Shipley - A Cold Day In The Park
w/e 08 February 2015
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
We are advised that in order to live longer, we should
(among other things) enjoy a healthy diet and take regular exercise.
So after a good square meal we decided a brisk walk in Shipley
Country Park to burn off a few calories would be just the ticket.
"Brisk" that is, except for frequent stops to take
a few photos of which the following are just a selection. The
walk turned into a bit of a nature ramble.
We entered the Park near Osborne's Pond and with children playing
at the opposite side, something spooked the birds which took
off, flew round and then settled again on a thin layer of ice
that was covering the water.
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Although the birds could stand on the ice, it was obviously not
thick enough to carry the weight of a human and the murky waters
could easily be seen beneath the thin layer around the pier.
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We walked up the lane towards Derby Lodge and were watched as
we approached by this little red breast.
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The "nature ramble" was not all about birds though
and as we climbed Shipley Hill by way of the Beggars Walk there
were numerous squirrels scampering about and early snowdrops
were just starting to flower.
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As we turned towards the old water tower at the top of the hill
we found snow still lying on the grass.
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It was quite bleak in the open areas at the top but more snowdrops
were taking advantage of the shelter provided by a frost covered
wooden bench.
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As we dropped down the hill through the wood to reach the lane
towards Mapperley, green shoots of daffodils were pushing up
through the fallen leaves where squirrels and blackbirds were
scavenging for food. Look closely and you'll see one of each
in this picture although the squirrel is somewhat camouflaged
among the leaves.
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It was among the leaves too as we headed past The Gardens back
towards Derby Lodge that more snowdrops were telling us that
spring is on the way despite the cold conditions of the present.
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  From
Derby Lodge we headed across the fields to pick up the path through
the Cinderhill Coppice (left and right) and made our way to the
Visitor Centre in the Park. Here in the courtyard we found more
wildlife in the form of butterfly decorations on the walls, unusual
"Tasty Tower" planters used to grow tomatoes, herbs
and strawberries and several animal wood carvings all surrounding
the central mosaic that a panel showed was completed in 1999
to celebrate the coming millennium.
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We completed our walk along the Nutbrook Trail by the side of
Osborne's Pond again where we found Tigger talking to the birds
near a fishing platform. We know his name was Tigger as his owner
was walking her dog along the Trail and she told us that Tigger
has many health problems but he behaved just like a little dog.
He came when called and followed us out of the park running along
side his owner and the dog to the warmth of their home. And that
is what we did too although we returned home in the car.
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