Touching history...

The very impressive Salmesbury Hall lies 6 miles east of Preston. It was built in 1325 by Gilbert de Southworth and was the home of the Southworth family until the early 17th Century

The beautiful wattle and daub building is Grade 1 listed and still exudes all the atmosphere of a medieval family home.

The black and white exterior is stunning as is the hammer beam ceiling in the Great Hall

The impressive Elizabethan fireplace was built in 1545

Salmesbury Hall was the home of Saint John Southworth, one of the English Catholic Martyrs, who was executed in 1654.

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Brockholes Nature Reserve...

A visit to the Lancashire nature reserve at Brockholes this week

showed a wealth of colour and new growth for Spring.

The Bluebells were especially wonderful in Boilton Wood.

Brockholes  - April 2017

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Snowdrops...

This cold, but bright, February morning was just right for walk around 

Gorse Hill Nature Reserve

Aughton

Lancashire 

Gorse Hill is an 85 acre site nestled on the northern and western slopes of Gaw Hill, a sandstone ridge with views across the Lancashire plain.

The snowdrops are just starting to peep through, and even though they need just a little more sunshine, they still look magical.

Galanthus (snowdrop; Greek gála "milk", ánthos "flower")

" Beneath these ice-pure sepals lay

A triplet of green-pencilled snow,

Which in the chill-aired gloom of day

Stirred softly to and fro"

The Snowdrop by Walter de la Mare

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