Even though it's getting chilly first thing in the morning we're still experiencing dry weather and sunny intervals during the day. We took a break from the domestic and garden tasks on Saturday and drove up onto the moors. The Strines Moor is the nearest to where we live and although the roads that criss-cross it are winding and quite narrow when we stop on a hill there are wonderful views and points of interest in the landscape.
Mr P drove us as far as Boot's Folly. I've always wanted to walk over to the tower, but these days I might find it too difficult. Instead we stopped and took in the view. Across the moors is another road which we often take on a round route back to Bradfield village. I've told you before the story about the folly, but it's worth repeating for new readers of my blog. It was built by the local landowner during a period when there was little work for folk in Bradfield Dale. The landowner got the men to build a tower using local stones. There were steps inside and it's said that one of the reasons he wanted the tower to be built high up was so that he could survey his land and look over to St Nicholas' Church in High Bradfield where his late wife was buried. Such buildings were called 'follies' because they served no purpose other than to look impressive, but I've always considered the stories about giving work to the unemployed during a time of hardship and, on completion, the landowner walking up the steps to the viewing point, thinking of his wife at the same time, very touching too. The stairs are no longer there because a cow got stuck inside the tower and they were removed. Probably just as well as walkers still go over to the building to take a look and there are usually farm animals grazing in the area that are allowed to roam freely within the boundaries of farmland.
Down in a dip of the hill and sheltered by trees is Sugworth Hall, the home of the aforementioned landowner, Charles Boot, who owned a local engineering company. It's officially listed as 17th century, but was inhabited at an earlier time in the 16th century and extended later on.
Here's a final view of Boot's Folly and the moorland. I was hoping that the purple heather would still be in flower, but it has dried out now and looks brown.
However, alongside the road bilberry bushes grow with the last of the fruit still on them. (I did not pick any, but left them in situ, took a photo and researched afterwards). European bilberries are similar to blueberries and are closely related. The edible berries can be found growing wild on bushes where there's acidic, nutrient-poor soil. The pulp is red and the fruit, although juicy, is easily bruised during picking. The fruit is regarded as having nutritional, health benefits and can be juiced or made into jam. In the UK there are different dialect names for them i.e. blaeberry in Scotland and the north of England or whortleberry, winberry in Derbyshire, Lancashire and S. Wales.
We turned back towards the village. This tree always stands out for me so I took it from inside the car on the passenger side before there was a dip in the lane.
Sheep were out in the fields on this dry day and they're allowed to roam in the heather too.
Strines Reservoir
St Nicholas' Church and the village of High Bradfield
A horse chestnut tree and to the left there was a natural spring and a well. The structure is a memorial monument for a young girl who fell into the original well. Sometimes remote farming communities go through such tragedies.
Hikers can climb the drystone wall and walk across the fields so long as they stay on the public footpath.
For us it was time to drive downwards passed Damflask Reservoir.
The rowing club boats were lined up on the reservoir shore and there were no sailing boats out on the water. I could see by the width of the shoreline that there was less water than usual due to the drought conditions in the Summer months. Stopping by the reservoir keeper's house I took a closer look.
It was shocking to see the area where the reservoir water had once flowed across the steps and where the water fowl congregated for a bathing and feeding session. Now weeds are growing in the stone bricks where once there was fast flowing water that created a shallow waterfall. The situation happens during times of drought, but it has never been this bad.
It's the same on the other side of the bridge. There's an outlet from the reservoir so that water can drain into the Loxley River. I expect if I walked along the bank further on where there's access the river will be just a stream until we get heavy rain to replenish the water sources.
I have to end on a positive note so above are a couple of photos of our front garden. Mr P is back to tidying up and pruning in the back garden on another dry, sunny day. As you can see the fig tree leaves are still on the tree, but they'll fall in a week or two and will need to be cleared away.
Thank you for coming by. I'll catch up with your news very soon. Meanwhile, have a good day!