Five Mosaics on Friday

This week there have been several medical appointments for Mr P and I due to the monitoring of our health issues. Unfortunately yesterday I had a fall because of my dodgy knee, which shook me up a bit.  Mr P and I were at the hospital for one of my medical reviews when I lost my footing on a steep step and fell forward onto the pavement.  At least I was in the right place to get medical attention.  Staff were very kind and the oncology doctor was pleased with ongoing progress.  Back at my GP's today I'm now able to get further treatment for my knee at the surgery whilst waiting to be seen by the physiotherapy clinic mid November.  Like many general practice surgeries it's not easy to get an appointment.  Mr P took me down to queue up at 8.15 a.m. otherwise appointments would have gone a few minutes after the doors open at 8.30 a.m. because there's always a queue waiting in the street.  Nevertheless, we appreciate our doctor's expertise and the fact that we can be seen by medical staff that we've got to know over the years since moving to the area.

Anyway, back to other things....

Our local daughter visits us at the weekend and often brings us a bunch of flowers.  Here are some recent gifts that have given us a lot of pleasure.  

The above is the latest bunch and I think this is my favourite as I like the delicate pink petals of these alstroemeria flowers.

I brought some of the hydrangeas indoors and I love the colours as they fade.  I shall cut some more to dry them for an end-of-the-season arrangement.

For cheerful Autumn colours, seasonal decorations, pretty garden ornaments, the sighting of bees and butterflies the local garden centre was the place to be on a sunny day last week.

Once more thank you for your visit and kind comments. It'll be a quiet weekend for me although I shall keep moving in between resting and still hope to get out-and about. That's good for the mind, body and spirit.  Wishing you a peaceful weekend whatever you're doing.

A walk by the stream in Low Bradfield

The car park is a good one to start our walk as it's close to the village of Low Bradfield and yet still in the heart of farmland with plenty to see if you enjoy nature.

Agden Beck, the stream which comes from Agden Reservoir, joins Dales Dyke Beck a hundred yards downstream forming the River Loxley before flowing into Damflask Reservoir. 

You could follow a trail along the narrow path by the stream, walk over the footbridge and continue up to Agden Reservoir on the opposite side to where we went last time, continue along by Oaking Bank and then follow the path all around the reservoir, through Windy Bank Wood and then back to Low Bradfield. 'Agden' means 'valley of the oak trees'.

Rowan and Elderberry 

I like the ingenuity of the villagers or the local farmer in putting up this fencing to fill a hole in the drystone wall along one side of the car park.  The village and surrounding area is very well cared for and the amenities for a small village are good.

recycling bins in the car park

play area and tennis courts

another footbridge from the car park leads to the recreation ground

and cricket pitch

Nether Farm buildings constructed in 1820 are situated on the lane opposite the car park.

To the left is the former Low Bradfield Junior and Infant School and School House, now The Schoolrooms Café and if you go across the stone bridge you're back by the bowling green, cricket pitch and recreation grounds and hilly lane to High Bradfield village.

The reflections of the pine trees in the beck are pretty although I find it difficult to take good photos of slightly moving water as the stream runs downwards into a shallow weir.

Looking up through the trees you can see St. Nicholas' Church at High Bradfield.

The ducks are always coming around hoping for someone to feed them. A lone muscovy always seems to be there.

On Mill Lee Road is another stone bridge (Chapel Bridge). Below the bridge there was once a sheep/penfold - probably where the muscovy is standing now. The sheep were washed before being auctioned at the nearby farm which is now a pub called The Plough Inn.

Just beyond Chapel Bridge is the former Wesleyan Chapel, built in 1817 and could accommodate 154 schoolchildren when it was a temporary school after the Great Sheffield Flood of 1864.  Many buildings in Loxley Valley had been destroyed or washed away and lives were lost when Dales Dyke Dam broke as its reservoir was being filled for the first time.  It's now the offices of Bradfield Parish Council.

Opposite is the new Wesleyan Chapel building which opened in 1899 and could seat 190 people.  It held its last service in August 1993 and then was sold and converted into a private house.

Next to this are the derelict Filter Houses, built in 1913 and extended in 1954 which used to filter water from Strines, Dales Dyke and Agden reservoirs.  The premises closed in 1994 after a new water treatment works was constructed a few miles away.

From the top of the lane you can look back and see Low Bradfield and also High Bradfield on the hills above the valley.