

I think The Sky Landscape Artist programme has given people ideas

Pink Blossom of Horse Chestnut trees

Skies clearing to Blue over the Mill Pond

Crow Wood Play Scape

Bear Pit in the Play Scape

Crow Wood is full of Buttercups at the moment

Buttercups (Ranunculus)

Dandelion Clock

Copper Beech (Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea)

Copper Beech (aka Purple Beech) is a genetic variation from the Common Beech which first appeared in the 15th Century according to the Woodland Trust - Copper Beech

Looking up a Giant Redwood (Sequoia)

Close up of Horse Chestnut blossom

Pink Hawthorn blossom

Tadpoles in the Mill Pond close to the entrance to the Timber Yard

approach to the North Face

Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys)

route: Turhouse Meadow; The Lantern; Lantern Wood; Park Moor

The Ranger Team's All Terrain Polaris vehicle

Fence replacement around the Archery Field

White Hawthorn hanging over the pond in Turfhouse Meadow

Red Deer Stags on Turfhouse Meadow

The Lantern high windows lit up with the Distant Drumbeat interactive artwork

Rhododendron are now in flower, these in Lantern Wood

The Lantern CLOSED!

I sincerely hope that the Distant Drumbeat interactive artwork installation is a huge success for the Park an brings much pleasure to many down in the Gardens.
However, I find myself with mixed feelings about the loss of this resource. Many times I and others have taken refuge from biting winds, torrential rains, burning sun and searing heat in the Lantern or sat on it's steps eating our sandwiches in the silence of the woodland looking down into the Park and beyond.

For the duration of the installation, a door has been fitted and locked and the ground floor windows boarded up with vented panels. Even the silence is invaded with the purr of the generator inside.
I hope they restore it to open access when the installation travels on.

The Cage and Manchester beyond

across Cater's Slack toward Kinder plateau

Cage Hill far below from the top of Cater's Slack

A rare sight of Blue water in the reservoirs

With the hot sun on the young conifers at the top of Lantern Wood the air is full of the perfume of Pine Resin, a creosote like smell which tickles the back of the nose (in a nice way)

Wood-sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella)

route: Lantern Wood; Park Moor; BowstonegateFarm entrance; Boundary to Stag House

View from the top of ladder stile at head of Lantern Wood out of the Park toward Lantern Pike and Kinder Scout

Daisies (Bellis Perennis)

The House nestling among the Tree Canopies

Butterfly

This view of the Cage Hill shows the contour with The Cage very much on a summit

Looking over the Boundary Wall to Shuttlingslow and Macclesfield Forrest on the horizon

One of last year's calves taking an interest in me

The hinds, many of which are pregnant, and younger deer are staying in groups

wider shot showing overall size of group

Sheep and Lambs on adjacent farmland over the boundary wall

route: Boundary to Stag House; Middle track descent (West of Middle Moor Wall); Knightslow Wood

Park Moor with it's green summer coat on. Bowstonegate Farm on the horizon.

A short section of the Macclesfield Canal

Buzzard

It is rare that I manage to catch any wildlife so when I managed to get this Buzzard in my lens as I descended the Park Moor close to middle moor wall I went a bit overboard.