Photo Blog Week 75 - Wed 22 July 2015
Today I stayed in the North of the Park so the scenery is the rolling grassland of Cage Hill and the lower altitude woodland rather than the high moorland I often cover. The Park was busy with many young children coming in for the Gruffalo exhibition but also, as the weather improved, picnics were popular.I arrived to rain with only my good camera so it stayed sealed in a plastic bag until after lunch meaning that we can have a rest with somewhat fewer photo's than some weeks. My route follows the boundary of the Northern part of the Park.
route: The House; Timber Yard; cross stream; Turtle Brew; Four Winds; The Knott; Dipping Pond; Car Park and Timber Yard
Four Winds track down to Windgather Cottage Park Entrance.
This rise gives some of the best and easily accessible views across Cheshire and Manchester
On the old entrance road curving around The Knott.
This track forms part of The Original Route In - the Traditional Approach Route to The House which I describe and follow in a previous blog post.(week 61 28/03/2005)
Volunteer Walling team at work on a collapse in the boundary wall
This break would be critical as one side is sheep grazing in an adjacent field and this side the red deer roam and could escape
Sheep are grazing the grass around The Knott.
Grazing will help maintain the area as pleasant grassland
Many people forget that the countryside we see as natural has been artificially created by centuries of farming and management. Grassland left un-managed becomes weed ridden and ugly in time as other plants such as bracken and brambles invade and take over.
This is also the reason behind the stock fencing being installed on Pursefield below Paddock Cottage where the lower reaches of the grass are shrinking uphill as the scrub invades. The beautiful sloping grass will not be there for future generation without introducing grazing.
The jetty in the Dipping Pond. (Only accessible with Rangers)
Stag Damage
I mentioned last week the palings around trees to protect from Stag antler damage.
The vertical gouges in this trunk are the result of stags rubbing their antlers which strips the bark.
The tree has been stripped of bark around the entire circumference and has died as a result.
route: Timber Yard; Mill Pond; North Face of House; East Lodge Drive; Red Deer Sanctuary; Coalpit Wood dip
Water Lillies on the Mill Pond.
Black Headed Gull defending its perch over the Mill Pond
Summer is a time of green paths as the short grass shines out bright green in contrast the the longer grass
The grass on Cage Hill in front of The House is thick and long
route: Coalpit Wood dip; bottom of Cage Hill; Horse Coppice Reservoir; Red Lane Park Entrance; Admissions Hut
weak path running North through the grass along the edge of Coalpit Wood
Coalpit Wood - Sycamore
I often show pictures of the Beech in Knightslow Wood and the Firs in Lantern and on Haze Bank and Coalpit Wood is very different. Largely Sycamore, it is a deciduous wood with a full canopy but unlike the Beech woods, the woodland floor is lush and green.
Harebells (Campanula rotundifolia)
One of my favourite wild flowers. This is the best of 5 photo's as they were whipping about in the wind.
Horse Coppice and Bollinhurst reservoirs
A ghostly Manchester in the distance
Grade II listed gateway by Red Lane Cottage
route: Admissions Hut; Elmerhurst Wood; Crow Wood; Mill Pond; Car Park (end)
Yellow Honeysuckle
Elmerhurst Wood has the feel of a traditional English woodland with mixed deciduous trees and a vast variety of undergrowth
Undergrowth very full and tall along the path edges
Wild Raspberries
Footbridge in a dell on the Elmerhurst Wood path
Beech Mast
One of the reasons that the floor of Knightslow Wood and other Beech woods have bare floors with little undergrowth is 'masting'. Beech trees will produce huge volumes of seeds (masts) every 2 to 6 years and this creates a mulch so thick that it suppresses growth of ground plants under the tree.
a close view of Beech Mast
Back at the Car Park, threatening clouds silhouetting two Sequoias (Giant Redwoods)
Today's track
Total: 6.26 miles (10.08 km) 4 hr 45 min
duration includes stops for chats, inspections, photo's and snacks
This Time Last Year
Have a look at This Time Last Year
No comments:
Post a Comment