A The day didn’t go to plan…. so it was late before we managed to get out into what has been a glorious day of sunshine and blue skies albeit very cold. So with two impatient dogs we headed for Shipley Woods.
The low winter light still brought out the woodland colours and gave a deceptive feel of warmth to the dying day. Under the canopy, Snowdrops are pushing upwards but as of yet not opened their flower heads, once this snow clears it will be replaced by a white carpet of a different type!
A Woodland Artist has left their mark on this trunk, a rather fearsome face closing its eyes against the low sun. There are many old and decaying trunks about and one wonders if more sculptures will start to appear around the woods. It would certainly blend with the ‘Fairy Tower’ in the grounds of old Shipley Hall. Once the water tower for the farm but now an isolated designer style pad much admired by many.
Even though the days are starting to draw out the sun was soon heading down to the horizon and starting to give a rich warm glow through the trees and across the Derbyshire hills.
But don’t be fooled by the tranquil landscape above. Once upon a time this was a busy industrial landscape supporting the many coal mines that now lie quiet below these fields. Looks beautiful, flowing fields reach up to a smooth skyline of distant hills……looks so natural! Yet this is a restored landscape salvaged from the ravages of ‘open cast coal mining’. Those who look closely will soon spot the scars and artificial levels, levels that are far to designer styled for nature; still much better than a bleak scar that it might well have been.
A different sort of ‘busy’ has left its mark in the snow…everything from Squirrels, Rabbits, Birds and Mice, not to mention scores of dogs and of course people out enjoying what has been a great day. The forecast is for clear skies tonight and temperatures of minus 14c…….now that is something to look forward to!!
11th February (2nd posting)
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 