Pics from your State Sanctioned Exercise.

[Orang Utan]

So do I, Betty, so do I.
Thank you for your sacrifice

 

[ginger_syn]

Canterbury.
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thank for the moment of clanger joy

 

[Elpenor]

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So do I, Betty, so do I.
Thank you for your sacrifice

Betty died the same day as my Mum did.

 

[rubbershoes]

A trip up to the Beacon

 

[LeytonCatLady]

A spring evening walking through Downhills Park.

 

[LeytonCatLady]

Unknown species of bird in Wood Green high road. I sent the pic to my mum, who reckons it's a pied wagtail.

 

[Dystopiary]

Unknown species of bird in Wood Green high road. I sent the pic to my mum, who reckons it's a pied wagtail.

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Your mum is right! Lovely little bird.

 

[LeytonCatLady]

Your mum is right! Lovely little bird.

Much cuter than the pigeons you normally see in a high street.

 

[Leafster]

A cycle out to Box Hill and back

 

[cesare]

We had a 4 mile walk around Crossness Nature reserve, along the Thames Path and then the footpath past Crossness on the other side, and then along the Ridgeway.

Fewer butterflies but loads of bees. The hawthorn blossom is mainly over but the elders are loaded with flowers this year.

Banks and banks of dogrose/sweet briar.


We saw a clump of dark columbine.



The new reeds growth was the height of our heads in some places.



We were shouted at by a wren when we got too near her nest.

We took a detour to the hide and I got a slightly better picture of the bat hibernaculum.



A spring cherry, apparently, absolutely stunning.



Water levels are still quite high on the marshes.

Loads of Black mustard.



Heron in the lily pond at Crossness. We also saw a HUGE fish, far too big for the heron to attempt.



When we walked past the horse paddocks we saw a mama fox and her 4 cubs playing. She noticed us watching even from the other end of the paddock and sat up to look at us, so we quietly walked on. The cubs didn't notice.

I'll edit in some pics.

 

[SpookyFrank]

 

[chainsawjob]

red stuff (sorrel maybe?), Midland hawthorn, walking, newt pond (where we watched a huge blue dragonfly circling for ages)

 

[Boru]

Summer evening palm trees.. these can grow on the west coast of Ireland due to warm altantic ocean currents..

 

[LeytonCatLady]

Sweet smelling flowers in Tottenham.

 

[brogdale]

Pre-midsummer on Roundshaw Downs:

















Croydon, innit.

 

[marty21]

A walk around the marshes , good to see Hackney folk still like a slogan.

 

[Leafster]

I took a ride out to Gatton Park today and then walked around the grounds. The the bulk of the grounds were designed by Capability Brown.

Village Cricket

















Fuzzy cygnets - I really should take my glasses with me when I take photos!





Goslings

 

[Leafster]

They appear to have a Mare's Tail problem

 

[brogdale]

They appear to have a Mare's Tail problem

Makes me think I might read "London orbital" for a third time.

 

[Leafster]

Makes me think I might read "London orbital" for a third time.

I had to look that up.

I think we miss so much by travelling too far and too fast.

Taking your time, slowing down, walking or cycling, you find things on your doorstep you've never noticed.

Gatton Park is only six miles from me and it was only when I took up cycling again I realise it existed.

 

[brogdale]

I had to look that up.

I think we miss so much by travelling too far and too fast.

Taking your time, slowing down, walking or cycling, you find things on your doorstep you've never noticed.

Gatton Park is only six miles from me and it was only when I took up cycling again I realise it existed.

Sinclair's ramble with pals round the orbital is well worth picking up if you haven't read it; I'm sure it would give you some ideas for other outings.

 

[kebabking]

Bit of a half term holiday in Builth and Crickhowell...

 

[kebabking]

Then to Portishead, for a trip on Waverley, a 100+yo Steam paddle ship, she lives in Glasgow for most of the year, and she served as a Minesweeper in the 1914-1918 war. Up the Severn bridges, then to Penarth, then to Clevedon.

Absolutely amazing trip.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

That looks like a truly first class holiday

 

[kebabking]

That looks like a truly first class holiday

It's been superb mate, just chilled out, low key - the kids even stopped jumping about like Crack-addled baboons in the top of the Bongo by about 10.30...

We stayed at Boatside, nr Aberedw, Builth Wells, and Bryndu, nr llyswen, Talgarth. Boatside is on the Wye, but Bryndu was the nicer site with absolutely sparkling facilities - ice creams, cakes, and immaculate, pretty pitches.

 

[Ground Elder]

Sunday walk to Morrisons

 

[Orang Utan]

 

[Orang Utan]

Tried and failed to capture the majesty of the Red Kites that are now a constant presence in the skies around Leeds:

 

[cesare]

Tried and failed to capture the majesty of the Red Kites that are now a constant presence in the skies around Leeds:
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Red kites, I love them

 

[Orang Utan]

Red kites, I love them

I love them too. Even though they’re ubiquitous these days, they never fail to inspire awe and wonder. They also always make me think of my mum, as the sight of them always cheered her towards the end of her life no matter how low she was feeling