Post 90 05/05/2017 - Exploring the South and Eastern Edges

It was a lovely morning on Friday 5th May with fantastic light and I was making my way around a loop that would take me out to the South and East edges of the estate.

I was actually working on a survey I carry out annually recording the condition of all external furniture in the Park; this extends through stiles, gates, signage, footbridges, steps, rails and, believe it or not, more; in all approaching 600 items. Each item is checked over, GPS recorded and photographed and items such as spring closures and whether and how gates are locked are all noted. Any concerns are reported to the professional team to review and initiate action if deemed necessary.

My only camera available for general photo's was my phone so the quality is way below when I was patrolling and blogging regularly but I hope you enjoy this selection showing some of the varied textures around the Park.

Passing behind the Gardens the House looking grand the other side of Reflection Lake

Ewes with their young lambs bleating loudly and echoing around Calves Crof

Heading into Knightslow Wood;

I love Beech woods at this time of year with a bright overhead sun lighting up the vivid lime green of the young freshly bursting leaves.

That green :)

Heading West along the bottom of Park Moor looking up to the summits.

Approaching Middle Moor Wall, the sightline is out across the Cheshire Plain.

The lower hills as the Pennines fade into the Plain are covered in brilliant flaming yellow Gorse

View back into the Park with Paddock Cottage catching the sun on the ridge, Drinkwater Meadow centre and Knightlsow Wood to right.

Supposed to be a selfie with the wonderful views in the background. I need a shave!

Having reached the first summit along the Southern boundary this is the view along the boundary wall towards Derbyshire. The white gable end on Bowstonegate Farm can be seen right of centre which, when the sun is low, can be seen from large areas of NE Cheshire.

The remains of Stag House

Stag House is marked on OS maps and for many years I was puzzled that I had never seen any building in that area. A few years ago I located it finally - anti-climax warning!

another look East, this time from Stag House

The string brown dots left and below centre are a group the of red deer from the Moor Herd 

 

Now passed Bowstones on the SE boundary looking North toward Disley:

Cage Hill in the sun - The Cage is just left of centre in shot. Lantern Wood to right.

Looking back along the high boundary I have just walked.

Derbyshire Hills now in view: Kinder Plateau to right and Lantern Pike centre. 

Using the definition of 'Greater than 2000ft', Kinder Scout is our local Mountain

As flow of the terrain changes, the House comes into sight way below

Entering Lantern Wood; this path is always pretty meandering among the young pines.

Being at the top of the wood a lot of light spills in in spite of the canopy with the result that the woodland floor is full of life.

I always connect Wood Sorrell with the Beech leaves seen earlier; at this time of year the vivid apple green of the leaves lights up the floor and the white bell flowers bounce about in the breeze.

 

Next time you pass some Wood Sorrel, rub a leaf between your fingers and smell the wonderful fresh green apple flavour.

another shot of the lovely path through the top of Lantern Wood

and here's where Lantern Wood gets its name - The Lantern

 

 

Walling Report

I have explained that the regular blog ceased when I moved from Patrolling to the Drystone Walling team. After more than a year with the team, I finally feel that I am getting to grips with it. There are many frustrating days but the previous day to this walk had been a very satisfying day which I though I'd share.

A 'nip' had appeared on the wall between the Eastern Moor and Hampers Wood. A section of the skin on the wood side had collapsed and the outer skin was hanging in there 'on a wing and a prayer'.
Peter and I went out to try and effect a repair in the one day. A shove of the outer skin took it down and we set about removing more stones until we reached stable material. This left us with a large 'U' in the wall which we set about rebuilding.
It soon became evident that we had insufficient stone as a lot had degraded and the wall either side took a lot of repacking to restore its strength. This forced me to build to the last stone I had regardless of shape, which was a good exercise. Having both exhausted our stone we set about walking along the wall in both directions looking for waste from previous repairs and fortunately found enough odd stones to complete the repair. There are a few stones that we would have liked lower down that went higher up due to when we found them but compared to the original wall it looked good..

I could have been overawed by working on my own side of the wall but Peter the other side is a great support to work with. The experienced wallers help you build your confidence whilst at the same time helping you identify and correct weaknesses.

We finished the job and I was able to look back very content with my work, especially the 'built to last stone' aspect; I had successfully placed a lot of stones which given the choice I would have previously designated unusable.

My side.

I'm still improving. I can see a couple of close to running joints which I don't like but it's all locked and weight bearing and there's no front pinning. Wish I'd found that big one at the top earlier.

Regardless of the slope, we build using horizontal lines as a sight guide. I don't think the people who built the original wall at the bottom here did. Interesting waves.

 

Looking at the wall at the left you can see the stone isn't exactly 'brick' shaped

Heading back to the Stables contented after a good day, these trees on the ridge heading up Cage Hill deliver wonderful varied silhouettes against all sorts of skies in all seasons.

Today's is a spring fluffy green against a blue sky.

Today's Track and Profile

 

 

 

 Total: 5.00 miles

 

This Time Previous Years

2016 Week 88 04/05/2016 - Workplaces, Spooked Deer and Springtime

2015 Week 67 13/05/2015 - Blue Skies and Bluebells

2014 Week 23 14/05/14 - Sunny, Green and Clear

Week 88 04/05/2016 - Workplaces, Spooked Deer and Springtime

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

Clearing out memory cards I came across this magnificent stag coming over The Knott in December 2015

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

Week 66 06/05/2015 - Brief and Late but With Promise

Week 22 07/05/14 - Bluebells to Velvet