A Bright Wednesday in the Walled Garden

Having missed the Sunday event at Luton Hoo, I wanted to see how the team restoring a Dairy cart were getting on, and now the days were getting both sunnier and warmer, see whether some of the plants were catching up.

There was still a cold breeze when I first arrived, and there were a good number of volunteers judging by the number of vehicles, but oddly it did not look crowded with people, I later gathered there was a meeting discussing future plans.

The restoration team were not due till after one, so I wandered around the greenhouses and garden first. And later met the three main restorers who were now cleaning up the springs for the cart, then later was shown a room I had never been in and found an old bus sign and odd finials. There was discussion this might well become a tea shop.

I also recorded some very obvious signs of subsidence damage evident in the brickwork of the potting shed outhouses.There was an abundance of tulips many yet to open, but still snowdrops, daffodils and bluebells and some blossom appearing on the fruit trees.

The sun had brought out the bees and they were once again swarming around a water trough.

Westcott Day, followed by Bulbourne and Tringford flowers

A bright day with a chance to see how Lizzy’s garden was progressing and to see the kitchen in sunshine provided a few interesting examples of colour, light and shade.

A day or two later, visit Bulbourne to see the Blacksmith where there was a beautiful display of Spring flowers rarely all seen at the same time, daffodils, tulips, and early bluebells with some dandelions thrown in for good measure! Then on to Tringford to meet the man who introduced me to the bailiff, which allowed me to capture life on both the stream and the reservoir, there in his garden were poppies and tulips.

There were Greylag, Canada Geese, a Heron, Coots and a Grebe to be found in flight, on the water and on the ground in a field still with blossom on the trees, yet at long last the day had the warmth of coming summer.

Later still, and I took a walk along the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union canal, and managed to get up close and personal to a Starling. Fishermen were to be found in abundance as were cyclists, families with children and dogs and a few slowly chugging narrowboats. A woman was knitting seated by the towpath and a man ensconced with his Sunday newspaper outside his galley. Birds were to be seen gathering twigs for nest-building others sang invisibly in the bushes, and overhead were the occasional sounds of light aircraft, cattle lowed in the fields nearby and the horses wandered slowly with swishing tails – the midges and seemingly mosquitoes were the reason for that. There were some very strange canoes on the canal looking very precariously low in the water.

The shot of the anchor was especially for Catherine.

Quick Afternoon Visit to the Walled Garden

The morning was grey and cold for this time of year, so it was easy enough to be persuaded to keep working inside at the computer, but once the sun came out and I had cleared the work, I gathered a couple of lenses, and set off for Luton Hoo.

Many of the volunteers had already completed their work by the time I arrived.

I just wanted a record of what had changed since my last visit. The cold grey days were evident in the paucity of real growth, but I was also lucky enough to spot a group of the bee keepers tending the hives, so there are two separate galleries of images of what I saw this afternoon; one mainly floral the other of the bee keepers.

Sunday Spring Colour

Spring finally arrives in central England, so Sunday brought more people out into the country. I took the opportunity to visit Wilstone Reservoir for a change, parking close to Wilstone Cemetery, but the wildlife had been up early and avoided human contact!

I then went to Grantchester and Linton to enjoy some quiet time with my elder daughter at Linton C of E Primary school where she teaches, to help her tidy the classroom for the onslaught when the children return after the Easter break. Here is a small gallery of the colour I found that day.

Luton has to take a bold new step

General Election Time just like New Year brings out resolutions. I often wonder, as many do, just how many resolutions made, actually reach maturity and come to fruition? Politicians make agendas, and since preparations for the contest have been going on for some time, and many thousands of leaflets have been printed; how many on these lists are already tired. Just how many are truly relevant to those the candidates purport to represent?
How many are simply trotted out to negate their opponents’ claims in the form of damage limitation, and how much is for the positive good of the Community?
Rather than harp on all the negatives, understand what they mean and then work out how it is they can be mitigated or better still, how can the trend or status be reversed and the momentum accelerated to bring about improvements. We need Change for Gain.
Undoubtedly money must be spent, but it has to be managed effectively and there has to be a positive return.
Luton is close to London, close to the M1 Motorway, it has Industry, it has a major Airport, it has two major stations, it has Business Parks, Retail Parks and a University. It also has Museums, churches and a Mosque, a Library, a Theatre and gardens. It has some thriving communities but not every area is blessed. There is also a wide cultural and ethnic diversity. It has challenges, especially with the loss of Vauxhall.
One very positive project that must be put ahead, and promptly is to ensure that communication between Luton and its lifeblood is to remove the thrombosis caused by the M1 Junction 10a roundabout where two streams collide, The artery, the link between the Spur Road and Airport Way has to be surgically removed from the veins, the local traffic, so that vital functions of the Town can flow freely in all directions, and all the vital organs can work efficiently.
The dual carriageways of the Spur Road to the M1 Junction 10 and Airport Way has to be segregated from the local traffic by the construction of a flyover above this busy roundabout so that Luton can breathe economically. This has to be the single most important project to be tackled for this area, certainly long before any expansion of the Airport which currently does not have the necessary infrastucture or organisation for the present traveller throughput. The Airport would benefit from this installation, but it has to deal with the extra fluidity this scheme offers, before it should be considered for further expansion.
Politicians take note. Build the Flyover and FAST!

Today I shall be following David Willetts as he visits the Chancellor and Students of Luton University, at Park Square, his host Les Ebdon is to give his friend a tour of the campus so he can see for himself what Luton is doing now and hopes to do in the future. These students are the future, and aspiring candidate, Nigel Huddleston is hoping that he can be the local link to the Conservative party he and David Willetts represent.
I hope to cover other Shadow Cabinet visitors to Luton in the next few weeks leading up the General Election.

Today’s Visit

It was interesting to listen to two Conservative Candidates, Jeremy Brier and Nigel Huddleston, as they met with Professors Les Ebdon and Carsten Maple, and David ‘Two Brains’ Willetts. The atmosphere was very cordial and as an outsider I saw it as exploratory from the Politicians and very much a Sales exercise from the University. I tried to keep my picture-taking mainly as a recording of the event, rather than a set of posed groups. I hope I have succeeded.

Easter Sunday, Caddington-2010

After so many grey days and drizzle, Easter Sunday seemed like the first day of Spring – not bad when nearly a week after the official British Summer Time! I had hoped to have mown the lawn on the Saturday, but circumstances conspired against that happening, so after watching Sebastian Vettel win the Malaysian Grand Prix, and Lewis Hamilton come from twentieth to sixth, I was in the mood to mow the lawns back and front. Moss hardly constitutes a lawn, I suppose there must be some grass, but what I kept emptying into the bin did not suggest there was much! I also added Budleia branches from earlier trimming.

With the sun being blown from behind clouds every so often, I took out my new 100mm Macro with its Image Stabilisation for its first serious outing and added the 1.4x converter to give me greater length and took a walk through Caddington village to see what I could capture of the first tentative signs of Spring, it was rewarding, not the least because of those I met as much as the shots I took.

I am hoping that tomorrow has some sun to give me another chance.

Paul Elliott at Hammer & Tongs, Bulbourne Lock

In the early afternoon I spent some time walking around a few areas of College Lake Nature Reserve, an old chalk quarry close to Bulbourne that is preparing to open in an extended fashion for the May Bank Holiday, but most of the wildlife stayed away, or knew I was coming! I did however take a few photographs, so that later I can see the changes. I can see that they will undoubtedly cater well for school groups to learn about woodland life and crafts, wildlife and how chalk came about and why it was mined.

I then wandered down the newly opened path to Bulbourne Lock, where I first paid a visit to the ex-Canal Warden and her husband on their boat, and then walked into the works of the artist blacksmith, Paul Elliott and engaged him in conversation, asking him whether he objected to my taking photos in his workshop and gallery. He was entirely happy with this and he talked to me about the piece he was working on for a charity auction on behalf of the Heroes. He was putting the finishing touches to the patina, before lacquering it to protect it.

I also recorded some of the heavy tools he had there that seemed from a bygone age. It certainly proved how well they were engineered, since all seemed to be still in regular use! Here is a real craftsman as well as an artist with some beautiful work, and outside are other examples of his work, just randomly scattered around. I can definitely recommend a visit to take a look around, especially since there is life a plenty here with Bulbourne Lock, narrowboats, a pub, the towpath and College Lake all close by, just park up at the lake and walk down.

Sunshine and Fun

Sunshine and warmth brings out happiness in children, and brings the children outside. The birds chirp in the trees tantalisingly just beyond the ideal distance for whichever lens you bring to bear – I am convinced that all wildlife now can judge exactly which lens a photographer is pointing at them, and they will come no closer than where you can just get a half-decent shot of them!
The sunshine catches nuances of light and and shade for mere moments, either through a gap between bushes or reflections from windows. I wasted no time in searching out such occurrences as well as signs of our late Spring.
I have two gallery pages of what I saw as I waited to pay a visit to Wimpole Farm. I hope they give someone else the pleasure I got from taking the images.

Citroen Racer Restored

The opportunity arose for me to take some shots of the newly restored 1924 Citroen B12 Sports Racing Car, and so I grabbed the opportunity in the hope I might also get a chance to drive her.

The weather was warm changeable, but bright, so after watching and providing some minimal assistance to Alex checking valve clearances, plugs and magneto, it was time to start her – she fired up second swing, and the exhaust sound was crisp and even. So it was all aboard for the milk run – a trip through the lanes to Burnham Village for two pints! Alex felt he was providing a service to the community in bring smiles to the faces of all who heard and saw us!

I cannot say it was the most comfortable of rides as it definitely was not, but exhilarating it was, and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. On our return I was rewarded with a short drive to bring the car from the front of the house to the barn, worth every second! Alex took the camera from me to get a shot of me behind the wheel – note my more mundane transport in the background.

DNA Freeway Meeting at Hatfield

Richard Logan, MD of Softpress and his team were invited to show their powerful Website creation tool, Freeway, to members of the Design Network Association and students of the University of Hertfordshire, at Hatfield Campus.
Andy Coomar and Mike Benjamin introduced the team of Joe Billings, Product Manager, Tim Plumb, Creative Director, and Web Designer Paul Dunning to DNA members and students from the University. We were shown how comprehensive the program was and how simple it would be to create Standards-compliant websites without the need to dirty our hands with obtuse coding. A thank you to Louise Burns for allowing us to use the University facilities.
I just took a few quick shots as a record of the event, and as I left I took two handheld shots of the Art & Design atrium to stitch together later so that the unlit signage could be seen in the final image.

A Few I missed

In my haste I missed out my favourite image of the day, and shots of a door which they located on the estate of exactly the right dimensions to fit the Mushroom shed where this restoration is taking place. The door has a fascinating story to tell.
I spotted the feast the woodworm had enjoyed, but had not noticed some details that show evidence of cattle rubbing against the door, and a nibbled entrance made either by rats or mice! To help make up the number, I have added another shot of Keith painting up the springs with Hammerite to protect them from rust, and the handle for the cart.
But my favourite was the beautiful curves of the support, carefully carved to reduce weight yet be strong where needed.

1st Visit to Walled Garden in 2010

The forecasters predicted sunshine, but they forgot to tell the clouds over Luton – as I started putting the cameras into the car, it was spitting with rain! Arriving at the Garden, it was immediately noticeable that changes were afoot, there was a much larger and far more permanent-looking marquee and that half of the Octagon had been further fenced off to make this area more exclusive, with lights placed to light the wall after dark.
The cold weather had noticeably had its effect on the plants; the snowdrops and crocuses were still out and no sign of flowers on the daffodils. Much of the brambles outside the wall were gone, and there were now areas of aluminium walkways.
The volunteers were repotting seedlings, digging, edging, erecting posts, burning, clearing weeds and mending fences.
The cart which last year was still having its woodwork restored was now undercoated and being painted, Keith is doing an excellent job and the restoration has so far taken a year. Dave was restoring the door their work area, which had been the mushroom shed.
By the Portakabin the car park was being resurfaced and levelled. Visitors in the coming year, who have visited before will certainly notice the changes.

A Quick Visit to Stockwood Park

Spring has yet to come, but it has not prevented the efforts of those behind the scenes from preparing Stockwood Discovery Centre for visitors. Even though the sun was somewhat shy, it did not prevent families from bringing their children to play amongst the various attractions, such as clambering a giant Spider’s Web. The beds were all extremely tidy and had been weeded, and with lots of fresh bark chippings laid. A few snowdrops, pansies and primrose or primula were to be seen, together with beautifully trimmed low hedges in elaborate scrolls.

When the warm sun comes, I am certain this effort will be crowned with an abundance of colour to reward all those who have toiled over the last few cold, grey weeks.

I cannot recommend a visit to this centre enough; it is a true gem, and all who work here should be very proud of their achievement.

Another Visit to the Reservoirs

I managed to get up earlier than the last time I visited Tring Reservoirs, and I found some small ivy covered branch cuttings to allow me to sit down on the bank by the reed beds. I wanted to have a low viewpoint so the birds would not feel too intimidated.

This time I brought some bread to entice my models! There were still areas of ice slush, and this certainly hindered some of the birds' travel around the channels in the reed beds. The bitingly cold wind was in my face, and because I chose my position from a lighting direction, this meant whenever I threw bread, it did not travel far! The current flow took the bread even nearer to me, and this meant the ducks and moorhens were very wary of approaching the food!

I had learned that I could satisfactorily operate at ISO 1000 and thereby keep my shutterspeed to 1/800th and upwards, from a careful look at the last series of shots in relation to noise.

The wind soon got up, and I had to take a break back at the car to warm my hands. After that I then moved to another reservoir and paid a visit to Bill the Baker, who was very welcoming, even to the extent of giving me some coffee and biscuits, which were extremely welcome. His place was out of the wind, and after our chat I went back to the first reservoir and met up with my son-in-law, Tim at one of the hides, from where we both managed to get some shots of a grebe and a very chirpy robin just above us. Unlike my last visit there was an abundance of birds into late morning and early afternoon.

Chilly Morning at the Reservoirs

I readjusted my body clock again to ensure I could be up early enough to catch the projected sunny morning. I had a speedy breakfast and set off for Marsworth with a couple of long lenses and a bag of others should the need arise.

The first thing I noticed having parked the car and wandered through the kissing gate was just how much clearing of undergrowth had taken place since my last visit. I was fortunate that an old lady was feeding some of the coots and ducks by the reedbeds, because as I approached some birds took flight, giving me the opportunity to capture some on the wing.

The sun backlighting the reeds was appealing, but what surprised me was just how much ice was still floating on the surface. I spent a while wandering some of the paths before moving to one of the other reservoirs, where two swans made a beeline for me from across the lake, but I had to disappoint them, because I had no food with me and having followed me for quite a while, the larger of the two began hissing at me presumably out of annoyance for not having anything to offer!

I was finding that the wildlife was disappearing and was about to head off when a man from a nearby house hailed me, this was Bill the baker, who had retired to live in a nearby cottage some twenty years ago. He had a lot to tell me of the local wildlife and we chatted for some time, before I let him get on with his gardening and I came back to get on with some work. I did break off for a while to get a few quick shots of a Red Kite.

I called in on the newly opened, but not yet complete College Lake, by Bulbourne, and this site looks very appealing when it is finally completed - a fie expanse of water, reclaimed presumably from an earlier chalk quarry.