English Countryside, Everyday Life, PHOTOGRAPHY,, Seasonal Change

Seasonal Change Over

Yesterday would normally have been the last day of February….but as we know this year it is a leap year so today is a Bonus Day. But as the sun shone so brightly and there was no hint of any bad weather Sunday was also to be a Bonus Day…..and we headed for the Moors….

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Stanton Moor, Birchover, Derbyshire

As to be expected it was a cold day for the moors and even with plenty of bright sunshine a brisk pace was needed to keep warm.  It seems strange to say this but winter officially finishes today and the new metrological Spring starts tomorrow.  They also report that winter 2015/16 has been both the wettest but warmest on record.

Certainly on the moors there is still some colour remaining and even new shoots of heather and bracken starting to show…..I guess the lack of frost and more importantly snow has ensured that the moors have escaped so lightly. The Birch are starting to throw out there red shoots of new growth that will soon be leaf but for now the moors remain rather bare….

In the centre of the Moor there is a ritual megalithic site of some importance….

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The Nine Ladies Stone Circle…

Standing adjacent to the Nine Ladies is a Clootie Tree.  Not sure where the idea came from not am I sure I like what has become a tradition.  Here the Clootie Tree is usually adorned with strips of material and other decorations mostly hand made from natural materials….the decoration being added as part of the Winter and Summer Solstice celebrations at the circle.   I know of other Clootie Trees all attached to ‘special’ places but they tend to be decorated throughout the year.  DOI_7417-bb

As with most ritual stone circles there is also a so called processional route leading into the Nine Ladies.  Here there is a single stone marking the start of the route and one single stone with the rather grand name of The King Stone

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So all in all an invigorating bonus day and not a bad end to February.  I am not sure I will say hello to Spring just yet as I fear that Winter may well have a sting to her tail.

29th February

(C) David Oakes 2016

14 thoughts on “Seasonal Change Over”

    1. Yep…one of Derbyshires ‘smaller’ moors and ideal when you haven’t got a whole day at your disposal…you are still on high and wild with all that feeling that goes with that.

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  3. Very beautiful. Pity that people must ruin those stones with graffiti. Fabulous colours and this Queen stone (Nine ladies must have a Queen, not a king. This is woman power in Stone!). 😀

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    1. A deceptive place. A deserted moor today apart from walkers. Once a megalithic village site, then a ritual site, ancient burial site all followed by old industrial activities from mining to quarry workings and charcoal burning. First look you would never believe that it had been such a heavily used and populated area……but beautiful in all seasons

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    1. As I mentioned I have mixed feelings about Clootie Trees. I have empathy with the spirit but sometimes just hate the trashy appearance of some sites……honest I am not a grumpy old g** but !

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