Shipley Country Park - Osborne's Pond 2012
w/e 14 October 2012
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Kodak DX6490
When you've been photographing the district for ten
years or more, I suppose it's inevitable that some locations
crop up over and over again. Shipley Country Park is one such
location and Osborne's Pond has been featured several times most
recently in February of this year when we started and ended there
on a walk "Up
and Down" Shipley Hill. But back in January 2003 there
was a whole page of wintry images devoted to a clockwise circuit
of "Osborne's
Pond" so I think I can be forgiven for being drawn back
this week as autumn begins to make its presence felt as we once
again circumnavigated the pond but this time in an anti-clockwise
direction.
We started the circuit near the overflow channel at the north-eastern
corner with this view along the whole length of the pond which
is roughly oblong in shape.
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There are several parallel routes through the trees along the
northern edge of the pond, the highest one to the right in this
view forming part of the Nutbrook Trail between Long Eaton and
Heanor. To the left it is possible to reach the water's edge
at a number of places but on this sunny autumnal afternoon, most
of the spots were occupied by anglers.
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From the western end of the pond one such angler was visible
just to the left of centre as we looked back towards the overflow
channel which is right of centre in this view. This western end
is where many of the waterfowl gather knowing it is where they
are most likely to be fed. It is here that there is an open expanse
right next to the water's edge and the "feeding station"
is a popular spot with visitors to Shipley Park.
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The path along the southern side of Osborne's Pond is much more
open than its counterpart on the opposite side with open parkland
to the right. Although I was looking mainly for some autumn colour,
the evergreen conifers are a constant reminder of winter and
particularly of Christmas.
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There are however some enchanting views from the path across
the pond and more of a hint of autumn in the changing colours
of the leaves on the trees.
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Leaving the path to reach one of the vacant angling positions
on this side of the pond though, the changing colours were even
more noticeable in both the trees and the reflections in the
water.
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And as we reached the end of the southern path, the changing
season was obvious.
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In our walk earlier this year up and down Shipley Hill we followed
the lane from the pond to Derby Lodge but this time we turned
left here to return to the overflow channel.
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It may be a trick of the light but once again looking along the
length of the pond from the "pier" at the eastern end,
the trees still seemed predominantly green.
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As we completed our walk our final view to the southern side
as the sun started to sink towards the horizon betrayed just
a hint of autumn mist but whatever the season, there are always
some delightful scenes around Osborne's Pond. I don't suppose
it will be too long before we are back again.
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