Autumn in Ecclesall Woods

It was another sunny day yesterday.  Mr P and I had some shopping to do in a different area of the city.  Each area of the city has its own high street and set of small, individual businesses and at the moment the shop window displays reflect the Autumn season and the forthcoming Remembrance Weekend.

the florist's 

the gift shop

the hairdresser's

Next was a walk in Ecclesall Woods.  We haven't been there for quite a while.  These ancient woods are beautiful in the Springtime when the bluebells are in flower and you can see a carpet of blue flowers among the trees. Now in Autumn the woods are just as interesting. 

There are about fifteen varieties of tree in these woods.  Here are oak, beech and sweet chestnut. The branches of trees are left as they fall to create a habitat for wild life.

The only fungi seen that day were turkey tails growing on fallen logs or branches.

There are streams and log bridges placed over them by the rangers who look after the wood.  We didn't walk to the Discovery Centre yesterday although it's very popular with dog walkers and others who can stop for refreshments there, watch woodworking demonstrations or join a group nature walk.

sweet chestnuts

Collier's Pond 

I hope you enjoyed this blog post and the walk.  Thank you for your visit and comments.  Have a good weekend.

A walk to the Common

We've certainly had above average good weather for the time of year this April and it gave me the incentive to go out walking again.  We have some pleasant places where we can walk and the local 100 acres of heather, oak, silver birch, bracken and grassland that makes up the local Common is one of them. It's a nature reserve managed by the Parks, Woodland and Ranger Service of Sheffield City Council together with volunteers and in consultation with local ecologists. It's also a walk uphill through some streets lined with apple and ornamental cherry trees that look beautiful when the blossom is out and attractive in the Autumn as the leaves colour up. Some new trees have also been planted on the grass verges and there are many mature trees to be seen along the way.

 a copper beech tree and horse chestnut trees in the churchyard

heather hanging over a stone wall in someone's garden

Along the path is one of the entrances to the Common and next time I will show you where I walked on the Common.

Have a good day!

Lunch in Litton, well dressing in Cressbrook

After our time in Tideswell we had lunch in the nearby village of Litton before going on to Cressbrook.

Litton is another Peak District limestone village tucked away in the Wye Valley countryside.  The leafy village green extends down the main street and there are old stone houses and cottages. Lead mining went on here as well as the making of textiles at Litton Mill, one of the local C18th mills, sadly notorious for the harsh working conditions which included child labourers. It was, therefore, good to see the old village school with a carving over one of the windows 'National School and Village Library - Litton 1869'.  It was around about this time that more small schools were being built so that children could receive a basic education.  National Schools were funded by the church and parish system and apparently Litton School was used at first as a day school, an evening library and a Sunday School.

Leaving Litton we went on to Cressbrook through Cressbrook Dale which forms part of the  Derbyshire Dales Nature Reserve and well known for its limestone geology and wildlife. A  prominent feature is Peter's Rock which probably got it's name from the rounded shape similar to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.  A less pleasant name given to it was Gibbet Rock as it was here that public hangings took place, the last being in 1815.

Several of these steep-sided dales have footpaths and bridleways and many unusual wild flowers can be spotted especially in Cressbrook Dale - early purple orchids, cowslips, lords and ladies, violets, cranesbill and many others. In the Winter a stream flows through this dale and watercress was once cultivated in its clear waters.

Views looking down towards Upper Dale and Monsal Dale from Cressbrook village 

The roof tops of the school and other houses viewed from a top lane.

The houses, school, farmstead and other community buildings in Cressbrook are built along a few single track lanes on the side of a hill.  One lane with a steep descent leads down into Miller's Dale and Monsal Dale where the River Wye flows.  Here another textile mill was built by Richard Arkwright who had more enlightened ideas about better working conditions for his employees.

A picture using natural materials done by the primary school children

This was the children's contribution to the well dressing and village festivities this year.  The pictures made of natural materials are pressed into clay and there were one or two other examples dotted around the village. Cressbrook is one of the many Peak District villages to have Gala Days and well dressing ceremonies in the Summer months. (Read about the tradition of well dressing here).

We came across the Tudor-style mansion of Cressbrook Hall, now an hotel. Not far away there are further trails to walk including walking or cycling along the disused railway tracks and through the tunnels of the Monsal Trail. Everyone can enjoy the scenery from the hills above.

Monsal Viaduct

It was our 49th wedding anniversary this week. It was a low-key celebration as we've been busy with the family, but we've had some lovely garden-related gifts and there's the garden, of course, to enjoy. Most days we just like to relax at home, although we did go out for a drive to one of our favourite places in Derbyshire yesterday evening and had a wander around Castleton which we haven't been to since last Autumn.