Swarkestone Success

 

Swarkestone (2);  Swerkir (1)

(Spelling and football matters!)

Thursday 8th July 2021

A year after its initial plan, we finally manage the thrice-cancelled Swarkestone trip. Post a dramatic football night, all those who were able to attend, met at Swarkestone Nursery Garden Restaurant. A posh name for a cafe, but we are in Southern Derbyshire.   Three were definitely on time but I mis-calculated, so Alison and I had a belter of a walk but made it in time for refreshments and a bit of a catch up. Well, when we could hear above Mr Lawnmower! 

Helen on her third birthday party, with the wind in her hair. 

We then got down to the more serious part of the day; learning about Swarkestone. It's not a well-known fact but Helen Jackson was the founder of the nursery back in the 1980s when it was famous for its vegetables and cheap fushcia plants.

A begonia tree.

After a short walk down Woodshop Lane, the name of which hints at cottage industries from the past, we came out at the Crewe and Harpur pub, a restyled 17th century coaching inn, where lots of famous historical figures had sat, had a pint or few and then a bit of a skirmish.  The tradition continues to this very day.  

Tales by the river bank are now underway,

But...

Tali is already bored...

with listening to the various legends of the past: the Beaker People, the Bellamont sisters, Sir John Gell-the taxman/the plunderer/the plotter, Bonnie Prince Charles and all the ghostly stories about the bridge. Or, is that all under-the-water now?

Posing infront of England's longest stone bridge.

On the 'Brink'

It's just as well the river is not too high, as this bit can be impassable in winter, but we saw some lovely houses and  sand-martins skimming across the fast flowing Trent.

Turning up Church Lane, aptly named, we then popped to St James' 12th century churchyard, where I was slightly stumped by a pile of old stones because they weren't in my notes.

By this time, everyone was busy trying to identify the plants prettying up the very ancient gravestones

Tali: I 'nose' this as 'fox and cubs'!  

After a quick peek across a stile, Helen, Lynn and Tali re-enacted a famous 1745 retreat whilst Alison, Jo and I continued with our trip across the fields.

Now, I've not mentioned the Harpurs... yet... even though they owned a lot of the area which they left in favour of living at Calke Abbey. Nevertheless, they have left their mark. Perhaps it was folly to build this but it provided a lot of entertainment in its time.

The pepper-pots!

Barley and oats!

We reach Swarkestone canal which was beautifully calm. Full of butterflies, various insects and some 'baby cygnets' .... oh really Jo! And, our first Sedge Warbler with its distinctive scratchy tune.

Banded demoiselle

Up to Swarkestone lock, another historic bit. The canal from here used to lead to the ice-factory on the Cockpit Island, but now it's paved over for cyclists so they can ride on Route 66!

Bet they think they look good in lycra

We looked up Lowes Lanes to a lovely farmhouse and flattened bronze age tumuli before heading back to Jo's car,  which was searingly hot, but did the job of getting us all on our way home!

Canal boathouse

A good bird list for the day with a new one* to add to our list. 

Blackbird

Buzzard

Chiffchaff

Collared dove

Crow

Goldfinch

House-martin

House sparrow

Jackdaw

Kestrel

Magpie

Mute swan

Sand-martin

Sedge warbler*

Skylark

Swallow

Swift

Wood pigeon

Wren

With possible sightings of chough too, but not confirmed by time of publishing. 

Stones which were in my notes!

 (c)Michael Joseph 1968 

Do I need to credit this now it was taken over 50 years ago? 

Cool Babes at the Blue Lagoon

 Cool Babes at the Blue Lagoon

June 10th 2021

Holidays and other engagements saw some babes meet up at the Stone Centre for a very long coffee ....

GB’s having a good natter at the Blue Lagoon.......it feels like coming home ......almost normal!!

Lynn missed the memo about cool shades.

   And two photos to prove that Pam really was there and to show Jo’s selfie skills 

Note from Pam ...... “we saw a robin”

Comings and Goings at Cromford

 Comings and Goings at Cromford

May 13th 2021

The assembled group were a little bit astonished that we had gathered even before the cafe had opened but we managed to pass the time with a good catch up of our activities now that we have been granted a bit more freedom and Pam was able to provide us with floribunda as the word of the day, bizarrely inspired by her time spent (or possibly misspent) in the garden at the Oak.

Sadly Jo was poorly and couldn’t be with us and Maggie was off rambling with the Ramblers. Julia joined us for coffee but had to dash off with a man in a van and we all hope that she will be able to have ice in her gin and tonic very soon.

Gifts were duly distributed to those May born babes amongst us

The sun was almost out and the day thankfully stayed dry in fact it turned out to be quite warm and layers had to shed as we walked on - Helen J in charge of the weather again! 

Coffee break complete we said goodbye to Julia and set off to walk along the canal.

Tali and Betty couldn’t resist taking a dip - Betty is not happy to be back on her lead but the danger of her getting tangled up with walking sticks and cyclists was just too great.

Yellow rattle and red campion - the canal banks are bursting with colour and the smell of wild garlic.

A welcome rest at High Peak Junction and the parting of the ways, Alison off to the dentist, walking back to the Wharf with Lynn and Pam off to higher things up the incline. So just the two Helens and Betty continuing along the canal.

Betty seems to be saying ‘will you lot please stop chatting so that we can get on with this walk’ and eventually we did.

Aqueduct Cottage is looking very good with a wonderful new roof and with lots of volunteers working away but happy to chat with us about what they are doing.

So the two Helen’s walked on to Whatstandwell and everywhere is looking so beautiful and green. Lots of chatting and motorhome adventure stories, a bit of bird spotting and flora identification.

No refreshments available at the end but a five minute sit on a bench and then we headed back to the Wharf.

Canada geese

Mallard

Swallows

chiffchaff

blue tit

great tit

blackcap

wren

robin

blackbird

buzzard

grey heron

pheasant

wood pigeon

little grebe

moorhen

coot

pied wagtail 

magpie

jay

jackdaw

crow

skylark

plus a pair of hens, one white duck and a dead fish and Alison reported a sighting of two peacocks - one of them white 

23 real birds for the day.. not bad considering we were chatting and not concentrating

April Away Day

 

Meet up at Middleton Top 

Thursday 8th April 2021

Once we had established which bit of Middleton we were meeting up at, the timing of the day was set in motion. The pandemic rules have changed so much since we last met, that some of us weren't quite sure that we were allowed out this far, but we were all within the county boundary, so that seemed to be ok. Our first group photo since forever!

Helen's lost Betty already.

And, not far behind for our second group photo.  An admirable effort from Julia whose uphill walk from her house put the rest of us to shame; although to be fair, it is quite a hike, nay, even a drive, for some of us!

Maggie appears to have grown a maroon extension to her coat!

Whilst grabbing our first coffee, we made our plans for the walk but it took a bit of a time deciding how many hours to fill the car park machine with and which route to take.  Up the track, or down? And, having forgotten how to speak in a group and not having had to make decisions for such a long time, it took a bit of time.  Authorship of the blog however was made in an instant!!

So, it was decided:  down the track, but up some steps first. Even though we can all count beyond six plus, we very quickly split into two groups.  

 

Jo has now lost Bob!

Looking up the track.

Looking down the track, which is actually uphill.

Initially, Pam led the way and provided much needed information of where we were in relationship to our landscape. Walking poles are marvellous as pointing sticks so we all knew  exactly what she was talking about. 

But will Julia's two poles help add to any other information? . 

Jo has now gone missing with Bob. See, the Rule of six works brilliantly even in a group of seven plus dogs. Would this have worked with the ever intrepid Lynn and Charlotte?  Missed you both.. and your four-legged friends too.

I've attached Jo to my lead, now so she can't go missing. 

A bit of concentration is occasionally needed, as yet another decision has to be made: over the stile or through the trough? It's so easy, Helen M can do it

With her eyes closed. 

We admire long distance views and try to work out what's on the horizon. A pity Helen J hasn't lugged her telescope along, but luckily there's a helpful map

But slightly mis- aligned

So we still couldn't work out what the dark patch of trees miles and miles away was.

Can't even see it on the photo! 

However, views over Middleton provided ample fun for working out where Pam once lived . Easy to spot: by the church, it has three windows, a skylight and a small garden.

But was very, very cold. 

If only Pam had been into sheep-rustling, she could have kept a small flock downstairs, thereby  benefitting from their natural heat plus making good use of their lovely warm wool! 

Spot the sheep. 

We've now lost Alison and Maggie, just as we learn that since Pam moved out, Middleton has become a bit more middle- market.

I'm not sure I agree

But, it is building on its capacity to create self-made nature programmes.

Well, it's a start.

But, we finally all meet up in a wide space to soak up a few rays where we have a quick catch up on 'must-see' TV. 'Line of Duty' and 'The Terror' are clear winners. 

Blue sky!

Gauging how far we've come

We are now over half way through our walk,  with a short wiggly route through someone's back yard  to gain more views but  are bit disappointed that the new technology hasn't moved  the clouds along a bit further, although we are quite warm by now, so layers start to be removed!

 

Who doesn't love an old farm

 

And so we came to the end of a fabulous walk, always in small groups of up to six, but often less! With a final coffee and a snack we planned our next trip and hope to recognise each other with our new hairstyles, hopefully, fifty shades less grey! 

Our bird count for the walk is at least in double figures:

blackbird

blue tit

buzzard

coal tit

crow

a charm of at least 7 goldfinch 

great tit

jackdaw

magpie

pheasant

pied wagtail

skylark, heard but not seen 

Wood anenome, not quite awake.