Shipley Country Park - Harvest Time
w/e 08 September 2019
All of this week's pictures were
taken with a Kodak DX6490
These images all come from a recent short walk of
just under two miles in Shipley Country Park at harvest time
on a hot and sunny afternoon.
We entered the park from Old Coppice Side at Marlpool, headed
for the Visitor Cantre and took the path behind it which led
us past Adams Pond. The pond is just visible in the centre of
this picture.
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The path continues between open countryside to the right which
shortly becomes the site of the Young People's Forest and trees
to the left. The Woodland Trust has acquired 400 acres of the
former opencast coal site known as Mead and plans to create a
forest involving many young people in the process. The path used
to go to a right angled turn to approach Flatmeadow Farm from
the rear - a route I took in the Shipley Shuffle sponsored walk
walk for the British Heart Foundation back in 2002 - but now
it has been diverted to pass through the trees.
Leaving the trees behind the land to the left opens out to a
large field where it was obvious work for the harvest was in
full swing.
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The path now passes in front of the Flatmeadow Farmhouse.
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Zooming across the field from Flatmeadow Farm and beyond the
tractor in the field, Home Farm is visible on Shipley Hill.
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The tractor was being driven around the field in ever decreasing
circles, spinning and turning the hay to help it dry in the sun
- making hay while the sun shines.
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On reaching Bell Lane we turned left and after about a quarter
of a mile turned left again out of the hot sun onto the shady
path back to the Visitor Centre.
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Apart from the tractor driver we had seen only one other person
on the first part of the walk but there were more on the return
to the Visitor Centre including a couple of horse riders. We
continued along the path passing Cinderhill Coppice seen here
on the right.
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With the Coppice still on the right we passed an area on the
left which is the park's wildflower meadow.
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We eventually saw the welcome sight of the Visitor Centre and
the Ramblers Cafe.
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And with coffee being available, well it would be rude not to
really wouldn't it? But I think they were a bit generous with
the frothed milk!
Route Map
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