Tag: Photography

Cee’s Flower of the Day #FOTD photo challenge 30th March ~ Snowberry #Berries #Flowers #Nature #Photography

I first saw this shrub in the grounds of Alnwick Castle in Northumberland and thought how lovely it was. I hope you agree. If you’d like to join with Photo of the Day check out Cee’s post.

Cee’s Flower of the Day #FOTD ~ Wild Flower

I noticed this pretty little buttercup-like flower in the hedgerow during my dog walk early the other morning. The wild flowers are just beginning to bloom, along with the lovely blackthorn flowers.

Check out Cee’s flower of the day here

Woodland Walk

Now we’re all restricted with relation to the time we spend outside, I thought I’d look back at previous outings. This was a particularly pleasant day last November, one of the few we had over the winter.

You have to take advantage when the opportunity arises. Spending time in nature is one of my favourite things.

And just for fun, here are some flowers I hope will brighten your day.

Beeston Castle

Imagine this hilltop about 1000BC. No castle of course, but the hilltop was occupied and fortified.

The hike up to the castle looked a very dauting prospect from here. Luckily we could get part of the way by car.

It was a lovely day and not too warm, so off we went…

Still a way to go….

Almost there…

Once inside the ruins, the views were spectacular. We were 350 feet above the Cheshire Plain. The climb was worth it.

Walking down by a different path we came across a reconstruction of a roundhouse, several of which would have occupied the site around 800 BC, the beginnings of an iron age hillfort. Construction of the medieval castle began in 1220 AD by the Earl of Chester.

The roundhouse is bigger than it looks and could have housed up to twelve adults and children, all living and working in the one roundhouse.

Archaeological excavations undertaken at Beeston Castle during the 1970s and 80s uncovered evidence of several Bronze Age roundhouses inside the castle walls. Based on the findings, the roundhouse was reconstructed in a disused quarry from traditional local materials such as oak, hazel, ash and reeds for the thatch.

Back down by the entrance were a series of caves which are closed to the public.

Back Garden Birds

After months of storms it was lovely to watch the birds enjoying some long awaited sunshine, especially as we’re confined to quarters at the moment.

The blue tits are nesting in the bird house and enjoying the cherry blossom.

Maybe the robins are nesting nearby too, although I haven’t seen any evidence of it, except that they’re around a lot, which is lovely.

I’ve haven’t noticed these little dunnocks before, they flit about so quickly it took patience and a hefty dose of luck to capture them standing still.