Standing Stones..

Those who know me know of my fascination for Standing Stones


I was fascinated to see a group of stones at Brockholes Nature Reserve

Stone Circle

 These have been deliberately placed to add interest to the nature reserve but are still very atmospheric.

In the Distance

A Collage of Stones

"...Stone circles appear all over Britain and Europe- some in slightly better repair than others

some differing slightly in orientation or form, all of purpose and origin unknown..."

Diana Gabaldon : Outlander

~***~

Autumn Walking...

Today was beautiful crisp day so I headed for Brockholes Nature Reserve for some late Autumn colour

I found the golden glow of Beech and Birch and the bright red promise of Holly Berries

Autumn Colour

And along the path I met  Mole, Toad and Ratty

Mole, Toad and Ratty

I also saw 

Buzzards

Heron

Robins

Chaffinches

Coal Tits

Blue Tits

Magpies

 I was't fast enough to capture them but I did get a view of  a couple of swans hiding in the reeds

Through the Reeds

~***~

In the shot...

I rather like seeing the shapes that trees make when they fall over !

Here the bluebells and wild garlic creep around and make the shapes their own place..

~***~

Bluebell Woods.....

A quiet stroll two minutes from home took us

 to

Winstanley Hall

Built in 1560 is one of only three Tudor houses in the 

Wigan borough

 In the grounds are the most perfect 

bluebell woods.

Sadly, the hall isn't accessible to the public but the bluebells

can be seen by poking your camera lens over the gap in the stone wall.

Hyacinthoides non-scripta is the common bluebell which is frequently found in ancient woodland. It is a protected species in the UK and is classified as one of our favourite flowers.

I didn't trespass and no bluebells were damaged in taking these shots.

*~*~*

A walk in the wild, wild wood....

Awake! arise! and come away!

To the wild woods and the plains;

And the pools where winter rains

Image all their roof of leaves;

Where the pine its garland weaves

Of sapless green and ivy dun

Round stems that never kiss the sun

Away, away, from men and towns,
To the wild wood and the downs-
To the silent wilderness
Where the soul need not repress
Its music lest it should not find
An echo in another's mind,
While the touch of Nature's art
Harmonizes heart to heart

Poem taken from

 The Invitation by Percy Bysshe Shelley

1792-1882

***

Pictures Haigh Plantations
Wigan
Lancashire

A stroll along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal...

The Leeds-Liverpool is a canal in Northern England linking the cities of Leeds  and Liverpool over a distance of 127 miles (204 km), it crosses the Pennines, and includes 91 locks on the main line.

A gentler mode of transport

Bridge 41

Appley Bridge to Parbold

Nice Reflection from the old tree