The Toden Arakawa Line, also known as the Tokyo Sakura Tram, is a historic tram line in Tokyo, Japan. Operating since 1913, it is one of the last remaining streetcar lines in the city, providing a nostalgic and scenic journey through the neighborhoods of Arakawa, Taito, and Bunkyo wards. The line runs along a 12.2-kilometer route, connecting Waseda Station in Bunkyo Ward with Minowabashi Station in Arakawa Ward.

 

The Toden Arakawa Line passes by various landmarks and attractions, including Oji Shrine, Asukayama Park, and the Sumida River. It offers passengers a leisurely way to explore Tokyo's traditional neighborhoods and experience the city's old-world charm. Despite its vintage appeal, the line remains a practical mode of transportation for local residents and visitors alike, with modernized tram cars equipped with air conditioning and accessible features.

 

Riding the Toden Arakawa Line is not just a means of getting from one point to another; it's an opportunity to step back in time and appreciate Tokyo's rich cultural heritage while enjoying a scenic journey through the heart of the city.

Katmai National Park, is a remote area of Alaska, not connected to any towns by roads and is accessible only by air or boat. The main reason we go is to photograph the brown bears. I also enjoy photographing the float planes as they land and take off on the water. Hard to find the data on the number of day visitors that come each day but do not stay overnight. I estimated on any given day 150 to 350 people travel in and out each day.

I enjoy walking the concourse of this open airport, watch the planes pull into to the gates and the passengers depart or board. There is usually a greeting committee on the shoreline.

   

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click to activate the small icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream (it means the monitor);

or…. Press the “L” button to zoom in the image;

 

clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;

oppure…. premi il tasto “L” per ingrandire l'immagine;

 

Qi Bo's photos on Fluidr

  

Qi Bo's photos on Flickriver

  

www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards/winners-...

  

www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...

 

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Beach holidays were born in the 1700s in Great Britain, this social phenomenon was born in which bathers for the first time go to the beaches, certainly not as sunny as those bathed by the Mediterranean Sea, they are fully dressed; this "new fashion" is also encouraged by the belief of English doctors since the beginning of the eighteenth century (starting around 1720), that breathing the brackish sea air and bathing in cold sea water is healthy, invigorates the body and cure lung diseases (conviction even more strengthened by the discovery of oxygen by Antoine Lavoisier in 1778, which led to the greater diffusion and conviction of the theories on the health benefits of sea air, which was thought to be more oxygenated and pure), these theories push many people from Northern Europe suffering from severe lung diseases to spend long periods in southern Europe, often in the south of Italy, this explains why characters with extraordinary qualities come to Taormina to cure their tuberculosis. The photographer baron Wilhelm von Gloeden and the English lady Florence Trevelyan Trevelyan had the seawater brought with their mules from Isola Bella, but while W. Von Gloeden heated the sea water, the English noblewoman Lady Trevelian did not heat it, mindful of the teachings of the English medical school, this will cause her death from bronchopneumonia on 4 October 1907 (see my previous "photographic stories" about Taormina). In fact, "thalassotherapy" was born in Great Britain, together with the social and cultural phenomenon of frequenting bathing beaches (before the beginning of the 18th century, the sea and its beaches were lived, except for reasons of trade and fishing, in a dark and negative way, from the sea often came very serious dangers such as the sudden landings of ferocious pirates, or foreigners carrying very serious diseases could land). Thus the fashion of spending holidays by the sea was born in the English aristocracy and high bourgeoisie of the time, subsequently the habit of going to the sea spread to all levels of society, the railways that were built throughout Great Britain to 'beginning of the nineteenth century, made travel to the ocean accessible even to the lower classes, they too will frequent the seaside resorts, Blackpool becomes the first seaside resort in Great Britain completely frequented by the working classes thanks to the presence of low-cost bathing establishments; the great and definitive boom in seaside tourism will then take place in the 1950s and 1960s. This being the case, it should not be surprising to know that in Great Britain the beaches are more frequented than one might instinctively think due to a climate very different from the Mediterranean one, and that this socio-cultural phenomenon has been investigated at the photographic by photographers of the same Great Britain, of these I mention four names. An important photographer, who probably inspired subsequent photographers, was Tony Ray-Jones, who died prematurely in 1972, at the young age of 30, who was trying to create a “photographic memory” of the stereotypes of the English people; the famous photojournalist Martin Parr, who, although inspired by the previous one, differs from it for his way of doing “social satire” with his goal; finally, I would like to mention David Hurn and Simon Roberts, the latter with wider-ranging photographs, with photographs more detached from the individual. In Italy there are numerous photographers (I will mention only a few) who have made in their long career images captured in seaside resorts (generally we speaking of "beach photography" similar to "street photography"), photographs that are often unique in their style, such as that adopted by Franco Fontana, I mention Mimmo Jodice, Ferdinando Scianna (of whom I am honored to have known him personally), and Massimo Vitali, famous photographer (understood by some as "the photographer of the beaches"), especially for his beautiful photographs taken on the beaches (but not only), thanks to the presence of elevated fixed structures as a kind of mezzanine, built specifically in the bathing beaches for the realization of his photographs. This is my incipit, to introduce the theme I tackled, that of "beach photography", with a series of photographs taken mostly on the beaches of Eastern Sicily near Taormina and Giardini-Naxos, a few other photos were taken on the Sicilian island of Lipari (here, for example, I photographed the two beautiful and very sweet girls, from Germany, whom I thank again for offering themselves to my lens).

 

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Le vacanze al mare nascono nel ‘700 in Gran Bretagna, nasce questo fenomeno sociale nel quale i bagnanti per la prima volta si recano sulle spiagge, non certo assolate come quelle bagnate dal mar Mediterraneo, sono completamente vestiti; questa “nuova moda” è anche incoraggiata dalla convinzione dei medici inglesi fin dall’inizio del ‘700 (a partire dal 1720 circa), che respirare l’aria salmastra del mare e fare il bagno nell’acqua marina fredda sia salutare, rinvigorisca il corpo e curi le malattie polmonari (convinzione ancor più rafforzata dalla scoperta dell’ossigeno da parte di Antoine Lavoisier nel 1778, che portò alla maggiore diffusione e convinzione delle teorie sui benefici per la salute dell’aria di mare, che si pensava essere più ossigenata e pura), queste teorie spingono molte persone del Nord Europa affette da gravi malattie polmonari a trascorrere dei lunghi periodi nel sud Europa, spesso nel meridione d’Italia, questo spiega perché a Taormina giungono personaggi dalle qualità straordinarie per curare il proprio “mal sottile”, il barone fotografo Wilhelm von Gloeden e la lady inglese Florence Trevelyan Trevelyan si facevano portare coi muli l’acqua di mare proveniente dall’Isola Bella, però mentre W. Von Gloeden riscaldava l’acqua marina, la nobildonna inglese lady Trevelian non la riscaldava, memore degli insegnamenti della scuola medica inglese, questo causerà la sua morte per broncopolmonite il 4 ottobre del 1907 (vedi i miei precedenti “racconti fotografici” su Taormina). Infatti la “talassoterapia” nasce in Gran Bretagna, insieme al fenomeno sociale e culturale della frequentazione dei lidi balneari (prima dell’inizio del ‘700, il mare e le sue spiagge erano vissuti, tranne che per motivi di commercio e di pesca, in maniera oscura e negativa, dal mare spesso provenivano gravissimi pericoli come gli sbarchi improvvisi di feroci pirati, oppure potevano sbarcare stranieri portatori di gravissime malattie). Nell’aristocrazia e nell’alta borghesia inglese di allora nasce così la moda di trascorrere le vacanze al mare, successivamente l’abitudine di andare al mare si diffonde a tutti i livelli della società, le ferrovie che furono costruite in tutta la Gran Bretagna all’inizio dell’Ottocento, resero i viaggi verso l’oceano accessibili anche per i ceti più bassi, quelli più popolari e meno agiati, anch’essi frequenteranno le località balneari, Blackpool diviene la prima località balneare della Gran Bretagna completamente frequentata dalle classi popolari grazie alla presenza di stabilimenti balneari a basso costo; il grande e definitivo boom del turismo balneare si avrà poi negli anni ’50 e ’60. Stando così le cose, non ci si deve meravigliare nel sapere che in Gran Bretagna le spiagge sono più frequentate di quanto istintivamente si possa pensare a causa di un clima ben diverso da quello Mediterraneo, e che questo fenomeno socio-culturale sia stato indagato a livello fotografico da parte di fotografi della stessa Gran Bretagna, di questi cito quattro nomi. Un importante fotografo, che probabilmente ispirò i successivi fotografi, fu Tony Ray-Jones, scomparso prematuramente nel 1972, alla giovane età di 30 anni, il quale cercava di realizzare una “memoria fotografica” degli stereotipi del popolo inglese; il famoso fotoreporter Martin Parr, il quale pur ispirandosi al precedente, se ne differenzia per il suo modo di fare “satira sociale” col suo obiettivo; infine desidero menzionare David Hurn e Simon Roberts, quest’ultimo con fotografie di più ampio respiro, con fotografie più distaccate dal singolo individuo. In Italia numerosi sono i fotografi (ne cito solo qualcuno) che hanno realizzato nella loro lunga carriera immagini colte in località balneari (genericamente si parla di “beach photography” affine alla “street photography”), fotografie spesso uniche nel loro stile, come quello adottato da Franco Fontana, menziono Mimmo Jodice, Ferdinando Scianna (del quale mi onoro di averlo conosciuto personalmente), e Massimo Vitali, famoso fotografo (da alcuni inteso come “il fotografo delle spiagge”), soprattutto per le sue bellissime fotografie realizzate sui lidi (ma non solo), grazie alla presenza di strutture fisse sopraelevate a mò di soppalco, costruite appositamente nei lidi balneari per la realizzazione delle sue fotografie. Questo mio incipit, per introdurre il tema da me affrontato, quello della “beach photography”, con una serie di fotografie realizzate per la maggior parte sulle spiagge della Sicilia Orientale nei pressi di Taormina e Giardini-Naxos, qualche altra foto è stata realizzata nell’isola Siciliana di Lipari (qui ad esempio, ho fotografato le due belle e dolcissime ragazze, provenienti dalla Germania, che ringrazio nuovamente per essersi offerte al mio obiettivo).

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I have lived my entire life not knowing there was a Women's Day.

A travesty!

So, what do we do on Women's Day?

*******

edit: Apparently, we can watch basketball!

We've come a long way :)

Milwaukee Art Museum Locked Down; MAM behind bars; chanined and locked down from public access, Milwaukee, WI USA

This image was made in the Serpentine Hot Springs area in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. This place is surreal and very remote, accessible by flying from Nome or by driving a couple of hours from Nome to Quartz Creek Airstrip and then hiking about 20 miles from there. In the winter, people from the village of Shishmaref snowmachine about 100 miles to get there.

The brightest and most accessible to photography cluster in the constellation of Coma Berenices.

336 million light years from earth. Contains over a thousand different galaxies (most of them are elliptical) and huge amount of dark matter.

 

One of the few places in the sky where most objects are galaxies and not stars

 

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• Sky-Watcher BK P2001 with TS Optics 2" Dual Speed Focuser

• EQ6-R Pro

• ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro

 

• ZWO L: 167x120s

• ZWO R, G, B: 60x120s bin2

(total integration 7.5h)

• -20° sensor temp., Gain 0 (HDR)

 

• Baader MPCC Mark III coma corrector

• 60x240 guide scope, ZWO ASI290Mini guide cam

 

Captured with ZWO EFW, ZWO EAF, ZWO ASIAIR, Pegasus Astro Powerbox

 

Saint Petersburg, Russia. Red light pollution zone, balcony

www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/find-a-reserve/reserv...

  

This popular reserve on the north Norfolk coast has something for everyone. A walk from the visitor centre down to the sandy beach takes you past reedbeds and shallow lagoons, which are often full of birds. You can sit on benches or watch from spacious, wheelchair-accessible hides.

 

In summer, marsh harriers float over the reeds, where bearded tits nest. On the lagoons are avocets, gulls and terns. In autumn and winter you can see up to 20 species of wading birds and lots of ducks and geese.

 

A well-stocked shop has a wide range of RSPB gifts and books and a large selection of telescopes and binoculars. We have a servery and inside eating area selling a selection of hot and cold food and drinks, as well as snacks and locally-made cakes.

  

Opening times

  

The reserve is open every day of the year. The visitor centre and shop are open daily from 10.00 am to 5 pm (closing at 4 pm from November to February). They're closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The cafe is open daily from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm (closing at 4 pm from November to February). It's also closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

  

Entrance charges

 

There is a charge of £5 per car for non members.

  

Information for families

 

There are lots of exciting activities for families to do during the school holidays. Call the visitor centre on 01485 210779 to find out what is happening today.

  

Information for dog owners

 

Dogs are only permitted on the west bank path, which is a public right of way. They must be kept on a lead and under close control.

  

For more information

Contact us

Tel: 01485 210779

E-mail:

titchwell@rspb.org.uk

  

Star species

 

Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.

 

Marsh harrier

 

Look for marsh harriers gliding over the reedbed with their wings held upwards in a shallow 'v'. In spring, pairs perform their breathtaking 'skydancing' displays high in the sky.

  

Bittern

 

Keep your eyes peeled for bitterns making short, low flights over the freshwater reedbed. You may be lucky enough to find one fishing on the edge of a channel. In late winter and spring, listen out for the mating call: a deep, resonant 'boom'.

  

Bearded tit

 

You will often hear bearded tits before you see them. Listen for their bell-like 'pinging' calls, then watch them whizzing across the tops of the reeds. They perch up on the stems in calm weather and feed on fallen seeds on the mud at the base of the reeds.

  

Avocet

 

Watch elegant avocets 'scooping up' microscopic, aquatic life in their amazing, sickle shaped beaks. They nest in mini colonies on the islands of the brackish marsh.

  

Redshank

 

You can see redshanks wading in fresh and salt water throughout the year at Titchwell. Watch for their towering display flights over the saltmarsh as you walk along the main path in spring.

  

Seasonal highlights

  

Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.

  

Spring

 

This is one of the most exciting times of the year. The first spring migrants, such as swallows and sand martins, can be seen over the lagoons with wheatears along the beach. In April and May, the lagoons can be full of migrating waders, including ruffs, black tailed godwits, spotted redshanks and dunlins. Marsh harriers can be seen performing their 'sky dancing' display and the reedbeds are alive with singing reed and sedge warblers. If you are lucky, you may also hear the 'booming' of the bittern, which has recently returned to breed at Titchwell.

  

Summer

 

Mid-summer is the quietest time for birds but the best for some of the more elusive reserve species. It is possible to see the rare water vole on the pools around the meadow trail and, if the conditions are suitable, up to ten species of dragonfly and damselfly. By mid-July, the breeding marsh harriers will have flying young and up to 15 birds have been seen in a day. In these quiet months, the reserve staff carry out essential management work on the lagoons. While every effort is made to avoid disturbance, it may sometimes be encountered during a visit.

  

Autumn

 

Autumn is the time for waders when, with luck, over 20 species could be seen around the reserve. Species such as curlew sandpiper, little stint and black-tailed godwit stop on the lagoons to feed on their return migration from their Arctic breeding grounds to their African wintering grounds. With the high spring tides, large numbers of waders can often be seen roosting on the lagoons. September is one of the best months to view bearded tits. The young gather in small flocks and can show very well feeding on seeds blown onto the mud near the Island Hide.

  

Winter

 

Winter is the time for wildfowl at Titchwell. Large numbers of ducks and geese winter in North Norfolk and most of these species can be seen on the lagoons. The commonest species are teal, wigeon, mallard, gadwall and shoveler, with smaller numbers of pintails and goldeneyes. Offshore from the reserve, large 'rafts' of common scoters, long tailed ducks and eiders can be seen. In the evenings, thousands of pink-footed geese can be seen flying to their roost sites along the coast. Hen harriers, marsh harriers and occasionally barn owls can be seen over the reedbed at dusk. In the evenings, thousands of pink-footed geese may be seen flying to their roost sites along the coast.

  

Facilities

 

Visitor centre

 

Information centre

 

Car park

 

Toilets

 

Disabled toilets

 

Picnic area

 

Binocular hire

 

Group bookings accepted

 

Guided walks available

 

Good for walking

 

Pushchair friendly

 

Viewing points

 

The viewing platform on the edge of the dunes is an excellent spot from which to watch an array of waders on the beach and fishing terns, migrating skuas and wintering sea ducks, divers and grebes at sea.

 

Island Hide gives views over the bird-filled freshwater marsh and along the edge of the freshwater reedbed where you can watch bearded tits and water rails feeding.

 

We now have a new Parrinder Hide as part of this project.

 

Fen hide overlooks the freshwater reedbed and is the perfect spot from which to see bitterns, bearded tits and marsh harriers.

  

Nature trails

  

There are three trails on the reserve and all are accessible to wheelchairs/pushchairs.

 

The main path is approximately 1 km long and runs from the visitor centre to the beach.

 

The Fen Trail was extended in September 2012, along with the East Trail and Autumn Trail. To the end of the East Trail is 700 m and to the end of the Autumn Trail is 1.2 km.

 

Please note that the Autumn trail is only open between 1 August to 31 October to avoid disturbing the marsh harrier roost.

 

Coming back from these trails you can rejoin the main path via the Meadow Trail, which is 100 m long.

 

Sorry, dogs are only allowed on the main path (a public right of way).

  

Tearoom

  

We have a servery and inside eating area selling a selection of hot and cold food and drinks, as well as snacks and locally-made cakes.

  

Refreshments available

 

Hot drinks

Cold drinks

Hot meals

Cold meals

Snacks

Shop

 

There is a large selection of optics and books, plus daily optics demonstrations.

 

The shop stocks:

 

Binoculars and telescopes

Books

Bird food

Bird feeders

Outdoor clothing

Gifts

  

Accessibility

 

10 September 2014

 

This is a Summary Access Statement. A full access statement is available to download from this page.

  

Before you visit

  

Entry to the reserve and the hides is free. Parking charges apply for non-members. Free parking for carer or essential companion with disabled visitor

 

The visitor centre and shop are open daily from 9.30 am to 5 pm (November to February closes at 4 pm) except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The cafe is open daily from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm (November to February closes 4 pm) except Christmas Day and Boxing Day

 

Registered Assistance Dogs welcome. Other dogs are only permitted on the west bank path, which is a public right of way. They must be kept on a lead and under close control

 

Two pushed wheelchairs for hire free of charge

 

Check accessibility for events and activities.

  

How to get here

 

King's Lynn Railway Station is 22 miles (35 km away)

 

Bus stop outside the reserve.

 

Car parking

 

Eight Blue Badge spaces 130 metres from visitor centre entrance

120 spaces and a short walk along a gravel path from the visitor centre

 

Surface is bonded gravel

 

No lighting

 

No formal drop off point

 

No height restriction

  

Visitor centre and shop

 

Entry by double doors and a shallow slope. There is an entrance at the front and back to the visitor centre - both have shallow slopes. The entrance doors are manual, outward-opening light doors without a threshold.

 

Level, tiled floor throughout. No seating. Good lighting. Magnifying glasses, pens and paper available. Binoculars hire. Small children’s binoculars free hire. Information displayed in clear print format. Staff available to assist. Shop is in the visitor centre. Level throughout. Some tall or deep displays. Staff available to assist.

  

Nature trails

 

Three signposted trails. Mostly flat, boardwalks and rolled sand and gravel surface. A short, steep slope over the sea defence bank near the beach.

  

Viewing facilities

 

Four hides. Ramp or slope access with a mix of large windows or solid wood viewing slots which require opening - can be difficult as they are stiff. The new Parrinder Hides are spacious modern and all level throughout.

  

Toilets and baby changing facilities

 

A unisex accessible toilet in the main toilet block near car park 200 metres from the visitor centre.

  

Catering

 

Café serving hot and cold food and drinks, snacks and locally-made cakes. Step-free entry. Level throughout. Non-slip flooring. Colour-contrasted crockery. Staff available to assist. Nearest accessible toilet is 200 m from café in the car park.

  

Picnic area

 

Two picnic areas, five tables and one bench outside the visitor centre one bench with all tables having wheelchair spaces. 60m from the visitor centre toward the car park is a second picnic area with four benches and three tables with space for wheelchair access. Visitors are welcome to consume their own food and drink here.

  

Education facilities

 

No dedicated provision

 

Help us improve accessibility by sending feedback to the Site Manager.

 

For more information

Titchwell Marsh Visitor Centre

E-mail: titchwell@rspb.org.uk

Telephone:01485 210779

  

Cafe

 

The 'feeding station' is warm and friendly with a reasonably-priced menu. We serve a wide selection of hot and cold snacks and light lunches. Takeaway drinks and food also available. Freshly-baked home-made scones daily. Locally-made ice-creams.

 

We serve our own exclusive coffee that is grown, imported and roasted by us. It's Fairtrade, organic and certified bird-friendly by the Smithsonian Institute, so now you can help save nature simply by enjoying a great cup of coffee!

  

Opening hours

 

10 am to 4.30 pm (we close at 4 pm from November to February)

  

Highlights from our menu

 

A selection of cold, filled wraps

Freshly-made sandwiches

Our famous bacon baps

Home-made cheese and fruit scones

Carrot and walnut cake, made by our local bakers, Krusty Loaf

  

Access to the cafe

 

Our cafe is on the ground floor - no stairs and easy access for wheelchairs.

  

Children welcome

 

We have two highchairs available. Children’s corner selection on the menu.

  

We use local ingredients

 

We sell locally-made Norfolk ice-creams. We use Fair Trade products where possible.

  

Dietary requirements

 

There are vegetarian, vegan, wheat-free and gluten-free options.

  

How to get here

 

By bicycle (Sustrans cycle route)

National route number 1 is within two miles of the reserve.

 

By train

 

King's Lynn - 22 miles.

 

By bus

 

On the main road outside the reserve.

 

By road

 

Take the first left after driving eastwards along the A149 through Thornham village. The reserve is signposted with a brown tourist sign.

  

Archaeology and history

  

Titchwell Marsh is a wonderful place for wildlife today but there is fascinating story to tell about how the landscape has evolved. Visitors can see remains that illustrate the two major events that have shaped the landscape - sea level rise after the last ice age and military use during the Second World War.

 

The advance of the sea

It wasn't always open marsh at Titchwell - there was a time more than 9,000 years ago when this area was covered in forest and was part of coastal plain that stretched out into what is now the North Sea.

 

Flint artefacts from this Mesolithic era have been found on the reserve, evidence that people were hunting and gathering, probably following animal herds for long distances. It has been suggested that at this time they could have walked as far as Denmark whilst staying on dry land!

 

A wetter climate led to the formation of peat, causing the trees to fall and be preserved in the wetland deposits. Gradual sea level rises throughout this post-glacial period then inundated and preserved the peat beds. Today the remains of the trees and peat beds can be seen eroding on the coastal foreshore at low tide.

 

Once the sea level rose, the coastal plains were inundated and by the Late Bronze Age, around 3,000 years ago, sea levels would have been much the same as today. Archaeologists have found evidence that people were living on the edge of the wetland at this time so there must already have been a settled community here - it would have been a good location to farm the dry land and exploit wetlands for fishing and fowling.

 

Today the challenges of climate change mean we expect more coastal inundation and our engineering works will ensure the preservation of important wildlife and cultural heritage for the future.

  

The Second World War

 

These wetland and intertidal areas would have been exploited by human communities for millennia for hunting and farming, but it is the 20th century that has seen the biggest changes at Titchwell and left an indelible mark on the reserve that can be seen during your visit.

 

During the Second World War, the quiet marshes were turned into a firing range

During the Second World War, the quiet marshes were turned into an Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) firing range and the coast was reinforced against invasion. Part of these defences would have included a reversal of drainage and encouraging flooding as a defence against invasion - helping to re-establish wetland biodiversity.

 

The main banks, including the Parrinder bank were constructed for firing practice, with targets set at 1,000 yard intervals. Today these banks ensure that freshwater wildlife can be protected from inundation by saltwater. Rare breeding species such as the bittern, bearded tit and marsh harrier rely on freshwater reedbeds for there continued existence in the UK.

 

The remains of a 'firing loop' where tanks drove up to fire at the targets is still preserved as well as pillboxes where machine gun practice was also taking place. Many of the islands in the marsh were built to house 'pop-up' targets for gunnery practice and today these are important for breeding and roosting birds.

 

Occasionally the remains of two Covenanter tanks can be seen at low tide on the foreshore, their appearance depending on the shifting sands. These two were probably used for target practice.

 

More information about these heritage sites can be obtained from reserve staff during your visit.

 

Metal detecting and the collection and removal of objects from the reserve is not permitted.

  

Our work here

  

Titchwell Marsh is specially protected as part of the North Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural beauty.

 

The RSPB has helped create a mosaic of wetland and coastal habitats on the reserve in order to attract a diversity of bird species. These include nationally important numbers of avocets, bearded tits, marsh harriers and bitterns, and internationally important populations of wintering waders.

 

We are working to keep these habitats in good condition, and also to provide a key visitor attraction and a good example of our management practices.

  

Reedbed success

 

Our freshwater reedbed is important for threatened wildlife such as bitterns, bearded tits, marsh harriers and water voles.

 

In 2005 our three-year project to rehabilitate the reedbed for bitterns proved successful when the first pair bred on the reserve for 18 years.

  

Living lagoons

 

We are managing the freshwater lagoon and its islands for the benefit of breeding and wintering waders and wildfowl, among other wildlife.

 

We are also managing the brackish marsh as a saline lagoon. This provides suitable breeding conditions for avocets, as well as feeding grounds for other waders and wildfowl.

  

Natural habitats

 

We are allowing natural processes to maintain other coastal habitats, including saltmarsh, shingle and sand dunes. This provides habitat for a variety of birds, including wintering brent geese and wigeon, breeding little terns and redshanks, and high tide wader roosts.

 

We are also managing woodland and grassland areas around the reserve for their wildlife.

  

Rising tide

 

The coastline at Titchwell is eroding and we know that the site is becoming more vulnerable to damage caused by surge tides and storms. The RSPB is working to ensure the freshwater habitats are protected and will continue to support species such as the bittern and bearded tit.

 

We are examining options for flood defences at the seaward end of the reserve and will provide further information as soon as it becomes available.

  

Reaching people

 

Titchwell is one of the most-visited RSPB reserves. We will continue to maintain and improve our facilities. We will also use the reserve to demonstrate our management practices, and will continue to develop our positive relationships with key audiences and local communities.

  

Coastal Change Project

  

Titchwell Marsh is an exceptional nature reserve in a special area. It is part of a network of outstanding wildlife sites across Europe called Natura 2000.

 

The nature reserve has been under threat from the effects of coastal change, the impact of sea level rise and increasing storm events. The Titchwell Coastal Change Project was designed to save the reserve from the effect of these coastal changes.

 

We are pleased to say we have now successfully completed the project.

 

We have realigned the sea defences to the north and reinforced the sea banks around parts of the reserve to the west and east. The future of the reserve and its wildlife is assured for at least the next fifty years.

 

We could not have achieved this without support and funding received from the EU Life+ Nature Fund, WREN, The SITA Trust, Marine Communities Fund, and the many individuals and RSPB supporters who donated and enabled this project to take place.

 

The project took several years to plan and three years to deliver. A summary of what has been achieved appears below:

 

A new northern sea defence was built along the line of the Parrinder wall. The completed Parrinder wall will protect the reserve’s freshwater habitats to the south

The sea wall and west bank path were re-built and improved from the visitor centre northwards to the Parrinder wall. This sea wall will protect the freshwater habitats for years to come

Improvements were made to the freshwater marsh islands and reed bed to benefit nesting birds such as avocet and bittern

The fabulous new Parrinder hides opened in December 2010

A breach was made in the east bank to the north of the new Parrinder wall. This has allowed saltwater on to the brackish marsh which will change over time into tidal saltmarsh. The new saltmarsh will in turn protect the new Parrinder wall. This new marsh will be known as Volunteer Marsh

A section of the south-east corner of the east bank was improved, enabling it to better protect the freshwater habitats which lie to the west

The sluice on the east bank, which lets freshwater off the marsh, was replaced. This will enable us to control water levels on the freshwater marsh more effectively than we can at present

A new reedbed area was shaped and formed in the grazing meadow east of Fen hide

Two new trails were developed to the east of Fen hide. These trails will open in 2012.

The project has protected and improved the conservation value of the reserve and has ensured that it will remain one of the most outstanding and valuable wildlife sites in Europe.

Dans un village Masaï proche du parc animalier de Masaï Mara, danse traditionnelle des hommes de l'ethnie Masaï, caractérisée par les sauts impressionnants des guerriers de l'ethnie, Kenya

 

Les Masaï ou Maasaï, les plus connus car les plus accessibles des tribus du Kenya et vivant à proximité des parcs animaliers fréquentés par les touristes, constituent une population d’éleveurs et de guerriers semi-nomades d'Afrique de l'Est, répartie principalement dans le centre et le sud-ouest du Kenya et au nord de la Tanzanie.

De langue nilotique, ils sont apparentés à l'ethnie Turkana qui vivent plus au nord, près du lac du même nom et dont je parlerai prochainement.

  

"Il y avait cette démarche princière, paresseuse et cependant ailée, cette façon superbe de porter la tête et le morceau d'étoffe qui, jeté sur une épaule, drapait et dénudait le corps à la fois. [ ... ] Et surtout cette liberté orgueilleuse, absolue, indicible d'un peuple qui n'envie rien ni personne parce que les solitudes hérissées de ronces, un bétail misérable [ ... ] comblent tous ses soins et qu'il est assez fier pour ne point laisser sur la terre ni maison, ni tombeau"

Joseph Kessel, à propos des Massaï dans le roman "Le lion".

 

In a Maasai village near the Masai Mara Wildlife Park, a traditional dance of the Maasai men, characterized by the impressive leaps of the ethnic group's warriors, Kenya

 

The Maasai, or Maasai, the best known because they are the most accessible of Kenya's tribes and live near the wildlife parks frequented by tourists, are a population of semi-nomadic herders and warriors from East Africa, distributed mainly in central and southwestern Kenya and northern Tanzania.

Speaking Nilotic, they are related to the Turkana ethnic group who live further north, near the lake of the same name, about whom I will discuss shortly.

 

"There was this princely, lazy yet winged gait, this superb way of carrying the head and the piece of cloth which, thrown over one shoulder, both draped and exposed the body. [...] And above all, this proud, absolute, indescribable freedom of a people who envy nothing and no one because the solitudes bristling with brambles, a miserable cattle [...] fulfill all their cares and they are proud enough to leave neither house nor tomb on the earth."

Joseph Kessel, on the Maasai in the novel "The Lion."

 

This very accessible and stunning waterfall 12km from Catemaco, Veracruz is where part of Mel Gibsons film "apocalypto" was filmed. Its no wonder that crowds of tourists and locals alike, flock here at weekends to appreciate this waterfall and the lush scenery that surrounds it. #veracruz #mexico

Discover the iconic Kaminarimon Gate, the grand entrance to Tokyo's oldest temple, Senso-ji, located in the vibrant district of Asakusa. This majestic gate, officially known as "Thunder Gate," stands as a testament to Japan's rich cultural heritage and architectural prowess. The Kaminarimon Gate, originally constructed in 941 AD, has undergone several reconstructions, with the current structure dating back to 1960. Its imposing presence is marked by a massive red lantern, weighing approximately 700 kilograms, which hangs prominently in the center. Flanked by statues of Fujin, the god of wind, and Raijin, the god of thunder, the gate symbolizes protection and prosperity. The intricate wooden carvings and traditional tiled roof reflect the exquisite craftsmanship of the Edo period.

 

As you pass through the Kaminarimon Gate, you are greeted by Nakamise-dori, a bustling shopping street leading to the main temple. This vibrant thoroughfare is lined with stalls offering traditional snacks, souvenirs, and crafts, providing a sensory feast for visitors. The Kaminarimon Gate is not just an architectural marvel but also a cultural hub, hosting various festivals and events throughout the year. Its strategic location in Asakusa makes it easily accessible and a must-visit for anyone exploring Tokyo. Whether you are a history enthusiast, architecture aficionado, or simply a curious traveler, the Kaminarimon Gate offers a captivating glimpse into Japan's storied past and vibrant present. Experience the blend of tradition and modernity as you step through this iconic gateway and immerse yourself in the timeless charm of Senso-ji Temple.

The Wind Caves are accessible from the northern end of Split Mountain. The trailhead is marked on Google maps. A high-clearance vehicle is a must as the road inside Split Mountain is littered with medium and large rocks. You should be OK with 2WD as long as you don't stray from the established path. My Titan has 4WD, but I didn't need to use it. Once you get to the trailhead - which is marked with a sign reading "Wind Caves", it's a moderate one mile hike up and over a hill to the caves.

 

"On the eastern edge of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park lies Split Mountain, the Carrizo Badlands, and a feature known as the Wind Caves. Here, the exposed sandstone of the marine beds from the five-million-year-old Imperial Formation have been slowly eroded by wind into fantastic shapes that evoke whimsical images of boats with portholes, spaceships, and even the fictional town of Bedrock, hometown of the prehistoric Flintstone family."[1]

 

1. San Diego Reader / The Canyoneers. Canyoneers are San Diego Natural History Museum volunteers trained to lead interpretive nature walks that teach appreciation for the great outdoors.

 

Sometimes you can't always have your tripod accessible, especially when your riding on one of Disney's water taxi's. I'm not a fan of any noise in my photos except when I see a shot I really want. While on our way to Disney Springs one night, I decided that I wanted to get this shot and I don't think it came out too bad; I was very happy. I hope you enjoy. Have a magical day!

 

Visit Disney Photo Tour on Facebook and Instagram

This covered bridge in southeast Ohio used to be useable, but is now the centerpiece of a small park.It is still accessible to walk across though. Just throwing in something a little different.

Taken back in February I believe....enjoy....

Non-"accessible" access to Cobble Beach at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area near Newport, Oregon; 4:49pm

 

— I swear M.C. Escher must've had a hand in designing this thing —

  

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Related images:

 

Eleventy-billionth Shot of Yaquina Head Lighthouse In Fog

 

Balustraded Bench

 

Driftwood on Cobble Beach

 

And, video capture: Cobble Beach

One of the many advantages we enjoy at our cottage near Little Girl's Point in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is having nearby access to beautiful sunsets over Lake Superior. This was taken only about a 1/4 mile away from our place.

 

A cool way to view mine or anyone else's photostream is on fluidr.

Winters afternoon at the folly of Mow Cop.

As those who are familiar with the area will know this folly dominates the landscape on top of a very steep hill between the counties of Staffordshire and Cheshire and despite the snow, Mow Cop has been quite accessible and it was difficult to get images where the snow had not been disturbed by the hoards of people who had been there before me!

Mow Cop Folly, Staffordshire, UK

 

10TH AVENUE SQUARE & OVERLOOK

At 17th St.

 

This extraordinary window down to the street was created by removing the steel beams of the original High Line structure. The amphitheater (fully wheelchair accessible) is the site of both public performances and daily people-watching on the street below.

A rainy Autumn day!

The island of Evia lies along the Eastern coast of Central Greece, and is accessible to the mainland via a bridge. There are also frequent ferries to several parts of the island. It is 175 km long and is the second largest island in Greece, and the third largest in the Eastern Mediterranean.

 

Taken on an outing with my English wife Theresa Jane Brown, Sunday, September 16th, 2012.

 

Thanassis Fournarakos

Professional Photographer, retired

Athens, Greece

 

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

None of my images may be downloaded, copied, reproduced, manipulated or used on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission. THANK YOU!

 

This photograph has achieved the following highest awards:

* GALAXY HALL OF FAME

 

This second scrapyard was not accessible before, our visit was short lived as it was still quite radiated but seemed to be full of interesting vehicles and different types compared to the other scrapyard we visited last year.

 

Other set of Pripyat Scrapyard here: www.flickr.com/photos/timster1973/sets/72157645592320313/

 

Named for the nearby Pripyat River, Pripyat was founded on 4 February 1970, the ninth nuclear city in the Soviet Union, for the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. It was officially proclaimed a city in 1979, and had grown to a population of 49,360 before being evacuated a few days after the 26 April 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

 

Though Pripyat is located within the administrative district of Ivankiv Raion, the abandoned city now has a special status within the larger Kiev Oblast (province), being administered directly from Kiev. Pripyat is also supervised by Ukraine's Ministry of Emergencies, which manages activities for the entire Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

 

Access to Pripyat, unlike cities of military importance, was not restricted before the disaster as nuclear power stations were seen by the Soviet Union as safer than other types of power plants. Nuclear power stations were presented as being an achievement of Soviet engineering, where nuclear power was harnessed for peaceful projects. The slogan "peaceful atom" (Russian: mirnyj atom) was popular during those times. The original plan had been to build the plant only 25 km (16 mi) from Kiev, but the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, among other bodies, expressed concern about it being too close to the city. As a result, the power station and Pripyat were built at their current locations, about 100 km (62 mi) from Kiev. After the disaster the city of Pripyat was evacuated in two days.

 

online store: www.artfinder.com/tim-knifton

 

instagram: instagram.com/timster_1973

Klick here for a large view!

 

Monument Valley is located on the southern border of Utah with northern Arizona. The valley lies within the range of the Navajo Nation Reservation, and is accessible from U.S. Highway 163. The Navajo name for the valley is Tsé Bii' Ndzisgaii (Valley of the Rocks).

 

The area is part of the Colorado Plateau. The floor is largely Cutler Red siltstone or its sand deposited by the meandering rivers that carved the valley. The valley's vivid red color comes from iron oxide exposed in the weathered siltstone. The darker, blue-gray rocks in the valley get their color from manganese oxide.

 

The buttes are clearly stratified, with three principal layers. The lowest layer is Organ Rock shale, the middle de Chelly sandstone and the top layer is Moenkopi shale capped by Shinarump siltstone. The valley includes large stone structures including the famed Eye of the Sun.

 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The more easily accessible and more often visited of the two waterfalls is the "cascada chica," also called the Amphitheatre. This cliff rises over fifty meters above the valley floor, where there is a natural platform about sixty meters wide. This platform has four springs. The water from three of the four springs is captured by a number of small natural pools and two large artificial pools in which visitors can swim. The lower of the two pools is very close to the cliff edge and was built in 2007. In these pools, the water appears a turquoise green due to the mineral concentration.

 

Wikipedia

Not exactly the most intelligent title but since I have no idea what this actually is, I have no better idea for a name. The one thing I do know is that these "bulges" aren't balconies because the protrude from the roof of the building. And the roof was not accessible. So, I guess this is just some fancy architectural feature. Who knows.

Oh, maybe I should mention that I took this image during last year's vacation to Majorca. And the building here is actually part of the hotel I stayed in.

 

This image should look best on black, so please press 'L'.

 

Enjoy!

 

Blog • 500px • Google+ • @Christian_TTV • Ello • Facebook

August 2, 2019: Accessibility activists protest Gov Cuomo and his refusal to consider more access in the NYC Subway.

Le point de vue « Gringlee », également appelé « Gringlay », offre un panorama impressionnant sur la vallée de la Sûre et le majestueux château de Bourscheid. C'est l'un des points de vue les plus connus du Luxembourg.

Perché sur une paroi rocheuse, il offre une vue étendue sur les doux méandres de la rivière.

Le point de vue se trouve sur le sentier de randonnée Escapardenne Lee Trail ainsi que sur les sentiers locaux BS 1, BS 4 et BS 6. C'est également un point de départ apprécié des parapentistes - parfait pour faire une pause en observant les courageux voltigeurs et en profitant de la nature. La Gringlee n'est pas accessible en voiture.

 

The viewpoint "Gringlee", also called "Gringlay", offers an impressive panorama of the Sûre valley and the majestic Bourscheid castle. It is one of the most famous viewpoints in Luxembourg.

Perched on a rock face, it offers a wide view of the gently meandering river.

The viewpoint is located on the Escapardenne Lee Trail hiking trail as well as on the local trails BS 1, BS 4 and BS 6. It is also a popular starting point for paragliders - perfect for taking a break while watching the brave acrobats and enjoying nature. Gringlee is not accessible by car.

Ushguli is a community of four villages located at the head of the Enguri gorge in Svaneti, Georgia. Recognized as the Upper Svaneti UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ushguli is one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe. Ushguli isn't in an accessible location, which has preserved many of the village's most charming characteristics.

 

Ushguli is located at an altitude of 2,100 metres (6,900 ft) near the foot of Shkhara, one of the highest summits of the Greater Caucasus mountains. About 70 families (about 200 people) live in the area, enough to support a small school. The area is snow-covered for 6 months of the year, and often the road to Mestia is impassable.

 

Typical Svaneti defensive tower houses are found throughout the village. The Ushguli Chapel located on a hilltop near the village dates back to the 12th century.

 

King Tamar's castle originally had 4 defensive stone towers, of which one survives, connected by a curtain wall. The castles three other towers were destroyed by the Soviets in the 1930’s. The stones were used to build farms and other buildings.

 

Queen Tamar, also known as Tamar the Great ruled Georgia from 1184 to 1213, at the summit of the Georgian Golden Age. She was the first woman to govern Georgia in her own right.

 

A member of Bagrationi Dynasty and the only daughter of George III, King of Georgia, Tamar was born in 1160. Her youth corresponded with a significant outbreak in Georgia. In 1177 George III faced a rebellious group of local nobles, who planned to dethrone him in favor of his nephew Demna.

 

George III was able to defeat the uprising. Once the revolt was suppressed and eliminated, George started to include Tamar in government and crowned her as a co-ruler in 1178, when she was only 18 years old. This action was intended to stop any controversy after his death and legitimize his family on the throne of Georgia.

 

Tamar and her father co-ruled for six years, and when George died in 1184, she continued as sole ruler of the country by being crowned for the second time in Gelati Cathedral in Kutaisi.

 

However, her reign wasn’t met with full support. Another opposition came, perceiving her gender as weakness. As the country had never had a female ruler before, the nobles questioned her legitimacy and tried to use her age against her. The young queen was pushed into making important concessions to the nobility, including the removal of King George’s appointees. Thus, the aristocracy came into the center of power again.

 

Slowly Tamar started to gain confidence in her rights as a queen. The death of the persuasive Catholicos-Patriarch Michael, who was not a big supporter of Tamar played a big role in her future governance. She appointed her advocate Anton Gnolistavisdze as a chancellor and gradually increased her own power-base to high positions at the court.

 

After an unsuccessful arranged first mariage to Prince Yuri, son of the assassinated prince Andrei I Bogolyubsky of Vladimir-Suzdal, Tamar divorced Yuri and sent him off to Constantinople.

 

She then chose her second husband herself – David Soslan, an Alan prince and a great military commander, who became Tamar’s primary advocate and was effective in crushing the rebellious aristocracy united behind Yuri.

 

King Tamar and David had two children; Lasha-Giorgi, the future King George IV; and Rusudan, who later replaced her brother as a monarch of Georgia.

 

Tamar’s kingdom extended from the Greater Caucasus to Erzurum, and from the Zygii to the proximity of Ganja building a pan-Caucasian empire. The royal title increased and reflected not only her power over the regular subdivisions of the Georgian Kingdom but also introduced new elements that highlighted the Georgian crown’s authority over the neighboring lands.

 

Besides expanding Georgian territories, her governance brought a golden age in culture. Locals continued to identify themselves with the Byzantine West, rather than Islamic East. This period brought architectural development to the country when a great number of impressive domed cathedrals were built.

 

Tamar continued to be identified among Georgia’s ‘King of the Kings’, as the language has no grammatical genders, unlike ‘king’ in English, it does not significantly imply a male connotation.

Accessibility Description: A silky stream of water flows gently through a moss-covered gorge, the long exposure smoothing the current into a dreamy ribbon of pale blue. The channel is bordered by layered rock walls, one side draped in vibrant green moss that clings to every crevice, the other softened by patches of lichen and ferns. Ahead, the creek drops in a small waterfall, tumbling gracefully over stone ledges before winding deeper into the forest. Tall trees rise above the scene, their fresh summer leaves filtering sunlight into a soft, green glow. The entire view feels calm and untouched, like a hidden woodland sanctuary where time slows with the water’s flow.

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Paisagem de novela. Literalmente. Com suas falésias vermelhas e recortadas formando labirintos naturais, as praias de Morro Branco, em Beberibe, no Ceará, já serviram de cenário para algumas produções televisivas. As novelas "Tropicaliente" e "Final Feliz", a minissérie "Sansão e Dalila", o filme "O Noviço Rebelde" e o programa "No Limite" estão na ponta da língua dos guias turísticos que se orgulham de falar da fama alcançada pelo paraíso cinematográfico.

 

Morro Branco tem uma beleza rara e impressionante, que fica ainda mais realçada nos dias ensolarados. A luz forte e duradoura das proximidades da Linha do Equador ressalta o contraste entre o verde do mar e o vermelho das falésias, de onde saem areias de diversas cores. Elas servem de material para artesãos produzirem os mais diversos objetos decorativos em garrafas.

 

Com tantas cores, o nome Morro Branco parece não fazer sentido, a princípio. Mas uma duna branca e alta, de onde se tem uma das mais bonitas vistas do pôr-do-sol na praia justifica o batismo.

 

Em Morro Branco, a principal atração, o Labirinto das Falésias, é acessível a pé. A entrada, a partir do centrinho da vila, é sinalizada. A caminhada por entre os paredões coloridos é curta e pode ser feita sem guia, mas vale a pena contratar um monitor local para ouvir algumas histórias da região e vê-lo formar a aquarela de cores com as areias coletadas de onde não se imagina. A saída do labirinto é no mar, nas barracas que vendem souvenires.

 

Na Praia das Fontes, vizinha de Morro Branco, mina água das falésias formando, em alguns pontos, pequenas grutas. A maior delas, a Gruta da Mãe D’água, aliás, foi apelidada de Gruta da Açucena, em referência à personagem interpretada pela atriz Carolina Dieckman na novela "Tropicaliente". O local foi cenário para cenas de amor entre Açucena e Vitor (Selton Mello).

 

Para ter uma visão geral de todas essas belezas com uma pitada de aventura, o passeio de buggy é uma boa pedida. Além de passar pela Praia das Fontes, os bugueiros levam os turistas para dunas de areia móveis, lagoas de água doce, até a Lagoa do Uruaú, um verdadeiro oásis onde turistas param para relaxar e beber uma água de coco diante da paisagem em meio às dunas.

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Landscape novel. Literally . With their red and jagged cliffs forming natural labyrinths , the beaches of Morro Branco , Beberibe , Ceará , has served as the setting for some television productions . The novels " Tropicaliente " and " Happy Ending " , the miniseries " Samson and Delilah " , the movie " The Rebel Novice " and the program " The Edge " are the tip of the tongue of the tour guides who take pride in speaking of fame achieved by Paradise film .

 

Morro Branco has a rare and stunning beauty that is further enhanced on sunny days. The strong and lasting light from near the equator emphasizes the contrast between the green and red of the sea cliffs , from where sands of different colors . They serve as material for craftsmen produce a wide variety of decorative objects in bottles .

 

With so many colors , the name Morro Branco seems to make sense at first . But a white high dune , where you have one of the most beautiful views of the setting sun on the beach justifies baptism .

 

In Morro Branco , the main attraction , the Labyrinth of the cliffs , is accessible on foot . The entrance from the little center of the village is signposted . A walk through the colorful walls is short and can be done without a guide , but it is worth hiring a local monitor to hear some stories of the area and see it form the watercolor colors with sands collected where no one imagines . The exit of the maze is in the sea , in the stalls selling souvenirs .

 

In Praia das Fontes , neighboring Morro Branco , mine water from the cliffs forming , in some points , small caves . The largest, the Grotto of Mother D' water, incidentally, was dubbed the Cave of Azucena , referring to the character played by actress Carolina Dieckman in the novel " Tropicaliente " . The venue was the scene of love scenes between Azucena and Vitor ( Selton Mello ) .

 

For an overview of all these beauties with a dash of adventure, the buggy ride is a good thing . In addition to passing the Praia das Fontes , the buggy drivers take tourists to the sand dunes of furniture , freshwater ponds , pond until Uruaú , an oasis where tourists stop to relax and drink coconut water on the landscape amid dunes .

 

Allied Spyrius Colonies transport

 

Spaceship Kitiara is new flagship of Spyrius. Main purpose is transport of both machinery and crew and support of smaller spacecraft in space. She can also serve as a small space station. The ship is operated by crew of 15 and there are currently 41 passangers.

The front is equipped with various sensors; main communication antennae and shields generators are on the roof. In the front section are two hangar bays openned to one side and moonbase airlock connector on the other side. Middle section has entrance ramp, crew rooms, cantina and kitchen on port side. On starbord side is bathroom, infirmary, computer workstations and relaxation room with swimming pool. On the rear is engine maintenance room with elevator to the control tower where are pilots and the captain. On the wings are FTL engines and on the hull are main sublight thrusters.

 

About the build:

Length:155 studs

Width: 76 studs

height: 45 bricks

Originally I planned to do this SHIP for Shiptember 2019 but one month was way too short. Since my last ship was 130 studs long, I wanted to make this one bigger. Also I wanted to feature asymetric design, spaceous open hangar bay with rised catwalk, full interier with bar/restaurant. I was playing with the shape for a while when finally this long design with two hangar bays, glass bubble and a control tower came up on my paper.

Main structure is from technic beams which make the ship very sturdy but it cannot be separated in smaller parts. Smaller technic frame is also in the middle part supporting the side rooms.

Interior is fuly furnished and almost fully accessible (both for human and figs, except the control tower, which has fake elevator for figs). Most of the roofs and also the rooms in second floor can be removed to access the lower deck.

There are currently all my space figs (cca 50+) and there is still some room left for more.

At 29 metres high, The Podium temporarily makes the roof of Het Nieuwe Instituut accessible via a 143-step external staircase. Painted a striking pink to increase visibility, MVRDV’s design creates a 600 m2 temporary meeting place.

Source: www.mvrdv.nl/projects/878/the-podium

 

From this platform, visitors can see (and ar mirrored in) the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen which is the world’s first publicly accessible art storage facility and is located next to Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen and Het Nieuwe Instituut in Museumpark in Rotterdam.

 

For detailed info, click here to the architect's site: www.mvrdv.nl/projects/10/depot-boijmans-van-beuningen

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Met een hoogte van 29 meter maakt Het Podium tijdelijk het dak van Het Nieuwe Instituut toegankelijk via een buitentrap van 143 treden. Het ontwerp van MVRDV is opvallend roze geverfd om de zichtbaarheid te vergroten en creëert een tijdelijke ontmoetingsplaats van 600 m2.

Vanaf dit platform kunnen bezoekers het Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen zien (en worden erin gespiegeld), 's werelds eerste publiek toegankelijke kunstopslag en gelegen naast Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen en Het Nieuwe Instituut in het Museumpark in Rotterdam

Panorama shot from the shore of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park

 

From the NPS:

"Lake McDonald Valley is the hub of activity on the west side of Glacier National Park. Once occupied by massive glaciers that carved this area thousands of years ago, the valley is now filled with spectacular sights, hiking trails, diverse species of plants and animals, historic chalets, and the grand Lake McDonald Lodge.

 

Ten miles long and nearly 500 feet deep (152.4 m), Lake McDonald, the largest lake in the park, is a direct result of glacial carving. High peaks surrounding the lake all show evidence of the power of glaciers to carve even the hardest of rock. The powerful glaciers that carved the broad "u-shaped" valley that Lake McDonald sits in also carved smaller hanging valleys with wonderful waterfalls that are accessible by numerous hiking trails."

Dames Cave is a 1.2 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Brooksville, Florida that features a cave and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.

 

The Dames Cave area is located in the Citrus Tract portion of the Withlacoochee State Forest in Citrus County, Florida and are found on a western portion of the Brooksville Ridge physiographic region. This landscape is dominated by karst landforms including uvalas, dolines, solution valleys, and caves. Geologically, the caves are among the oldest in Florida.

 

The entrance trail to the Dames Caves is located off S Lecanto Hwy. Quite possibly there will be several cars already parked there, as these will be the only indicators that one of Florida's most unique and oldest cave systems is just a short jaunt off of this straight and narrow farm road. Parking is free, but is at your own risk, mainly because there are no designated parking spots. A short half-mile trail leads off into the Withlacoochee State Forest.

 

Once again, no trails are marked, but heading directly east will bring you to the opening of one of the most popular caves. Surrounded by several concrete posts and heavy gauge wire, the opening to Vandal Cave appears before your eyes. One of the best spot for pictures, this cave opening is actually an ancient roof collapse. Part of the roof is still connected and creates a land bridge that can be easily walked across by daring individuals. A small side cave allows access into the inner cave system. Once inside you can see why it is called Vandal Cave. Graffiti and other damage can be seen throughout, explaining why this cave system is so hard to find. Other smaller caves branch off from this Vandal Cave and range in a variety of difficulties of exploration from simple head ducking and flashlight exploring to belly-slinking and crawling through tight spots in the mud.

 

Credit for the data above is given to the following website:

www.alltrails.com/trail/us/florida/dames-cave

www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/m/marshside/index.aspx

  

www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/m/marshside/about.aspx

  

There's something for everyone all year round at this delightful coastal reserve. In the spring you can see brown hares boxing in the fields, while in the early summer you'll spot nesting birds like avocets and lapwings. During the winter months the skies fill with visiting waterfowl such as pink-footed geese and wigeons, not to mention birds of prey that can set flocks wheeling over the marshes.

 

There are two hides, a viewing platform and three viewing screens. If you're new to birdwatching, why not come on one of our special event days?

 

Opening times

8.30 am to 5 pm every day.

 

Entrance charges

Free, but donations to help us continue our work here are welcome.

 

If you are new to birdwatching...

Extensive events programme and ABB events take place - all aimed at beginners. Birds all-year and plenty of them.

 

Information for dog owners

Some access for dogs - please contact reserve for details

  

Star species

Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.

  

Avocet

Watch elegant avocets 'scooping up' microscopic, aquatic life in their amazing, sickle-shaped beaks. They nest in mini colonies on the islands.

  

Black-tailed godwit

Flocks of black-tailed godwits can be seen on in spring - when they rest and feed here before heading north to Iceland to breed - they are resplendent in their 'tomato soup-red' breeding attire. On their return in autumn, you can pick out the scaly-backed juvenile birds if you look closely. Some birds also spend summer here.

  

Lapwing

Watch the nesting lapwings here chasing predators that may come too close to their nests or show too much of an interest in their chicks. The protective parents regularly give chase to crows and do not stop their 'mobbing' attacks until the danger has passed.

  

Pink-footed goose

Many pink-footed geese assemble here from late September through to March. They roost on the mudflats and fly inland at dawn to feed in nearby fields.

  

Wigeon

During winter, flocks of wigeons are a daily sight, with several thousand often on the reserve. Wintering birds arrive from early September and numbers build up to a peak, usually in January.

  

Seasonal highlights

Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.

 

Spring

Lapwings tumble in excitable displays over the nesting areas. Early morning is the best time to see the hares 'boxing'. Watch out for the first wheatears and swallows to arrive from Africa. The flood-waters are retreating, leaving muddy edges - look out for migrating waders like common sandpipers and ruffs. There are still large numbers of wigeons, teals, black-tailed godwits and other water birds biding their time or passing through on their way north.

  

Summer

Redshanks and avocets scold you from a distance as they watch over their chicks. The grass is peppered with the colours of wildflowers. Wall brown and common blue butterflies are found along the paths on warm, sunny days. Grey herons stalk the ditches. Summering black-tailed godwits can be found in the wetter spots.

  

Autumn

A dashing falcon at this time of year could be a merlin just in from Iceland. Look for skeins of pink-footed geese flying to and from their roost out on the mudflats at dusk and dawn. Migrant hawker dragonflies patrol the ditches on sunny days. Wigeon and teal numbers begin to build up.

  

Winter

You will be sure to see huge flocks of wigeons, teals, lapwings and golden plovers wheeling and turning over the marshes. Look out for the bird of prey that has caused the panic. It could be a kestrel, merlin, peregrine or sparrowhawk or perhaps one of the voracious great black-backed gulls that patrol these marshes.

  

Facilities

 

Facilities

•Information centre

•Car park : Free car park (local authority). Bicycle rack at Sandgrounders Hide.

•Toilets

•Disabled toilets

•Group bookings accepted

•Guided walks available

•Good for walking

•Pushchair friendly

 

Viewing points

Two hides - both glazed, one heated. One viewing platform and three viewing screens.

 

Nature trails

Trail to Sandgrounders Hide from car park 200 m, wheelchair/pushchair-suitable. Trail from Nel's Hide to car park 550 m wheelchair/pushchair-suitable. Footpaths along old sea-wall and coast road make round trips of 1.8 miles (3 km), 2.5 miles (4 km) and 4.3 miles (7 km) possible for able-bodied.

  

Accessibility

This is a natural site with unimproved paths and trails - the access around this site may not be suitable for all visitors. If you have concerns, please contact the reserve or regional office before your visit to discuss your requirements.

  

How to get here

 

By train

Southport (Chapel Street Station) - follow London Street till it joins Lord Street and then go straight across Lord Street and on down Nevill Street to the Promenade; turn right to follow Marine Lake to its northern end; turn left onto Fairway and then right on to Marine Drive. Reserve begins at Hesketh Road after 0.6 mile (1 km; first turning on right). Total distance 1.8 miles (3 km).

 

By bus

Southport (War Memorial, Lord Street) to Crossens via Marshside Road. No.44 every 15 minutes. Get off at Elswick Road junction. Walk north 200 m along Marshside Road to start of reserve.

 

By road

From Southport, follow coast road north (1.5 miles or 2.5 km from Southport Pier) to small car park by sand works.

  

Our work here

Marshside protects 94 ha of coastal grassland and pools on the shores of the Ribble estuary.

The RSPB is managing the reserve to protect important populations of breeding waders and wintering wildfowl, plus other wildlife such as brown hares and wintering birds of prey. We are also developing the reserve as a popular visitor attraction.

 

Top targets

We are working towards five-year mean targets for key breeding birds. These include 80 pairs of lapwings, 10 pairs of avocets and 30 pairs of redshanks. We will also ensure that black-tailed godwits remain present through the breeding season and that breeding wildfowl numbers are stable.

Meanwhile, our October-March targets for non-breeding birds include at least 900 black-tailed godwits, 300 pink-footed geese, 6,000 wigeons, 1,500 teals, 100 shovelers and 750 golden plovers.

 

Grassland gains

We are improving our grassland for breeding waders, using summer grazing with cattle and topping, where necessary, to create suitable sward heights. We will retain a tussocky structure, and will ensure that up to 33 ha of grassland holds permanent surface water in winter. We will also increase our small area of ungrazed grassland and preserve the extent of our ‘dune-slack’ grassland, which is rich in wildlife.

 

Water and swamp

We will ensure that all permanent water bodies are at least 10 cm deep from the start of June. We will also increase the extent of open water in pools and ditches, by rotationally cleaning and re-profiling ditches. We will dig new ditches and create small pools to break up waterless ‘plain’ areas, and will excavate to create 1 ha of open water and an additional 1 ha of swamp.

 

Keeping tabs

Constant monitoring helps us to manage the site and contribute to research projects elsewhere. We focus on breeding waders, lapwing nest productivity and wintering wildfowl, as well as water voles, natterjack toads and butterflies. We also monitor sward height, cattle numbers, the levels and quality of water, and the extent and quality of grassland.

 

People

We are continuing to improve visitor facilities, making our hides, nature trails and footpaths accessible to all. We also run a varied events programme and will keep developing our volunteer scheme.

  

Contact us

•Tel: 01704 226190

Where is it?

•Lat/lng: 53.67694,-2.98096

•Grid reference: SD353205

•Nearest town: Southport, Merseyside

•County: Merseyside

•Country: England

 

YJ67 FYO is an Optare Solo M7900SE new to Accessible Transport, Aston (t/a iGo) in February 2018. It joined the McNairn of Coatbridge fleet in 2019 for their SPT contracts and is seen here in Airdrie working service 212 to Caldercruix.

After years of construction delays and cost overruns, Venice at last has a fourth bridge across the Grand Canal. The new bridge is officially named the Ponte della Costituzione, but nearly everyone in Venice calls it the Ponte di Calatrava .

 

The bridge was designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, whose past projects have included the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain, the Olympic Sports Complex in Athens, and the precedent-setting "twisting torso" skyscraper in Malmö, Sweden.

 

In January, 2007, construction crews began driving piles for the new bridge in the Canale Grande between the Piazzale Roma and the Santa Lucia Railroad Station. The bridge's prefabricated sections were floated to the construction site by barge in August. Some progress had been made on final assembly when the photo above was taken in November, 2007, and the bridge opened to the public on September 11, 2008.

 

The Ponte di Calatrava is a long, sweeping curve of glass and steel that is designed to complement both the historic buildings on the Piazzale Roma side of the canal and the 1950s modernity of Venice's main railway station. Now that it's open, travelers won't have to go out of their way to cross the canal via the Ponte dei Scalzi or pay to ride the vaporetto as they've been forced to do in the past.

 

The bridge has provoked its share of controversies, including concerns about the bridge's accessibility to locals and tourists in wheelchairs. The Comune di Venezia has been working slowly to install a system of egg-shaped gondola lifts for the disabled, but whether they'll be more reliable than Venice's earlier platform lifts on several smaller bridges (which were removed after years of being non-functioning eyesores) remains to be seen.

LICHADONISIA, "THE GREEK CARIBBEAN", NORTHERN EVIA.

 

ΛΙΧΑΔΟΝΗΣΙΑ, ΒΟΡΕΙΟΣ ΕΥΒΟΙΑ.

 

Lichadonisia are a cluster of 15 small volcanic islands, overgrown with olive trees. Magnolia, the largest of these islands, is well known for its white sandy beach and turquoise waters. There is a canteen for coffee and meals, as well as deck chairs for relaxing. The crossing by boat from Kavo (on the island of Evia) does not take more than 5 minutes.

 

The island of Evia lies along the Eastern coast of Central Greece, and is accessible to the mainland via two bridges, an old wooden bridge and a contemporary suspension bridge. There are also frequent ferries to several parts of the island. It is 175 km long and is the second largest island in Greece, and the third largest in the Eastern Mediterranean.

 

Taken during a 4 day photographic vacation with my beloved English wife Theresa Jane Brown.

 

Thanassis Fournarakos - Θανασης Φουρναρακος

Professional Photographer, retired.

Athens, Greece

 

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

None of my images may be downloaded, copied, reproduced, manipulated or used on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission. THANK YOU!

 

This photograph has achieved the following highest awards:

* GALAXY HALL OF FAME

* THE GALAXY STARS HALL OF FAME

www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/find-a-reserve/reserv...

  

This popular reserve on the north Norfolk coast has something for everyone. A walk from the visitor centre down to the sandy beach takes you past reedbeds and shallow lagoons, which are often full of birds. You can sit on benches or watch from spacious, wheelchair-accessible hides.

 

In summer, marsh harriers float over the reeds, where bearded tits nest. On the lagoons are avocets, gulls and terns. In autumn and winter you can see up to 20 species of wading birds and lots of ducks and geese.

 

A well-stocked shop has a wide range of RSPB gifts and books and a large selection of telescopes and binoculars. We have a servery and inside eating area selling a selection of hot and cold food and drinks, as well as snacks and locally-made cakes.

  

Opening times

  

The reserve is open every day of the year. The visitor centre and shop are open daily from 10.00 am to 5 pm (closing at 4 pm from November to February). They're closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The cafe is open daily from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm (closing at 4 pm from November to February). It's also closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

  

Entrance charges

 

There is a charge of £5 per car for non members.

  

Information for families

 

There are lots of exciting activities for families to do during the school holidays. Call the visitor centre on 01485 210779 to find out what is happening today.

  

Information for dog owners

 

Dogs are only permitted on the west bank path, which is a public right of way. They must be kept on a lead and under close control.

  

For more information

Contact us

Tel: 01485 210779

E-mail:

titchwell@rspb.org.uk

  

Star species

 

Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.

 

Marsh harrier

 

Look for marsh harriers gliding over the reedbed with their wings held upwards in a shallow 'v'. In spring, pairs perform their breathtaking 'skydancing' displays high in the sky.

  

Bittern

 

Keep your eyes peeled for bitterns making short, low flights over the freshwater reedbed. You may be lucky enough to find one fishing on the edge of a channel. In late winter and spring, listen out for the mating call: a deep, resonant 'boom'.

  

Bearded tit

 

You will often hear bearded tits before you see them. Listen for their bell-like 'pinging' calls, then watch them whizzing across the tops of the reeds. They perch up on the stems in calm weather and feed on fallen seeds on the mud at the base of the reeds.

  

Avocet

 

Watch elegant avocets 'scooping up' microscopic, aquatic life in their amazing, sickle shaped beaks. They nest in mini colonies on the islands of the brackish marsh.

  

Redshank

 

You can see redshanks wading in fresh and salt water throughout the year at Titchwell. Watch for their towering display flights over the saltmarsh as you walk along the main path in spring.

  

Seasonal highlights

  

Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.

  

Spring

 

This is one of the most exciting times of the year. The first spring migrants, such as swallows and sand martins, can be seen over the lagoons with wheatears along the beach. In April and May, the lagoons can be full of migrating waders, including ruffs, black tailed godwits, spotted redshanks and dunlins. Marsh harriers can be seen performing their 'sky dancing' display and the reedbeds are alive with singing reed and sedge warblers. If you are lucky, you may also hear the 'booming' of the bittern, which has recently returned to breed at Titchwell.

  

Summer

 

Mid-summer is the quietest time for birds but the best for some of the more elusive reserve species. It is possible to see the rare water vole on the pools around the meadow trail and, if the conditions are suitable, up to ten species of dragonfly and damselfly. By mid-July, the breeding marsh harriers will have flying young and up to 15 birds have been seen in a day. In these quiet months, the reserve staff carry out essential management work on the lagoons. While every effort is made to avoid disturbance, it may sometimes be encountered during a visit.

  

Autumn

 

Autumn is the time for waders when, with luck, over 20 species could be seen around the reserve. Species such as curlew sandpiper, little stint and black-tailed godwit stop on the lagoons to feed on their return migration from their Arctic breeding grounds to their African wintering grounds. With the high spring tides, large numbers of waders can often be seen roosting on the lagoons. September is one of the best months to view bearded tits. The young gather in small flocks and can show very well feeding on seeds blown onto the mud near the Island Hide.

  

Winter

 

Winter is the time for wildfowl at Titchwell. Large numbers of ducks and geese winter in North Norfolk and most of these species can be seen on the lagoons. The commonest species are teal, wigeon, mallard, gadwall and shoveler, with smaller numbers of pintails and goldeneyes. Offshore from the reserve, large 'rafts' of common scoters, long tailed ducks and eiders can be seen. In the evenings, thousands of pink-footed geese can be seen flying to their roost sites along the coast. Hen harriers, marsh harriers and occasionally barn owls can be seen over the reedbed at dusk. In the evenings, thousands of pink-footed geese may be seen flying to their roost sites along the coast.

  

Facilities

 

Visitor centre

 

Information centre

 

Car park

 

Toilets

 

Disabled toilets

 

Picnic area

 

Binocular hire

 

Group bookings accepted

 

Guided walks available

 

Good for walking

 

Pushchair friendly

 

Viewing points

 

The viewing platform on the edge of the dunes is an excellent spot from which to watch an array of waders on the beach and fishing terns, migrating skuas and wintering sea ducks, divers and grebes at sea.

 

Island Hide gives views over the bird-filled freshwater marsh and along the edge of the freshwater reedbed where you can watch bearded tits and water rails feeding.

 

We now have a new Parrinder Hide as part of this project.

 

Fen hide overlooks the freshwater reedbed and is the perfect spot from which to see bitterns, bearded tits and marsh harriers.

  

Nature trails

  

There are three trails on the reserve and all are accessible to wheelchairs/pushchairs.

 

The main path is approximately 1 km long and runs from the visitor centre to the beach.

 

The Fen Trail was extended in September 2012, along with the East Trail and Autumn Trail. To the end of the East Trail is 700 m and to the end of the Autumn Trail is 1.2 km.

 

Please note that the Autumn trail is only open between 1 August to 31 October to avoid disturbing the marsh harrier roost.

 

Coming back from these trails you can rejoin the main path via the Meadow Trail, which is 100 m long.

 

Sorry, dogs are only allowed on the main path (a public right of way).

  

Tearoom

  

We have a servery and inside eating area selling a selection of hot and cold food and drinks, as well as snacks and locally-made cakes.

  

Refreshments available

 

Hot drinks

Cold drinks

Hot meals

Cold meals

Snacks

Shop

 

There is a large selection of optics and books, plus daily optics demonstrations.

 

The shop stocks:

 

Binoculars and telescopes

Books

Bird food

Bird feeders

Outdoor clothing

Gifts

  

Accessibility

 

10 September 2014

 

This is a Summary Access Statement. A full access statement is available to download from this page.

  

Before you visit

  

Entry to the reserve and the hides is free. Parking charges apply for non-members. Free parking for carer or essential companion with disabled visitor

 

The visitor centre and shop are open daily from 9.30 am to 5 pm (November to February closes at 4 pm) except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The cafe is open daily from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm (November to February closes 4 pm) except Christmas Day and Boxing Day

 

Registered Assistance Dogs welcome. Other dogs are only permitted on the west bank path, which is a public right of way. They must be kept on a lead and under close control

 

Two pushed wheelchairs for hire free of charge

 

Check accessibility for events and activities.

  

How to get here

 

King's Lynn Railway Station is 22 miles (35 km away)

 

Bus stop outside the reserve.

 

Car parking

 

Eight Blue Badge spaces 130 metres from visitor centre entrance

120 spaces and a short walk along a gravel path from the visitor centre

 

Surface is bonded gravel

 

No lighting

 

No formal drop off point

 

No height restriction

  

Visitor centre and shop

 

Entry by double doors and a shallow slope. There is an entrance at the front and back to the visitor centre - both have shallow slopes. The entrance doors are manual, outward-opening light doors without a threshold.

 

Level, tiled floor throughout. No seating. Good lighting. Magnifying glasses, pens and paper available. Binoculars hire. Small children’s binoculars free hire. Information displayed in clear print format. Staff available to assist. Shop is in the visitor centre. Level throughout. Some tall or deep displays. Staff available to assist.

  

Nature trails

 

Three signposted trails. Mostly flat, boardwalks and rolled sand and gravel surface. A short, steep slope over the sea defence bank near the beach.

  

Viewing facilities

 

Four hides. Ramp or slope access with a mix of large windows or solid wood viewing slots which require opening - can be difficult as they are stiff. The new Parrinder Hides are spacious modern and all level throughout.

  

Toilets and baby changing facilities

 

A unisex accessible toilet in the main toilet block near car park 200 metres from the visitor centre.

  

Catering

 

Café serving hot and cold food and drinks, snacks and locally-made cakes. Step-free entry. Level throughout. Non-slip flooring. Colour-contrasted crockery. Staff available to assist. Nearest accessible toilet is 200 m from café in the car park.

  

Picnic area

 

Two picnic areas, five tables and one bench outside the visitor centre one bench with all tables having wheelchair spaces. 60m from the visitor centre toward the car park is a second picnic area with four benches and three tables with space for wheelchair access. Visitors are welcome to consume their own food and drink here.

  

Education facilities

 

No dedicated provision

 

Help us improve accessibility by sending feedback to the Site Manager.

 

For more information

Titchwell Marsh Visitor Centre

E-mail: titchwell@rspb.org.uk

Telephone:01485 210779

  

Cafe

 

The 'feeding station' is warm and friendly with a reasonably-priced menu. We serve a wide selection of hot and cold snacks and light lunches. Takeaway drinks and food also available. Freshly-baked home-made scones daily. Locally-made ice-creams.

 

We serve our own exclusive coffee that is grown, imported and roasted by us. It's Fairtrade, organic and certified bird-friendly by the Smithsonian Institute, so now you can help save nature simply by enjoying a great cup of coffee!

  

Opening hours

 

10 am to 4.30 pm (we close at 4 pm from November to February)

  

Highlights from our menu

 

A selection of cold, filled wraps

Freshly-made sandwiches

Our famous bacon baps

Home-made cheese and fruit scones

Carrot and walnut cake, made by our local bakers, Krusty Loaf

  

Access to the cafe

 

Our cafe is on the ground floor - no stairs and easy access for wheelchairs.

  

Children welcome

 

We have two highchairs available. Children’s corner selection on the menu.

  

We use local ingredients

 

We sell locally-made Norfolk ice-creams. We use Fair Trade products where possible.

  

Dietary requirements

 

There are vegetarian, vegan, wheat-free and gluten-free options.

  

How to get here

 

By bicycle (Sustrans cycle route)

National route number 1 is within two miles of the reserve.

 

By train

 

King's Lynn - 22 miles.

 

By bus

 

On the main road outside the reserve.

 

By road

 

Take the first left after driving eastwards along the A149 through Thornham village. The reserve is signposted with a brown tourist sign.

  

Archaeology and history

  

Titchwell Marsh is a wonderful place for wildlife today but there is fascinating story to tell about how the landscape has evolved. Visitors can see remains that illustrate the two major events that have shaped the landscape - sea level rise after the last ice age and military use during the Second World War.

 

The advance of the sea

It wasn't always open marsh at Titchwell - there was a time more than 9,000 years ago when this area was covered in forest and was part of coastal plain that stretched out into what is now the North Sea.

 

Flint artefacts from this Mesolithic era have been found on the reserve, evidence that people were hunting and gathering, probably following animal herds for long distances. It has been suggested that at this time they could have walked as far as Denmark whilst staying on dry land!

 

A wetter climate led to the formation of peat, causing the trees to fall and be preserved in the wetland deposits. Gradual sea level rises throughout this post-glacial period then inundated and preserved the peat beds. Today the remains of the trees and peat beds can be seen eroding on the coastal foreshore at low tide.

 

Once the sea level rose, the coastal plains were inundated and by the Late Bronze Age, around 3,000 years ago, sea levels would have been much the same as today. Archaeologists have found evidence that people were living on the edge of the wetland at this time so there must already have been a settled community here - it would have been a good location to farm the dry land and exploit wetlands for fishing and fowling.

 

Today the challenges of climate change mean we expect more coastal inundation and our engineering works will ensure the preservation of important wildlife and cultural heritage for the future.

  

The Second World War

 

These wetland and intertidal areas would have been exploited by human communities for millennia for hunting and farming, but it is the 20th century that has seen the biggest changes at Titchwell and left an indelible mark on the reserve that can be seen during your visit.

 

During the Second World War, the quiet marshes were turned into a firing range

During the Second World War, the quiet marshes were turned into an Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) firing range and the coast was reinforced against invasion. Part of these defences would have included a reversal of drainage and encouraging flooding as a defence against invasion - helping to re-establish wetland biodiversity.

 

The main banks, including the Parrinder bank were constructed for firing practice, with targets set at 1,000 yard intervals. Today these banks ensure that freshwater wildlife can be protected from inundation by saltwater. Rare breeding species such as the bittern, bearded tit and marsh harrier rely on freshwater reedbeds for there continued existence in the UK.

 

The remains of a 'firing loop' where tanks drove up to fire at the targets is still preserved as well as pillboxes where machine gun practice was also taking place. Many of the islands in the marsh were built to house 'pop-up' targets for gunnery practice and today these are important for breeding and roosting birds.

 

Occasionally the remains of two Covenanter tanks can be seen at low tide on the foreshore, their appearance depending on the shifting sands. These two were probably used for target practice.

 

More information about these heritage sites can be obtained from reserve staff during your visit.

 

Metal detecting and the collection and removal of objects from the reserve is not permitted.

  

Our work here

  

Titchwell Marsh is specially protected as part of the North Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural beauty.

 

The RSPB has helped create a mosaic of wetland and coastal habitats on the reserve in order to attract a diversity of bird species. These include nationally important numbers of avocets, bearded tits, marsh harriers and bitterns, and internationally important populations of wintering waders.

 

We are working to keep these habitats in good condition, and also to provide a key visitor attraction and a good example of our management practices.

  

Reedbed success

 

Our freshwater reedbed is important for threatened wildlife such as bitterns, bearded tits, marsh harriers and water voles.

 

In 2005 our three-year project to rehabilitate the reedbed for bitterns proved successful when the first pair bred on the reserve for 18 years.

  

Living lagoons

 

We are managing the freshwater lagoon and its islands for the benefit of breeding and wintering waders and wildfowl, among other wildlife.

 

We are also managing the brackish marsh as a saline lagoon. This provides suitable breeding conditions for avocets, as well as feeding grounds for other waders and wildfowl.

  

Natural habitats

 

We are allowing natural processes to maintain other coastal habitats, including saltmarsh, shingle and sand dunes. This provides habitat for a variety of birds, including wintering brent geese and wigeon, breeding little terns and redshanks, and high tide wader roosts.

 

We are also managing woodland and grassland areas around the reserve for their wildlife.

  

Rising tide

 

The coastline at Titchwell is eroding and we know that the site is becoming more vulnerable to damage caused by surge tides and storms. The RSPB is working to ensure the freshwater habitats are protected and will continue to support species such as the bittern and bearded tit.

 

We are examining options for flood defences at the seaward end of the reserve and will provide further information as soon as it becomes available.

  

Reaching people

 

Titchwell is one of the most-visited RSPB reserves. We will continue to maintain and improve our facilities. We will also use the reserve to demonstrate our management practices, and will continue to develop our positive relationships with key audiences and local communities.

  

Coastal Change Project

  

Titchwell Marsh is an exceptional nature reserve in a special area. It is part of a network of outstanding wildlife sites across Europe called Natura 2000.

 

The nature reserve has been under threat from the effects of coastal change, the impact of sea level rise and increasing storm events. The Titchwell Coastal Change Project was designed to save the reserve from the effect of these coastal changes.

 

We are pleased to say we have now successfully completed the project.

 

We have realigned the sea defences to the north and reinforced the sea banks around parts of the reserve to the west and east. The future of the reserve and its wildlife is assured for at least the next fifty years.

 

We could not have achieved this without support and funding received from the EU Life+ Nature Fund, WREN, The SITA Trust, Marine Communities Fund, and the many individuals and RSPB supporters who donated and enabled this project to take place.

 

The project took several years to plan and three years to deliver. A summary of what has been achieved appears below:

 

A new northern sea defence was built along the line of the Parrinder wall. The completed Parrinder wall will protect the reserve’s freshwater habitats to the south

The sea wall and west bank path were re-built and improved from the visitor centre northwards to the Parrinder wall. This sea wall will protect the freshwater habitats for years to come

Improvements were made to the freshwater marsh islands and reed bed to benefit nesting birds such as avocet and bittern

The fabulous new Parrinder hides opened in December 2010

A breach was made in the east bank to the north of the new Parrinder wall. This has allowed saltwater on to the brackish marsh which will change over time into tidal saltmarsh. The new saltmarsh will in turn protect the new Parrinder wall. This new marsh will be known as Volunteer Marsh

A section of the south-east corner of the east bank was improved, enabling it to better protect the freshwater habitats which lie to the west

The sluice on the east bank, which lets freshwater off the marsh, was replaced. This will enable us to control water levels on the freshwater marsh more effectively than we can at present

A new reedbed area was shaped and formed in the grazing meadow east of Fen hide

Two new trails were developed to the east of Fen hide. These trails will open in 2012.

The project has protected and improved the conservation value of the reserve and has ensured that it will remain one of the most outstanding and valuable wildlife sites in Europe.

 

Igo / Accessible Transport Group YJ66AOA Optare Solo M890SR based at their Birmingham South depot in Tay Road, Frankley. Originally new to Igo / Accessible Transport Group in early 2017 it was part of a batch of 4 for the then newly won 208 Dudley - Merry Hill contract. It is seen having just arrived outside Dudley bus station with a 208 from Merry Hill. The Accessible Transport Group also known as Igo sadly entered administration on Friday 22nd March 2019. The buses have since been returned to the leasing companies.

I believe this is an Agave chrysantha - golden-flowered century plant - blooming at Kartchner Caverns State Park. Any correction will be appreciated. I was here to take advantage of the one day a month Kartchner Caverns allows photographs.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave_chrysantha

Agave chrysantha, the golden-flowered century plant, is a plant species endemic to Arizona. The species is distinguished by its bright yellow flowers, born on a flowering stalk up to 7 m (21 feet) tall.[3][4]

 

azstateparks.com/Kartchner

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartchner_Caverns_State_Park

Kartchner Caverns State Park is a state park of Arizona, United States, featuring a show cave with 2.4 miles (3.9 km) of passages.[1] The park is located 9 miles (14 km) south of the town of Benson and west of the north-flowing San Pedro River. Long hidden from view, the caverns were discovered in 1974 by local cavers, assisted by state biologist Erick Campbell who helped in its preservation.

The park encompasses most of a down-dropped block of Palaeozoic rocks on the east flank of the Whetstone Mountains.

The caverns are carved out of limestone and filled with spectacular speleothems which have been growing for 50,000Â years or longer, and are still growing. Careful and technical cave state park development and maintenance, initially established by founder Dr. Bruce Randall "Randy" Tufts, geologist, were designed to protect and preserve the cave system throughout the park's development, and for perpetuity.[3]

 

The two major features of the caverns accessible to the public are the Throne Room and the Big Room. The Throne Room contains one of the world's longest (21 ft 2 in (6.45 m))[5] soda straw stalactites and a 58-foot (18 m) high column called Kubla Khan, after the poem. The Big Room contains the world's most extensive formation of brushite moonmilk. Big Room cave tours are closed during the summer for several months (April 15 to October 15) each year because it is a nursery roost for cave bats, however the Throne Room tours remain open year-round.[8]

 

Other features publicly accessible within the caverns include Mud Flats, Rotunda Room, Strawberry Room, and Cul-de-sac Passage. Approximately 60% of the cave system is not open to the public.[9]

 

Many different cave formations can be found within the caves and the surrounding park. These include cave bacon, helictites, soda straws, stalactites, stalagmites and others.[12] Cave formations like the stalactites and stalagmites grow approximately a 16th of an inch every 100 years.[13]

 

Haiku thoughts:

Beneath earth's cool veil,

Stalactites in silence grow,

Whispers of stone deep.

 

Southern Arizona Adventure 2025

Kartchner 2025

"The Middlesex County Court House is a historic building and a National Historic Site of Canada in London, Ontario, Canada. The courthouse building is an "early example of the Gothic Revival style, pre-dating the earliest important Gothic Revival public building in England".

 

The building at 399 Ridout Street North, commonly known as Middlesex County Court House, is situated south of Dundas Street, and north of King Street in the County of Middlesex in the City of London. The three-story parged brick building has castle-like features and Gothic details. The courthouse displays a classical compositional form with a central pavilion and two side wings in the form of prominent octagonal towers at each corner. The courthouse features a stone foundation housing the cell blocks, squared mortar-covered brick walls to give a stone-like appearance, octagonal towers, a polygonal bay, tall lancet windows, secondary square windows and distinctive crenelations.

 

The building was designed in the Gothic Revival style by Toronto architect John Ewart, and constructed from 1827 to 1829. The building, which included the court, jail and police office administrative offices, was constructed from locally quarried stone.

 

In 1955, it was designated a National Historic Site because

 

[I]t is a very early example of the Gothic Revival style, pre-dating the earliest important Gothic Revival public building in England, the Houses of Parliament.

 

The exterior of the building and the scenic qualities of the landscape, are protected by an Ontario Heritage Trust conservation easement. The building is also designated under Part 4 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

 

London is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River and North Thames River, approximately 200 km (120 mi) from both Toronto and Detroit; and about 230 km (140 mi) from Buffalo, New York. The city of London is politically separate from Middlesex County, though it remains the county seat.

 

London and the Thames were named after the English city and river in 1793 by John Graves Simcoe, who proposed the site for the capital city of Upper Canada. The first European settlement was between 1801 and 1804 by Peter Hagerman. The village was founded in 1826 and incorporated in 1855. Since then, London has grown to be the largest southwestern Ontario municipality and Canada's 11th largest metropolitan area, having annexed many of the smaller communities that surround it.

 

London is a regional centre of healthcare and education, being home to the University of Western Ontario (which brands itself "Western University"), Fanshawe College, and three major hospitals: Victoria Hospital, University Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital. The city hosts a number of musical and artistic exhibits and festivals, which contribute to its tourism industry, but its economic activity is centered on education, medical research, manufacturing, financial services, and information technology. London's university and hospitals are among its top ten employers. London lies at the junction of Highways 401 and 402, connecting it to Toronto, Windsor, and Sarnia. These highways also make the Detroit-Windsor, Port Huron-Sarnia, and Niagara Falls border crossings with the United States easily accessible. The city also has railway stations and bus stations and is home to the London International Airport." - info from Wikipedia.

 

Late June to early July, 2024 I did my 4th major cycling tour. I cycled from Ottawa to London, Ontario on a convoluted route that passed by Niagara Falls. During this journey I cycled 1,876.26 km and took 21,413 photos. As with my other tours a major focus was old architecture.

 

Find me on Instagram.

Potsdam, Villenkolonie Neubabelsberg: - Following this trail next to the "Truman Villa", one gets to one of the few sites were the Griebnitzssee shore is accessible

 

Neubabelsberg ist eine nach der Gründung des Deutschen Kaiserreiches entstandene und seit 1939 zu Potsdam gehörende Villenkolonie. Sie erstreckt sich vom S-Bahnhof Griebnitzsee entlang des Griebnitzsees bis an den ehemals kaiserlichen Garten Park Babelsberg mit dem darin befindlichen Schloss Babelsberg. Die Societät Neubabelsberg der Architekten Hermann Ende und Wilhelm Böckmann schuf ab 1871 zwischen der heutigen Rudolf-Breitscheid-Straße und dem Park Babelsberg ein neues Siedlungsgebiet wohlhabender Potsdamer und Berliner. Das Gebiet wurde in 176 Parzellen aufgeteilt, von denen die teuersten Wasserparzellen 20–25 m breit und 80–110 m tief waren. Als Ausgleich waren die landseitigen Grundstücke 40 m breit und 90 m tief. In der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus wurden viele jüdische Neubabelsberger zur Emigration genötigt, ermordet oder auf anderem Wege in den Tod getrieben. Die durch Emigration frei gewordenen Häuser wurden unter Wert verkauft oder von nationalsozialistischen Organisationen genutzt. Auch viele bekannte Filmstars zogen in die Villen. Andererseits wurde in der Villa der Familie von Tresckow 1944 vom Kreis um Henning von Tresckow und Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg die Bombe für das Attentat auf Adolf Hitler gebaut.

Während der Potsdamer Konferenz im Schloss Cecilienhof 1945 wohnten in Neubabelsberg die Verhandlungsführer Winston Churchill, Josef Stalin und Harry Truman. Die Villen, in denen die drei Staatsmänner zu dieser Zeit wohnten, sind noch heute nach ihnen benannt.

Mit dem Bau der Berliner Mauer im Jahr 1961 wurde Neubabelsberg vom Griebnitzsee durch Grenzanlagen am Ufer abgeschnitten. Der Bahnhof Griebnitzsee wurde zu einem stark abgeschirmten Grenzbahnhof.

Nach Gründung der DEFA wurden – von 1954 bis teilweise ins Jahr 2000 – einige Villen in Neubabelsberg von der heutigen Filmuniversität , bevor diese ihren Neubau in der Medienstadt Babelsberg neben den

Filmstudios erhielt.

Die Stadt Potsdam hatte eigentlich geplant, den früheren Postenweg der DDR-Grenztruppen entlang des Griebnitzsees als öffentlichen Wanderweg zu erhalten. Aber, vielleicht auch wegen noch mangelnder Erfahrung mit den Rechtsnormen der Bundesrepublik, hatte das Stadtparlament versäumt, einen entsprechenden rechtsverbindlichen Beschluss zu schaffen. Und so war bei der Rückübertragung der Grundstücke an die ursprünglichen Eigentümer bzw. deren Nachkommen auch der Uferstreifen mit zurückgegeben worden. Nur wenige Eigentümer haben seither der Stadt den Uferstreifen zur Verfügung gestellt, sodass ein durchgehender Wanderweg nicht angelegt werden konnte, es gibt nur wenige Stellen, wo man punktuell zum Ufer hinuntergelangen kann.

 

Quelle für die Informationen: Wikipedia

 

Neubabelsberg is a villa colony that came into being after the founding of the German Empire in 1871 and has belonged to Potsdam since 1939. It stretches from the Griebnitzsee suburban train station along Lake Griebnitzsee to the former imperial garden of Babelsberg Park with its Babelsberg Palace. The Societät Neubabelsberg of the architects Hermann Ende and Wilhelm Böckmann created a new residential area for wealthy Potsdamers and Berliners from 1871 onwards. The area was divided into 176 plots, of which the most expensive waterfront plots were 20-25 m wide and 80-110 m deep. To compensate, the landward plots were 40 m wide and 90 m deep. During the Nazi era, many Jewish Neubabelsbergers were forced to emigrate, murdered or otherwise driven to their deaths. The houses freed up by emigration were sold below value or used by Nazi organisations. Many famous film stars also moved into the villas. On the other hand, the bomb for the assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler was built in the villa of the von Tresckow family in 1944 by the circle around Henning von Tresckow and Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg.

During the Potsdam Conference in Cecilienhof Palace in 1945, the negotiators Winston Churchill, Josef Stalin and Harry Truman lived in Neubabelsberg. The villas in which the three statesmen lived at that time are still named after them today.

When the Berlin Wall was built in 1961, Neubabelsberg was cut off from Griebnitzsee by border fortifications on the shore. Griebnitzsee station became a heavily screened border station.

After DEFA was founded, several villas in Neubabelsberg were used by today's Film University "Konrad Wolf" from 1954 until 2000, before it moved to a new building in the Babelsberg Media City next to the film studios.

The city of Potsdam had actually planned to preserve the former post path of the GDR border troops along Lake Griebnitzsee as a public hiking trail. But, perhaps also due to a lack of experience with the legal norms of the Federal Republic, the city parliament had failed to create a legally binding resolution to this effect. And so, when the land was transferred back to the original owners or their descendants, the riparian strip was also returned. Since then, only a few owners have made the riparian strip available to the city, so that a continuous hiking trail could not be created; there are only a few places where one can get down to the shore at certain points.

 

Source of the information: Wikipedia

  

Wth 47854 bowling along up front we run alongside the superb Loch Treig on the return SRPS West Highlander to North Berwick. I doubt this area is very accessible to road transport.

I shot a few Smith Lake shots and other details. I liked the tones found in the bold, saturated reflections of the pond here on this detail shot. Autumn here in the high country was encountering it's year-end struggle at Smith Lake. We mounted yet another foray into the high country on that day past. The entire pond could be waded (watch for suckage) but the reflection tends to toll fall's done near the Great Divide. Here is just where Sasquatch prefers to surrender to his daily lavings when any day is like this, mellow and salubrious. Phil and I spotted his latent ripples and were sniffing the perfume and surrendering to this copse of pond, pine and aspen, avoiding the Sasquatch perfume, from the camp at the fire ring, up the trail to Smith Lake on the Taylor Mountain Road where we squeezed off the rough road to park. The one thing we didn't encounter was Sasquatch himself. Cripes, the Phil won't shut his yap! We had traveled the Peak to Peak Highway north toward Allenspark and turned right onto Taylor Mountain Road. Here, east of Allenspark and west of Taylor Road, we found semi-flat rocks for perches by the oft-used fire ring. You may want to camp here but beware of the Sasquatch family. It's wise to bring a large supply of M&Ms for them should you want to garner them as friends. Heck, they could carry you back to your car should you twist your ankle. The wagon road through the autumn aspen, over here is nearly apparent but yet requires a degree of imagination.

 

In the old days, a lot of timber was cleared for housing, fences and fuel but we could not confirm much had been removed around here even though there was the trace road over here. There would have been a lot more timber in a lot more accessible areas close to housing. You should be able to see a trace of road west from Taylor Road on Google maps. Taylor Road is an access to wonderful high country treks to more magnificent higher country views. We are paralleling the Rocky Mountain National Park off to the west. Atop Taylor, one should be able to spot climbers in colorful jackets on their final leg up the south pitch of Long Peak. Sometimes climbers founder on the big notch between Meeker and Longs. I was up Longs Peak but didn't forget anything I have to go retrieve. Whew!

 

We traveled the Peak to Peak Highway north toward Allenspark and turned right onto Taylor Mountain Road. Here, east of Allenspark and west of Taylor Road, we found semi-flat rocks for perches by the oft-used fire ring at the pond. The wagon road through the autumn aspen, over to here is nearly apparent and yet skimpy. Egad, what a spot to get resouled.

 

Rocks were scattered around the spot and probably propped up the Smith lake terrain. Great views abound everywhere along the trek and especially from the camp fire ring, the spot of my accidental pano. Taylor Road is an access to wonderful treks in the high country to magnificent views of much higher country. We are paralleling the Rocky Mountain National Park and Indian Peaks Wilderness Area off to the west. Atop Taylor, one should be able to spot climbers in colorful jackets on their final leg up the south pitch of Longs Peak. Sometimes climbers founder on the big notch between Meeker and Longs and on the ledge traverse around the back of Longs. A fellow recently slipped on ice and met his master there in the last week. That particular master skipped a full level of logic.

  

  

www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/r/rainhammarshes/index.aspx

  

www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/r/rainhammarshes/about.aspx

  

One of very few ancient landscapes remaining in London, these medieval marshes right next to the River Thames were closed to the public for over 100 years and used as a military firing range.

 

We managed to acquire the site in 2000 and set about transforming it into an important place for nature and a great place for people to visit. Now you can expect to see breeding wading birds in spring and summer, and large flocks of wild ducks in winter.

 

Birds of prey and rare birds are regularly seen too. There are also water voles in the ditches and rare dragonflies flit across the boardwalks.

 

There is an innovative visitor centre, with huge picture-windows that look out across the marshes. It is full of environmentally friendly features and already boasts a handful of prestigious architectural awards.

 

There is also a shop and café and a new wildlife garden and children's adventure play area too. A full events programme offers something for everyone, and while we still have several years to go to finish all the visitor features out on the reserve, it is already an incredible transformation. Boardwalks throughout the reserve give access for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

  

Opening times

 

From 1 November to 31 January, we're open from 9.30 am - 4.30 pm. From 1 February to 31 October, it's 9.30 am - 5 pm. We're closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

  

Entrance charges

 

Car park: voluntary £1 donation. Reserve: Free to RSPB members and residents of Havering and Thurrock. Non-members: £3 adult, £1.50 child, £9 family (two adults and up to four children). There are extra costs for some events - please check when you book.

  

If you are new to birdwatching...

 

Birds are easy to see year round. The reserve runs a number of regular events for birdwatchers throughout the year, from novice to expert, including weekly Wednesday guided birding walk with Howard Vaughan, dawn chorus walks, winter spectacle birding event, a new birdwatching club for children, February's flock bird event and spring walks. There are also designated open days and weekends. Please see the events pages for further information.

  

Information for families

 

There is an evolving events and walks programme specially designed for families, with activities for all. All the reserve's paths and boardwalks are family and wheelchair friendly. There are also Adventure and Toddler's Playgrounds.

  

Information for dog owners

 

No dogs allowed, except registered assistance dogs. However, dogs are allowed on the Thames riverside path - a public footpath and cycleway running adjacent to the reserve.

  

Star species

 

Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.

  

Avocet

 

The delicate forms and and piping 'kluit' calls of avocets are becoming a more and more frequent site at Rainham throughout the year.

  

Lapwing

 

Lapwings from different places visit Rainham Marshes during the year. Wintering birds are replaced by breeding birds in spring and other birds that have bred further north pass through in summer and autumn.

  

Little egret

 

Little egrets can now be seen here in large numbers right throughout the year. Dispersing juvenile birds lead to a sudden rise in numbers in late summer and autumn.

  

Peregrine

 

The large concentrations of wildfowl and waders regularly attract hunting peregrines - especially in autumn and winter.

  

Ringed plover

 

These neatly banded waders can be seen performing their 'run and stop' feeding routine here.

  

Seasonal highlights

 

Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.

  

Spring

 

Wheatears, stonechats, oystercatchers, hobbies, curlews, swifts, sand martins, house martins, warblers, marsh harriers, reed buntings, water and short-tailed voles, damselflies, marsh frogs, grass snakes, water shrews.

  

Summer

 

Black-tailed godwits, whimbrels, greenshanks, snipe, little egrets, dunlins, lapwings, teals, swifts, common sandpipers, ruffs, starlings, avocets, yellow wagtails, oystercatchers, yellow-legged gulls, bank and water voles, water shrews, marsh frogs, wasp spiders, red foxes.

  

Autumn

 

Marsh harriers, arctic terns, bearded tits, thrushes, finches, skylarks, meadow pipits, jackdaws, stonechats, hen harriers, goshawks, merlins, peregrines, short-eared owls, barn owls, avocets, black-tailed godwits, white fronted geese, pintails, wigeons, crickets, butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, stoats, weasels, red foxes.

  

Winter

 

Bullfinches, ringed plovers, oystercatchers, golden plovers, water and rock pipits, little egrets, snipe, chiffchaffs, curlews, lapwings, dunlins, redshanks, shelducks, peregrines, kingfishers, short-eared owls, red foxes, stoats, weasels.

  

Facilities

  

Visitor centre

 

Car park

 

Toilets

 

Disabled toilets

 

Baby-changing facilities

 

Picnic area

 

Group bookings accepted

 

Guided walks available

 

Good for walking

 

Pushchair friendly

 

Viewing points

 

Currently two bird hides, family orientated Marshland Discovery Zone and several open viewing areas.

  

Nature trails

 

There are a network of nature trails currently in place, which are utilised for specific guided walks and events. There are approximately 2.5 miles plus of nature boardwalks, all designed for wheelchair and pushchair access.

  

Refreshments available

 

Hot drinks

Cold drinks

Sandwiches

Snacks

  

Shop

 

The shop stocks:

 

Binoculars and telescopes

Books

Bird food

Bird feeders

Nestboxes

Outdoor clothing

  

Educational facilities

 

The Education team offer a comprehensive and exciting array of curriculum linked field study visits for all school levels. We have Woodland, Reedbed and Marshland Discovery Zones, an Environment and Education centre, fully equipped classrooms, specific study areas, pond dipping areas and lots more. It's a safe and inspiring environment to get close to nature. A selection of lifelong learning courses on a variety of topics are run throughout the year, along with a range of children's activities, including holiday clubs. Please contact us for further details.

  

Cafe

 

Our cafe gives magnificent views not only over the ancient wildlife-filled grazing marsh, but also across Old Father Thames which flows majestically past the window. It is the perfect place to relax after exploring our nature trails or as a respite stop after the hustle and bustle of shopping nearby.

 

We serve our own exclusive coffee that is grown, imported and roasted by us. It's Fairtrade, organic and certified bird-friendly by the Smithsonian Institute, so now you can help save nature simply by enjoying a great cup of coffee!

 

Whether you are after a refreshing cuppa and a slice of our fabulous home-made cake, or a filling sandwich, panini or jacket potato, you will find something to tickle your taste buds. We look forward to seeing you soon!

  

Opening hours

 

From 1 November-31 March, we're open from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. From 1 April-31 October it's 9.30 am to 5 pm. We're closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

 

Highlights from our menu:-

 

Fabulous home-made cakes

Locally-made soup

Freshly-prepared jacket potatoes with a variety of fillings

Locally-baked pies and pasties

Made-to-order toasties, paninis and sandwiches

Lovely cafe with warming soup and fantastic cake. Yummy!

  

Access to the cafe

 

The cafe is fully wheelchair-friendly.

 

Children welcome

 

We're happy to serve smaller portions and we can also warm baby food in the microwave.

 

We use local ingredients

 

All produce is sourced locally where possible, including ham, bacon, sausages, soup and pies.

  

Dietary requirements

 

Jacket potatoes, sandwiches etc all have veggie options, as well as a veggie pastry. We have vegan meals. The soup and jacket potatoes are wheat-free; some gluten-free cakes are available.

  

Accessibility

 

8 August 2013

 

This is a Summary Access Statement. A full access statement is available to download from the webpage.

  

Before you visit

 

Clear print site leaflet available from our reserve reception

 

Free entry for RSPB members, residents of Havering and Thurrock. For other visitors admission charges apply. Carer or essential companion admitted free with disabled visitor

 

No dogs. Registered Assistance dogs only

 

Visitor Centre, car park and reserve trails are open 9.30 am to 4.30 pm from 1 November-31 March and 9.30 am to 5 pm from 1 April-31 October; closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day

 

Check accessibility for events and activities.

  

How to get here

 

Purfleet Railway Station is a 15 minute walk to reserve

 

Bus stops near the reserve entrance.

  

Car parking

 

110 spaces and seven Blue Badge spaces

 

Gates locked at 5 pm

 

Surface is loose gravel

 

No formal drop-off point

 

No height restrictions.

  

Visitor centre and shop

 

Ground floor shop, slight slope to heavy door with 10 mm lip, normally open. Assistance bell. Non-slip tiles. Reasonable lighting. Some display units tall or deep. Pen and paper available. Bird seed bins are outside the shop.

 

The visitor centre and cafe are on first floor, accessed by a long ramp left of Blue Badge parking. Entry by two sets of double heavy doors opening outwards. No threshold. NOTE JUNE 2012, power assistance is out of order so an alternative bell is provided.

 

Step-free, level access throughout and non-slip tiles. Lowered counter section. Good lighting. Pen and paper available. Binocular hire. Staff available to assist.

  

Nature trails

 

Three signposted trails, a mix of flat gravel surface paths and boardwalks. Information boards in large print. Trails start at the visitor centre across a short section of non slip grill with a short steep section. You can leave the reserve part way round and along the River Thames. Use the one way turnstile or gate (Gate key code available from reception)

  

Viewing facilities

 

Four hides on the circular walk. None on the Woodland walk. All level entry either adapted for wheelchair spaces or designed for everyone to gain the same great views. Marshland Discovery Zone has touch interpretation. Shooting Butts Hide has 14 stairs and a lift.

  

Toilets and baby changing facilities

 

Accessible toilet on ground and first floors (Baby changing in first floor)

  

Catering

 

Café on first floor. Good lighting. Non slip tile flooring. Self-service. Menus are clear print. Staff available to assist.

  

Picnic area

 

Eleven tables with wheelchair spaces, on soft and hard surfaces, level ground behind visitor centre. Alternatively, a table in the adventure playground and toddler's play area. Visitors are welcome to consume their own food and drink here.

  

Education facilities

 

Education team offer a wide and exciting array of curriculum linked field study visits at our Environment and Education centre, fully equipped classrooms, specific study areas, pond dipping areas.

 

Help us improve accessibility by sending feedback to the Site Manager.

  

For more information

 

Rainham Marshes

E-mail: rainham.marshes@rspb.org.uk

Telephone:01708 899840

RM19 1SZ

  

How to get here

  

By train

The nearest railway station to this reserve is Purfleet. Purfleet train station is on the C2C line from Fenchurch Street. The reserve is a 15 minute walk from the station following the brown pedestrian signs along the riverside path. Turn right out of the station and then join the path at the Royal Pub. Follow the Riverside path and then cross the Mardyke Bridge to the Visitor Centre.

  

By bus

The ensignbus 44 bus route which runs between Lakeside and Orsett Hospital, Grays, stops near the reserve entrance on New Tank Hill Road. This bus runs every hour and up to 30 minutes during peak periods. The service is operated by Ensignbus (01708 865656).

  

By road

The reserve is located off New Tank Hill Road (A1090) in Purfleet which is just off the A1306 between Rainham and Lakeside. This is accessible from the Aveley, Wennington and Purfleet junction off the A13 and J30/31 of the M25.

  

Cycling at Rainham Marshes

  

RSPB Rainham Marshes is just a stone's throw from London, easily accessible by public transport, on foot and by bike. Located on ancient marshland nestled beside the river Thames, it really is a special place to enjoy the great outdoors.

The reserve itself offers a leisurely amble in a superb setting with fantastic facilities such as an award-winning, eco-friendly visitor centre with cafe and shop.

 

If cycling is your thing, a brand new cycle route links the villages of Purfleet and Rainham. This runs beside the reserve, following the Thames, looping round and passing the stone barges.

 

Both on the reserve and along the riverside path, you will see a variety of interesting, sometimes rare, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians as well as bugs and beasties of all kinds. You will also be able to learn so much of the history and importance of this area.

  

Our work here

  

Rainham Marshes protects an ancient, low-lying grazing marsh in the Thames Estuary. Its complex of wet grassland and ditches, together with rank grassland and scrub, supports many breeding and wintering birds.

Wildlife also includes scarce wetland plants and insects, and a key population of the nationally declining water vole.

 

The site has a history of neglect, but the RSPB is working to restore important habitats and improve their biodiversity. This will transform a former wasteland into an important natural asset, and help raise public awareness of local conservation issues.

 

Managing the marsh

 

Birdlife on the marsh includes breeding waders, such as lapwing, redshank and snipe, as well as important numbers of wintering wildfowl, waders, finches and birds of prey.

 

We plan to enhance the habitat for these birds by creating a mosaic of unflooded tussocky grassland, flooded short grassland and semi-permanent pools. This will also benefit important plant species, such as golden dock.

 

Meanwhile we will improve the ditch system for the benefit of water voles, reptiles and amphibians, invertebrates and breeding birds.

 

Leaving well alone

 

We will leave the areas of tall rank grass and scattered scrub unmanaged in order to retain their existing conservation value. Wildlife in these habitats includes small mammals, reptiles and invertebrates, and birds such as wintering short-eared owls and breeding stonechats.

 

We will also look after sandy areas for their specialist insect life.

 

Silt lagoons

 

Lagoons on the reserves are currently used for commercial silt dredging. We will work around this in order re-create and maintain a complex of brackish lagoons and reed-swamp for important wildlife, including breeding, wintering and passage waterfowl.

 

While some lagoons will remain operational, we will manage others rotationally and keep the rest permanently open.

 

Access for all

 

We aim to make the site accessible to everyone, without impinging on the dredging operation or compromising our conservation priorities. We will develop and promote the reserve as a major visitor attraction and centre for environmental education. We aim to encourage interest in local and general conservation, and create a broader understanding of the work of the RSPB.

 

Funding

 

Current work is being funded by the EU’s Interreg IVA Two Seas Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013, Homes and Communities Agency’s Parklands Funding administered by Essex County Council, and Biffa Award and Veolia Cleanaway Havering Riverside Trust, both through the Landfill Communities Fund.

 

Thanks to help on the reserve from employees of Goldman Sachs, Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC, Earthwatch, Barclays, Royal Mail, Family Mosaic, Ipsos Media we have been able to deliver more for wildlife and people at Rainham Marshes.

The last of the sample designs for the v4 reFrame. Heavily based on the Zenithal model but with simplified parts and details to make it more accessible. This model uses the v3 leg frame as it offers better support.

Timing was everything here. Not because of the light but because this rock was on a little island off shore that was only accessible at low tide. Since large format photography is very time consuming and because you can get very engrossed in the act (so to speak) I had to keep a close eye on my surroundings to ensure dry feet on my return

This is a 2023 upload of a scanned image from my collection. Probably 95% come from slides, the remaining 5% are prints or negatives. They include my own Kodachrome slides, as well as other photographers, which are noted accordingly when the identity is known. All have been collected over the past 40+ years of shooting, exchanging, and purchasing. I was fortunate enough to trade with some of the best aircraft photographers in the world.

 

This archive was created in 2017, to place my collection in an easily accessible venue.

 

REGISTRATION : N6080

 

MFR TYPE & SERIES : DHC-4 Caribou

 

MSN : 2

 

OPERATOR : Intermountain Aviation

 

AIRCRAFT NAME (IF CARRIED):

 

AIRPORT (WHEN KNOWN) : Downsview YZD

 

DATE (WHEN KNOWN) : 23-Feb-1972

 

PHOTOGRAPHER (WHEN KNOWN) : SDB

 

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