July Jaunt

July 21st 2015

KEDLESTON - The Return



This month sees the return to the home of the inaugural meeting of the Gelly Babes - almost two years on. A bit of a grey day, not quite what was ordered but the sun did come out at some points and at least it didn't rain.

Two Helens, Lynn, Maggie and Jo all met in the car park pretty much on schedule. Pam couldn't make it due to her annual tidy up duties.

 

Marvellous!

 

We set off to do the walk through the woods - on the look out for interesting flora and fauna with orchids, damsel flies and evidence of badgers being the highlights but the question still remains - what does badger poo look like?

 

 Babes in the wood

 

Babes on the wood!

 

We were able to add to the bird list when we reached the lake:

Black-headed gull, Canada goose, Crow, Goosander, Great-crested grebe , Greylag goose (1^st  recorded for the year), Grey heron , Grey wagtail (1^st GB record), Jackdaw, Mallard, Moorhen , Mute swan, Pheasant , Raven, Swallow , Wood pigeon

16 for the day bringing our total up to 52 for the year - sadly no golden eagles or hen harriers!

What is life if full of care we have no time to stand and stare!

nearly there...

 

Back at the car park we set up our picnic and settled down to enjoy it along with a good long chat - a  highlight of which was Maggie's

pigeon up the chimney story!

Cheers!

 

the delicious 5am cake!

 

Another lovely jaunt, the next will be in September as the several babes are off on their travels.

 

 

 

 

 

June Jolly (the 2nd)

June Jolly

Cossall

16/06/2015

 

I am a bit late posting this due to puppies, moderation and holidays! But hopefully I can remember what we did.

 

looking to the fuchsia......

 

We all met at Reuben Shaw's garden centre for a very nice lunch and a long chat - first time in ages that all the babes have been able to join in the fun. A beautiful warm sunny day exactly as we ordered.

 

Definitely a home grown pair!

 

We had a look round the wonderful array of plants and a few purchases were made and then it was a drive in convoy to Cossall for  walk along the canal, thankfully Jo knew where she was going and Helen J made it safely round the Ikea roundabout.

 

It must be the way Jo tells them!

 

We did have. Map and a route but got a bit confused as to where we were supposed to go so to Helen J's consternation we made it up as we went along - with the help of some guidance from a nice man we met along the way!

 

Yes - there's one over there...

 

Baby moorhens

 

Baby coots - hopefully that is the right way round, they seemed to be sharing mums!

 

It was a lovely walk along the canal with lots of wild flowers to be spotted and some actually identified.

Dog Roses

 

 

Quick - add that one to the list Jo!

 

We then walked up into Cossall village which is very pretty but spoiled by the traffic and of course no walk is truly complete without a touch of culture so there was a spot of DH Lawrence and the 'Rainbow' thrown in for good measure. 

 

Forewarned is forearmed!

 

The locals were very pleased to see us.

 

Then back down through the fields to the canal to retrace our steps back to the car park.

 

Bringing up the rear!

 

 

Hard to believe this is just a mile or so from Ilkeston! Some interesting information here:

http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/articles/cossall/cossall1.htm