Moving On from Loss and Bluebell Woods, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

It's not easy for us personally to go out into the wider world again especially when we've not been particularly well and haven't managed to do the everyday activities that we once took for granted before the first national lockdown, but we must try.  I've been fairly content to stay close to home, but also miss travelling to see family who live at a distance and, of course, go on our frequent trips to our home over in Italy.  It was stressful to receive the news that Mr P's sister, Stella, was ill with the virus and had been transferred to a local hospital and her family could not visit because of the Covid-19 restrictions.  Indeed, her funeral took place without them seeing her for the last month of her life.  Although we could not be with the family in person we've been constantly thinking of them.  We managed to phone Stella's daughter and two of Mr P's sisters which was a comfort for him and them.  Our family here in England have supported us with phone calls and yesterday our son came for a visit now that travel across the country is allowed and outdoor meet-ups can take place.  We had lunch in the garden as the weather was dry and our local daughter joined us as she brought us the weekly food shopping she has been doing for us.  We're still cautious about doing our own shopping, but now that we've had our second vaccination getting together will be safer and we'll try to move on as we face the new challenges ahead. 

                                                

Flowers in a wine jug. It was given to us by Stella and brought back to England.  Other tulips in vases are from our son mixed with narcissi and wallflowers from the garden.

Mr P is still suffering from the aftermath of the shingles problem, but slowly we'll start to go out and about again as we did the other weekend when we drove across the city to some ancient woodland where I'd hoped to see bluebells in flower.  As usual Mr P sat in the car while I took some photos.  There are places for cars to park so that I didn't go deeply into the woods and afterwards we drove into the entrance of the Woodland Discovery Centre to see if it was open again.  It was, but there were queues at the open air café.  There was also a van selling drinks and pizzas, but well spaced out in another area.  Hopefully we'll return on a week day when the Centre is less busy or go further afield into the Derbyshire countryside later in the month, depending on the weather.  Meanwhile here are some photos of my woodland walk.

Woodcraft skills lessons take place in normal times.  I'm not sure when this den was made.  The woodland is managed by rangers and much of the woodland is left for nature to take its course whilst still overseeing the areas of woodland, maintaining them and the trails through them. The fallen trees attract wildlife especially insects and bugs.  There are wild flowers that grow well in shady woodland that can be seen and enjoyed.  The rangers have placed banks of leaf litter and small twigs along the paths so that visitors don't wander off the paths where the bluebells grow and damage the plants especially the endangered English bluebells.

I think this is a squirrel's nest called a drey.

At Collier's Pond the rangers are starting to put up a fence to replace the one that was originally there made of woven tree branches.  There will be access with a gate.  It's to prevent dogs swimming in the pond and disturbing the pond life as has happened in recent years.  There are plenty of paths and trails beyond the pond that dog walkers can use.

 

Marsh marigold plants are growing on the edge of the pond 

and soon yellow irises will also be in flower.

The Woodland Discovery Centre

There were many birds flying around The Woodland Discovery Centre area.

There are several workshops that are usually used for woodcraft activities in normal times.  Hopefully, activities will resume in the Summer months.

The café area and the take away food van. 

These woodlands are great areas to take a walk within our city.  Hopefully the other facilities such as the Woodland Discovery Centre will be fully functioning in the coming days.

Thank you once again for your visit.  Have a very peaceful day whatever you're doing.