Photo Blog Week 88 - Wed 04 May 2016
I am still not patrolling but after popping into Lyme last weekend with my wife and noting how the wild flowers were moving on with spring and the incredible fresh greens of the Beech tree leaf burst I thought I would put together some photo's taken on visits to Lyme.When I visit to go out walling or to work in the office I often just catch a couple of shots on my phone or any camera I have in the car. What follows is a bit of a mix so I hope you find some interest.
Housekeeping Find
Varied Workplaces
Wallers heading through Turfhouse Meadow to work on a wall at the bottom of the Moor (January)
Patching potholes on Westpark Drive (February)
2nd Wednesday of each month the Wallers do other Conservation jobs.
My Walling Progress
I've been working with the Walling Team for several months now and feel accepted in the team but this has for a long time not been reflected in confidence. This week gave me a huge boost when Jerry and I were allocated to finish the top coarses of this repair and complete the coping on our own. It was most unexpected; I still feel like a newbie or rookie and this felt like someone saying, "We trust you", you can do an acceptable and safe job of straightforward walling without supervision.
Jerry and I had a good productive day in pleasent surroundings with a few laughs and an immense feeling of satisfaction as we left the wall completed at the end of the day.
My first experience of the satisfaction that comes with completing a repair. 100 Spooked Red Deer
A week ago, we had finished sifting through scrap stone piles in Knightslow Wood at lunchtime and I bumped into my Patrolling colleague Graham. Chris, our Lead Ranger, was concerned because the Red Deer had been badly spooked by an irresponsable dog owner allowing his dog to run offlead among them and I offered to join Graham on Cage Hill.We found them on the northern slopes almost by the reservoirs. There were around 100 of them and they kept splitting and stampeding about. Many of the hinds are approaching calving time and this level of stress could be harmful; apart from this, they can be quite frightening to visitors.
We decided to very gently place ourselves in such a way that they would move south toward Coalpit Wood and untimately the Deer Sanctuary. With very patient slow movement we were remarkably successful in getting most of the herd back to where they only had to cross the dip by coalpit wood to get home. Only about 12 had split and they were looking quite chilled behind a copse by the drive, a position we both know they often hang out.
Found Them!
This is one of two groups that kept splitting and charging in different directions.
Half the herd heading Left splintered from rest...
...and back to the Right toward the rest of the herd higher up the hill
Halted and paused; Looking calmer;
at this stage we just made sure that anyone with a dog, even on lead, stayed well away
Stopped and looking in every direction on full alert ;
a few at the left are starting what will become a drift up and over Cage Hill
OK guys, what are you going to do next?
Splinter group head off the the copse
Success as the main herd head South over Cage Hill
Spring is Sprung
Common Wood Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) brightening the woodland floor.
Try crushing a leaf between your fingers and smell them - Green Apples
Horsechestnut opening and unfolding like umbrellas
A burst of new shoots from a damaged area of trunk
Golden-Saxifrage (Chrysosplenium oppositifolia)
The family are home? No, but the Cage is open when the flag is flying.
Home to a million bugs
Well past it's best now, the Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) is always one of the first flowers at Lyme
The stunning vivid green of new Beech leaves
A Bluebell showing itself under a bramble in Elmerhurst Wood
Nature's Artwork: I spotted these beautiful Wave patterns on the trunk of this tree where the outer bark had detached.
I should have ID'd the tree while I could see the rest of it! Possibly a London Plane?
If you know, please let me know by leaving a comment.
The humble Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), nuisence in the garden but still a handsome wildflower.
Quite a dull day and flower head not fully open.
Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) in bloom in sunny patches of Elmerhurst.
In darker areas and in Crow Wood and along Westpark drive they are still well behind.
Out of focus but a reminder of these little 'Rocket Ships' as my son called them; the buds on Beech just before leaf burst
Compulsory shot of South Face
Daisy (Bellis perennis) near the Main Car Park
Today's Walling Job
This high section of the boundary wall is in one of the more inaccessible parts of Lyme high at the back of the Moor away from paths. A long drive through the Park leaving at Westparkgate then down to Pott Shrigley before approaching the boundary on a narrow track from the South. Once parked up, bars, A-frames, spades, string and all our personal tools and gear have to be carried a 10 minute walk over 2 ladder stiles and across rough country for the final stretch.
Arrival: Footings partially relaid.
Workplace Safety
Although the Red Deer are not is this section of the Moor there are horses on the farmland the other side. The fencing not only keeps stock in place but protects anyone passing as the high ends either side of the job are highly unstable. Working close to them is undertakes cautiously and Ken reminded me not to kneel but stay crouched ready to dive away in the event of any movement.
It is also essential to keep the floor clear of stones for 1m from the work area to avoid tripping. It's very tempting to keep putting stones down that don't work rather than return them to the stone pile.
Departure: A frames in place; Footings complete and first coarses underway
This Time Last Year
Have a look at This Time Previous Years
