Bluebells in May

Our nearest local woods are noted for their bluebells and this last week has been a good time to see them.

Hem Heath Woods are maintained by the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and I think in a previous post about them I mentioned the many trees lost to the Ash Dieback disease. 

 Lots of Ash trees have been felled, the tree canopy is more open and the paths seem wider but the bluebells soldier on regardless.

Trying to spot birds amongst the trees.

I could hear Robins, Wrens and Blackbirds but missed the Song Thrush, Nuthatch and Chiff Chaff that Merlin told me I should have heard. 

It was a lovely bright sunny day, and this seemed to add to the vividness of the green and the deepness of the blue.  I'm afraid my old camera didn't do justice to the intensity of colour and the heat and scent in the woods.

We seemed to have the wood mostly to ourselves, just two or three dog walkers from the nearby houses.

We spotted many other wildflowers along the way.

All for now.  Have a lovely weekend.

Bluebells

 Last week, on one of the sunnier days, we visited Hem Heath woods hoping to find bluebells.  We weren't disappointed.  Hem Heath Wood is cared for by the Staffordshire Wildlfe Turst and is about a ten minute drive from home. 

We parked in the car park at the Wedgwood factory and walked into the woods where the woodland floor was awash with blue.

It's hard to capture the intensity of the blue.

 You certainly can't capture the scent and atmosphere of the woods.

 They felt warm and sheltered.

 The perfume of the Bluebells was delicate but ever present as we walked amongst them.

 

With the sun shining through the trees and the blue of the flowers shimmering in the light I decided that it as one of my favourite times the of year.

The other being when Cow Parsely is frothing on the verges wherever you go along roads, along woodland paths and by running streams.

 Thank you Bluebells for being there again this year and for making my heart sing.

 After our woodland walk we popped into Josiah and Co for a coffee and a look at the local craft work on show.  there were lots of beautiful things for sale.

 There is a small area for coffee - from a machine - but very nice and a treat of a lemon muffin.

There was just time to pop into the V&A Wedgwood Museum to look at something else that makes my heart sing.

Designs for Wedgwood Pottery by Eric Ravilious (1903 - 1942)

Incuding 'The Garden' and 'Travel'

 

 Eric Ravilious was an artist, book illustrator, designer and wood-engraver.  He was also a war artist during the early part of the second world war and was presumed dead when the plane he was in was lost at sea close to Iceland.

 The Travel Series was started in 1939 but production was held up by the war and finally went into prouction in 1952 ten years after his death.

His 'Garden' series was from 1938

I love the steam train on the plate below.

All for now.  Take care.

 

Bluebells

Bluebells, a day later than promised but then it is a Bank Holiday Monday here and I always include those in a long weekend.

I took you to Hem Heath Woods a couple of posts ago and mentioned that we would go back again to check on the bluebells.  We returned on Friday but this time parked at the other entrance off the Wedgwood Estate.  The factory shops were open but of course, the Museum and cafe were still closed. 

 We wandered into the woods first and made our way along the paths we knew led to the areas where the bluebells grew closely together.  It was warm in the dappled sunlight and the birds were singing, robins, chaffinch and blackbirds.  Also the gentle cooing of wood pigeons and the tap, tap, tap of a woodpecker in the distance.

Below are a few of the photos  I took along the way.

We left the bluebell wood and wandered along to the pond which was surrounded by gorse and had cowslips growing on its banks.

Then we wandered back to the car park past the musem and visitor centre.

The willow sculptures are still in place by the show gardens

 

and Josiah Wedgwood (1730 - 1795)  is still standing in pride of place.

I think the bluebells will still be there for a week or so with some areas still to achieve their best display.  We may go back again as being in the wood early morning with the intensity of warmth, scent and colour is just wonderful.

I was upset and horrified to hear the news about the dreadful and inexplicable vandalism  of both the Osprey nest at Lyn Brenig Reservoir in Wales and the Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings near Bromsgrove in Worcestershire.  Also more locally the destruction of the bird hide at Doxey Marshes in Stafford. 

 

Why?

 

I've put links on the places mentioned above.  Here is a - link - to the post I wrote in July 2012 when we visited the Avoncroft Museum, I noticed on yesterday's  local West Midlands news report that three of the buildings I'd taken photos of have been vandalised.  

 

Again, Why?

 

Third Time Lucky

On Easter Saturday we wandered into Hem Heath Woods to see if the bluebells were in flower.  The woods on the old colliery site to the south of the city are owned and maintained by the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and are famous for their bluebells at this time of year.

When we arrived it was quite chilly and Paul realised had forgotten to put his big coat in the car and had only a quilted body warmer with him. We wandered into the woods a little way.  There were a only few bluebells in flower and we thought it would take another week or so before they were visible in the blue carpets we have seen there before. We decided to cut our walk short as it was quite chilly and also looked as if it might rain.

Early this week we decided to go back and see if we could spot more bluebells but this time it was me who forgot to put some old boots in the car for walking through the woods and as we'd had some rain it was quite muddy and I didn't want to mess up the shoes I had on as we were going on somewhere else.  So this time we didn't go into the woods at all.

On Saturday morning just two weeks after our first visit we went back again.  Would there be lots of bluebells to see?

 Oh, yes - there were!

Loads of beautiful blue flowers stretching onwards and outwards between the trees.

The warmth of the sun made them glow and their scent was heavenly.

It is so hard to capture their bright, intense colour with a camera.

Nothing compares to just seeing blue stretching into the distance, being under the sun dappled trees with the flowers and listening to the sounds of the birds overhead.

After a short while I gave up trying to take photos and just enjoyed being part of it all.

Morris and Bells

My next post was going to be about the Glaslyn Osprey Project which is close to where we recently stayed in Wales but I'm holding that back for next time as I wanted to share with you some photos from yesterday's outing.

We drove up through the city towards Kidsgrove and Scholar Green to visit the lovely Rode Hall.  I've taken you there quite a few times before over the years but usually for the snowdrops in March or in the summer.

It was warm in the sunshine as we queued to find a parking space but it was all very well organised and we were soon wandering across the grass to the bustling Farmers' Market, where there was wonderful food, arts and crafts and plants and flowers for sale.

We watched the Morris Dancers entertain the crowds.  These are the local Black Dog Molly.
  

We paused in quiet and leafy corners with wonderful vistas.

Saw lots of interesting plants and flowers

 Found some willow friends - Heron and Fish

 Deer

Hares

But the real purpose of our visit was to see these

 beautiful bluebells

 a sea of blue

 glowing in the sunshine

 Under the trees in the old wood

and making your heart sing.

I'll be back later in the week with the Ospreys.