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A local bison ranch here in Stevensville, Montana features some 60 head of bison and also provides many opportunities for me to make frequent studies of the burly beasts who, for the most part,
are rather gentle and peaceful animals. An excited bull, not getting enough respect or not given enough space, can certainly become problematic. But I generally encounter rather calm and
unthreatening animals on my photo excursions, whether at this particular ranch or at the huge National Bison Range up in Charlo, Montana.
In this case, at the Bitterroot Bison Ranch, the animals are protected by a very study range fence, protecting me as well.
Very calm and reassuring conversation on my part usually goes
a long way in partnering with these animals for some compelling photos. Along with a nice telephoto lens, of course.
The National Botanic Garden of Wales in the former grounds of Middleton Hall in the River Tywi Valley, Carmarthenshire, Wales
The gardens are both a visitor attraction and a centre for botanical research and conservation and features the world's largest single-span glasshouse.
The Middleton family from Oswestry built a mansion here in the early 17th century. In 1789 Sir William Paxton bought the estate for £40,000 to create a water park. He used his great wealth to employ some of the finest creative minds of his day, including the eminent architect Samuel Pepys Cockerell, whom he commissioned to design and build a new Middleton Hall.
Paxton created an ingenious water park. Water flowed around the estate via a system of interconnecting lakes, ponds and streams linked by a network of dams, water sluices, bridges, and cascades. Spring water was stored in elevated reservoirs that fed into a lead cistern on the mansion’s roof, allowing Paxton’s residence to enjoy piped running water and the very latest luxury, water closets.
In 1931, the mansion was completely gutted by fire, leaving only the walls standing, themselves covered in globules of molten lead from the melted roof. After this the estate fell into decline, and 20 years later the walls of the main house were pulled down. The site was then bought by Carmarthenshire County Council and leased to young farmers hoping to make their way into an agricultural career.
In 1978, interest had been captured by local walkers, who were keen to revive the splendour of what they could see around them. Setting up a fund-raising scheme, the little money raised led to the rediscovery of a number of historical features. The idea for a National Botanic Garden of Wales originated from the Welsh artist, William Wilkins, whose aunt had described to him the ruins of an elaborate water features she had discovered while walking in the local woods at Pont Felin Gat. Under the guidance of the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust, an application was made to the Millennium Commission to fund Britain’s first national botanic garden for 200 years.
Information Source:
The geology of Smith Rocks is volcanic. It is made up of layers of recent basalt flows overlaying older Clarno ash and tuff formations. Approximately 30 million years ago, a large caldera was formed when overlying rock collapsed into an underground lava chamber. This created a huge amount of rock and ash debris that filled the caldera. That material solidified into rock, becoming Smith Rock tuff. Rhyolite flows intruded along faults in the Smith Rock Tuff. A half million years ago, basalt lava flows from nearby volcanoes covered the older tuff.
More recently, the Crooked River cut its way through the layers of rock to create today's geographic features. Smith Rock itself is a 3,200-foot (980 m)-high ridge (above sea level) with a sheer cliff-face overlooking a bend in the Crooked River (elev. 2600 ft), making the cliffs about 600 feet high. Source: Wikipedia
© 2017 Skip Plitt Photography, All Rights Reserved.
This photo may not be used in any form without permission from the photographer. skipplittphotography@gmail.com
Todos los derechos reservados. Esta foto no se puede utilizar en cualquier forma sin el permiso del fotógrafo.
Features:
- Fully Independent suspension, ride-height, and drive.
- Active four-wheel steering.
- Cockpit equipped for driver and navigator.
- Loud horn for clearing out alien critters.
- Utility box for storing tools, snacks, etc.
This was a really fun build. At its heart, it is the fruit of experimenting with various bubble canopies and arches. The 8x8 size canopy ended up working nicely for a 2 minifig cockpit. Though there may have been a way to hide the hinge assembly while maintaining an opening cockpit feature, I opted for a fixed canopy (and what I believe allowed for a more stable build). The cockpit module drops out the bottom for changing interior details.
The suspension arms started out as Part 2508 (Plate, Modified 1x2 with Long Towball), but they made the vehicle obscenely wide, so I opted for Part 3731 (Plate, Modified 2x2 with Towball). The "Y" hub in the wheels is stationary and the gears and outer wheel spin. The dune-buggy-ish look wasn't intentional, that's just sorta what it evolved into.
The judge in a recent club print competition suggested some tweaks to the original version of this photo. So using the excellent new mask features of Lightroom I subdued the light areas on his shirt.
When people ask "what is black and white and red all over?" they often are referring to those old riddles about newspapers and embarrassed zebras. In the world of Lepidoptera, however, they can only mean the aptly named Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly. A striking, but common insect species of North America, the zebra swallowtail features a very distinctive bold black and white striped wing pattern highlighted by brilliant red median stripes.
In warmer climates, such as Florida and the Deep South, three broods of zebra swallowtails, scientifically described as Eurytides marcellus, are completed per year. On the northern edge of its range, however, two reproductive cycles are the norm. Adults that emerge during the spring are usually smaller, paler, and have shorter tails than later broods, and summer and autumn cohorts are progressively larger and darker. Yet, no matter what their appearance, zebra swallowtails can be distinguished from other swallowtail butterfly species in flight by their characteristic close-to-the-ground forays, very direct flight paths, and rapid wing beats.
I found this one at Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area, Osceola County, Florida.
The Heritage Museum also features a vast display of natural gold specimens acquired from modern-day prospectors who are still very active in the Sierra Foothills. Visitors to the museum can purchase a wide variety of books and educational materials, as well as artifacts and souvenirs related to the Gold Rush era.
Ironstone's Heritage Museum hosts school children from throughout California and the world, welcoming them as they visit to learn about California's early history. For more information about school tours to the Heritage Museum, phone (209) 728-1251 x47.
Ironstone Vineyards is a winery that is noted for the production of several leading US wine brands, including Obsession Wines, Leaping Horse Vineyards, Christine Andrew, Stone Valley, and Drifting. As of 2004, Ironstone has been listed as the 17th-largest winery (in terms of cases sold) in the United States. Ironstone also sells significant amounts of wine in the international markets including the United Kingdom, Canada, and 40 other countries. Ironstone has used a series of different names and bottle designs including "Kautz Ironstone Vineyards," "Ironstone Vineyards," "IronStone," and, most recently, "Ironstone 4th Generation Family Growers".
Ironstone Heritage Museum
LOTD 211
💠 Car: [SURPLUS MOTORS] Grand Ville v7.0
Features on your Grand Ville include:
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-Exhaust smoke
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This image displays a vibrant street art mural painted by the American artist Buff Monster in 2015. It features his signature style: a brightly coloured, pink-dominated landscape populated by cartoonish, melting ice cream characters.
Mural Key Details
•The Location: The piece was painted on a wall on Durham Street South in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand. The building houses the local wine merchant Vino Fino Fine Wines, visible on the storefront signage above the mural.
The Event: It was created as part of the Oi YOU! Spectrum Street Art Festival in March 2015. This festival was part of a larger post-earthquake cultural movement aimed at using street art to revitalize and bring positive energy back to the city center after the devastating 2011 Canterbury earthquakes.
Local Elements: While keeping to his universal "Melty Misfits" motif, Buff Monster added unique New Zealand themes. The main cycloptic ice cream cone character is holding a flag displaying the Silver Fern, a national symbol of New Zealand. The figure stands triumphantly on a mound of grey sludge, a playful nod to the silt and liquefaction common during the region's seismic events.
Like many large-scale festival pieces, this mural does not have an official, formalized title and is universally documented simply as "Art by Buff Monster" or "Buff Monster's Spectrum Mural".
Street artists participating in these massive post-earthquake festivals often painted freehand to add to a collective landscape rather than naming individual works. However, the scene itself depicts characters from the artist's overarching, long-running personal brand and universe known as the "Melty Misfits".
An amazing 10 to 15 Minutes at Dungeness on the afternoon of 1st November 2015.
Dungeness is a headland on the coast of Kent, England, formed largely of a shingle beach in the form of a cuspate foreland. It shelters a large area of low-lying land, Romney Marsh. Dungeness is also the name of the power station and a few other nearby buildings near the beach, and of an important ecological site at the same location.
Dungeness is one of the largest expanses of shingle in the world. It is of international conservation importance for its geomorphology, plant and invertebrate communities and birdlife. This is recognised and protected mostly through its conservation designations as a National Nature Reserve (NNR), a Special Protection Area (SPA), a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and part of the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) of Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay.
There is a remarkable variety of wildlife living at Dungeness, with over 600 different types of plant: a third of all those found in Britain. It is one of the best places in Britain to find insects such as moths, bees and beetles, and spiders; many of these are very rare, some found nowhere else in Britain.
The short-haired bumblebee, Bombus subterraneus, was last found in the UK in 1988, but has survived in New Zealand after being shipped there more than 100 years ago. It is to be reintroduced at Dungeness. It is planned that the first bees will be introduced in the spring of 2010.
The flooded gravel pits on Denge Beach, both brackish and fresh water, provide an important refuge for many migratory and coastal bird species. The RSPB has a bird sanctuary there and every year thousands of bird watchers descend on the peninsula to catch a glimpse of a rare bird from the bird observatory.
One of the most remarkable features of the site is an area known as 'the patch' or, by anglers, as 'the boil'. The waste hot water and sewage from the Dungeness nuclear power stations are pumped into the sea through two outfall pipes, enriching the biological productivity of the sea bed and attracting seabirds from miles around.
Beach fishing is popular at Dungeness, with the area being a nationally recognised cod fishing venue in the winter.
The name Dungeness derives from Old Norse nes: "headland", with the first part probably connected with the nearby Denge Marsh. Popular etymology ascribes a French origin to the toponym, giving an interpretation as "dangerous nose".
I don't have palm trees "up here" so....might as well...
And if you can't be with the one you love
It's alright
Go ahead and love the one, love the one, love the one your with
Love the one, love the one, love the one your with
C N S & Y
For many years we have been fascinated with the wonderful work on the pages of the Book of Kells but here we have the Cross of Kells with it's own wonderful work. We have been intrigued by the symbolism on paintings and sculptures in many countries and here is a fine stone Celtic cross with a great array of features. Those at the base would be a good place to start?
Morning Mary had a few minutes to spare in Dublin yesterday and called in to the NLI Photographic Archive in Temple Bar. There the exhibition "PEOPLE AND PLACES" is on display and well worth a visit!
Photographer: Robert French
Collection: Lawrence Photograph Collection
Date: Circa 1865 - 1914
NLI Ref: L_IMP_0118
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
The popular tourist attraction features shops, restaurants, a video arcade, street performances, the Aquarium of the Bay, virtual 3D rides and views of California sea lions on docks of the marina. The pier, located at the edge of the Fisherman's Wharf, opened October 4, 1978. It was our first stop after arriving in San Francisco for the evening’s dinner.
Alcatraz Island lies 1.25 miles offshore from San Francisco in San Francisco Bay. The island was developed in the mid-19th century with facilities for a lighthouse (now the oldest in operation on the West Coast), military fortification and military prison. In 1934, the island was converted into a federal prison, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. The strong currents around the island and cold water temperatures made escape nearly impossible. The prison closed in 1963.
NOTE: In May 2025, some idiot suggested reopening Alcatraz, neglecting the fact the cost of renovating and operating it would be prohibitive.
J842TSC features in this photostream earlier on delivery to its new owners. It was wrapped, but in the end it did little work and was moved on fairly quickly. It can now be found on the south coast of England near Lewes after moving through two private owners.
This cutout features a portion of an impact crater with a curious shape, perhaps owing to epochs of erosion. The rim not very sharp and we see darker materials exposed outside the crater. The interior of the crater shows rough, fretted terrain. We obtained this image to provide HiRISE coverage over existing high-resolution CRISM data. CRISM has detected mineral exposures here.
Image cutout is less than 5 km (3 mi) across and the spacecraft altitude was 251.2 km (156.1 miles). For full observation details including images with scale bars, visit the source link.
www.uahirise.org/ESP_066000_1485
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
Oribi Loop
Burchell's Zebra
Steppenzebra
Golden Gate Highlands National Park is located in Free State, South Africa, near the Lesotho border. It covers an area of 340 km2 (130 sq mi). The park's most notable features are its golden, ochre, and orange-hued, deeply eroded sandstone cliffs and outcrops, especially the Brandwag rock. Another feature of the area is the numerous caves and shelters displaying San rock paintings. Wildlife featured at the park includes mongooses, eland, zebras, and over 100 bird species. It is the Free State's only national park and is more famous for the beauty of its landscape than for its wildlife. Numerous palaeontology finds have been made in the park, including dinosaur eggs and skeletons.
Geography and climate
"Golden Gate" refers to the sandstone cliffs found on either side of the valley at the Golden Gate dam. In 1875, a farmer called J.N.R. van Reenen and his wife stopped here as they travelled to their new farm in Vuurland. He named the location "Golden Gate" when he saw the last rays of the setting sun fall on the cliffs.
In 1963, 47.92 km2 (11,840 acres) was proclaimed as a national park, specifically to preserve the scenic beauty of the area. In 1981, the park was enlarged to 62.41 km2 (15,420 acres), and in 1988, it was enlarged to 116.33 km2 (28,750 acres). In 2004, the park was announced to be joining with the neighbouring QwaQwa National Park. The amalgamation of QwaQwa National Park was completed in 2007, increasing the park's area to 340 km2 (84,000 acres).
The park is 320 km (200 mi) from Johannesburg and is close to the villages of Clarens and Kestell, in the upper regions of the Little Caledon River. The park is situated in the Rooiberge of the eastern Free State, in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains. The Caledon River forms the southern boundary of the park, as well as the border between the Free State and Lesotho. The elevation ranges from a 1,800 m (5,900 ft) plateau in the north to heights of 2,700 m (8,900 ft) in the south. The highest peak in the park (and also in the Free State) is Ribbokkop at 2,829 m (9,281 ft) above sea level.
The park is located in the eastern highveld region of South Africa and experiences a dry, sunny climate from June to August. It has showers, hail, and thunderstorms between October and April. It has thick snowfalls in the winter. The park has a relatively high rainfall of 800 mm (31 in) per year.
Vegetation
The park is an area of rich highveld and montane grassland flora. It has more than 60 grass species and a large variety of bulbs and herbs. Each of these species has its own flowering time, meaning that veld flowers can be seen throughout the summer. The park also has Afromontane forests and high-altitude Austro-Afro alpine grassland, which is scarce in South Africa. The ouhout (Leucosidea sericea), an evergreen species, is the most common tree in the park. Ouhout is a favourite habitat of beetles and 117 species occur on these trees in the park. The Lombardi poplars and weeping willows in the park are introduced species, but are kept because of their cultural and historic connection with the eastern Free State. Other exotic species in the park, for example wattle and bluegum, are systematically eradicated.
Wildlife
Instead of reintroducing one of the "big five" into the park, the sungazer lizard and water mongoose were reintroduced. Twelve species of mice, 10 species of carnivores, and 10 antelope species have been recorded in the park.[ The grey rhebok and the mountain reedbuck were present when the park was established.
Geology and palaeontology
The geology of the park provides very visual "textbook" examples of Southern Africa's geological history. The sandstone formations in the park form the upper part of the Karoo Supergroup. These formations were deposited during a period of aeolian deposition towards the end of the Triassic Period. At the time of deposition, the climate of the area the park covers was becoming progressively drier until arid desert conditions set in, resulting in a land of dunes and sandy desert, with occasional scattered oases. The deposition of the sandstones ended when lava flowed out over the desert 190 million years ago.
The following sequence of geological formations is visible in the park (starting from the bottom): the Molteno Formation, Elliott Formation, Clarens Formation, and Drakensberg Formation. The yellow-brown Golden Gate and Brandwag cliffs are made up of the Clarens formation. The layers in this formation are 140 to 160 m (460 to 520 ft) thick. The Drakensberg Formation comprises the basaltic lava that flowed over the desert. It forms the mountain summits in the park. On Ribbokkop, it is 600 m (2,000 ft) thick.[6] The Elliot Formation is a red mudstone where many dinosaur fossils have been found.
The oldest dinosaur embryos ever discovered were found in the park in 1978. The eggs were from the Triassic Period (220 to 195 million years ago) and had fossilised foetal skeletons of Massospondylus, a prosauropod dinosaur. More examples of these eggs have since been found in the park. Other fossils found in the park include those of advanced cynodontia (canine toothed animals), small thecodontia (animals with teeth set firmly in the jaw), and bird-like and crocodile-like dinosaurs.
Accommodation
Accommodation in the park is available at Glen Reenen and Brandwag Rest camps. Caravan and campsites with all amenities are available at Glen Reenen camp. The hotel was formerly part of the Brandwag camp, but since its recent refurbishment, it is managed separately by SANParks as Golden Gate Hotel. The nearest town to Golden Gate Highlands National Park is Clarens (17 km to the west), but Phuthaditjhaba is also easily reached by a good tar road, driving through the access gate to the east of the park.
Notes
This park will be included in the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area, Peace Park.
(Wikipedia)
Burchell's zebra (Equus quagga burchellii) is a southern subspecies of the plains zebra. It is named after the British explorer and naturalist William John Burchell. Common names include the bontequagga, Damaraland zebra, and Zululand zebra (Gray, 1824). Burchell's zebra is the only subspecies of zebra which may be legally farmed for human consumption.
Like most plains zebras, females and males are relatively the same size, standing 1.1 to 1.4 meters (3.75 to 4.6 feet) at the shoulder. They weigh between 485 to 550 pounds. Year-round reproduction observed in this subspecies in Etosha National Park, Namibia, concludes synchronization of a time budget between males and females, possibly explaining the lack of sexual dimorphism.
Damara zebras are described as being striped on the head, the neck, and the flanks, and sparsely down the upper segments of the limbs then fading to white. One or two shadow stripes rest between the bold, broad stripes on the haunch. This main, distinguishing characteristic sets the Zuzuland Zebra apart from the other subspecies. Gray (1824), observed a distinct dorsal line, the tail only bristly at the end, and the body distinctly white. The dorsal line is narrow and becomes gradually broader in the hinder part, distinctly margined with white on each side.
Like most plains zebras, Burchells live in small family groups. These can be either harem or bachelor groups, with harem groups consisting of one stallion and one to six mares and their most recent foals, and bachelor groups containing two to eight unattached stallions. The males in bachelor herds are often the younger or older stallions of the population, as they are most likely not experienced enough or strong enough to defend breeding rights to a group of females from challengers. These small groups often congregate together in larger herds around water and food sources, but still maintain their identity as family units while in the population gatherings.
Formerly, the Burchell's zebra range was centered north of the Vaal/Orange river system, extending northwest via southern Botswana to Etosha and the Kaokoveld, and southeast to Swaziland and KwaZulu-Natal. Now extinct in the middle portion, it survives at the northwestern and southeastern ends of the distribution.
Burchell's zebra migrates the longest distance of any terrestrial animal in Africa, traveling 160 miles one way. They migrate from the Chobe River in Namibia to Nxai Pan National Park in Botswana. Their migration follows a straight north–south route almost entirely within the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA).
Like other plains zebras, Burchell's zebras must have populated the African plains in impressive numbers. Associations of thousands have been reported. The wild herds were thought to have disappeared by 1910, and the last known captive individual died in the Berlin Zoo in 1918. As European settlement spread northward from the Cape to colonial southern Rhodesia, this subspecies was thought to have been hunted to extinction.
However, Groves and Bell concluded in their 2004 publication that "the extinct true Burchell's zebra" is a phantom. Careful study of the original zebra populations in Zululand and Swaziland, and of skins harvested on game farms in Zululand and Natal, has revealed that a certain small proportion shows similarity to what now is regarded as typical burchellii. The type localities of the two subspecies Equus quagga burchellii (Burchell's zebra) and Equus quagga antiquorum (Damaraland zebra) are so close to each other that they suggest that the two are in fact one, and therefore the older of the two names should take precedence over the younger. They therefore say that the correct name for the southernmost subspecies must be burchellii, not antiquorum.[9] The subspecies Equus quagga burchellii still exists in KwaZulu-Natal and in Etosha. Equus quagga burchellii can be found in a number of zoos in the United States including the following: the Cincinnati Zoo, Columbus Zoo, Naples Zoo, Nashville Zoo, Woodland Park Zoo, etc.
(Wikipedia)
Der Golden-Gate-Highlands-Nationalpark (englisch Golden Gate Highlands National Park) liegt in Südafrika, im Südosten des Freistaates nahe der Grenze zu Lesotho, und zeichnet sich besonders durch seine malerischen Felslandschaften aus. Orange oder ocker gefärbte Sandsteinfelsen ragen über das bergige Grasland auf. Außerdem gibt es Felsmalereien der San.
Der nördliche Eingang zum Park liegt bei dem Künstlerdorf Clarens.
Fauna und Flora
Der Nationalpark ist mehr für die Schönheit seiner Landschaft als für seine Tierwelt bekannt. Dennoch gibt es eine Vielzahl an Tierarten:
Verschiedene Säugetiere wie Weißschwanzgnus, Elenantilopen, Blessböcke, Kronenducker, Rehantilopen, Bergriedböcke, Südliche Oribi, Südafrikanische Kuhantilopen, Springböcke und Steinböckchen.
Über 100 Vogelarten darunter
Greifvögel wie
Geier: Bartgeier, Kapgeier
Adler: Malaienadler, Kampfadler
Felsenbussard
Falken: Lannerfalke, Wanderfalke, Turmfalke
Größere Vogelarten wie Schwarzstorch, Kahlkopfibis, Kapsegler und Alpensegler
Typische Vogelarten für das Hochland, insb.:
Frankoline: Grauflügelfrankolin und Rotflügelfrankolin
Schmätzer: Bergsteinschmätzer, Rotbauchschmätzer und Fahlschulterschmätzer
Steinrötel
Orangebrust-Felsenspringer
Erdspecht
Zistensänger: Zwergzistensänger, Trauerzistensänger und Langschwanz-Zistensänger
Natalhonigvogel
Nektarvögel: Malachitnektarvogel, Doppelband-Nektarvogel und Kapnektarvogel
Basutogirlitz aus der Gattung der Girlitze
Die Vegetation kann in Grasland und Wälder eingeteilt werden. Dabei ist der Golden-Gate-Highlands-Nationalpark momentan der einzige Grasland-Nationalpark in Südafrika. Im Park finden sich mehr als 60 Grasarten.
Im afromontanen Wald wird die Vegetation von Leucosidea sericea dominiert. Die Bäume werden als auch Ouhut (deutsch: Altholz) bezeichnet, aufgrund der „alten“ Erscheinung der gedrehten Stämme ausgewachsener Bäume und da das Holz wie altes, verrottetes Holz brennt.
(Wikipedia)
Das Steppenzebra (Equus quagga) oder Pferdezebra ist ein Zebra aus der Familie der Pferde (Equidae) und gehört zur Ordnung der Unpaarhufer (Perissodactyla). Es stellt heute die häufigste Zebra-Art in Afrika dar und ist vom Nordosten bis in den Süden des Kontinents verbreitet. Es lebt gesellig in kleinen Herdenverbänden und ernährt sich hauptsächlich von Gräsern. Im Gegensatz zu den anderen heutigen Pferdearten kommt es auch in teilweise geschlossenen Landschaften vor. Der Bestand, dessen größte Population heute in der Serengeti lebt, gilt als nicht gefährdet. Es werden sechs rezente Unterarten unterschieden, die sich meistens deutlich in der Streifenzeichnung voneinander abheben.
(Wikipedia)
Inspired by this fantastic technical illustration.
The Rhino is an incredibly adaptable battlefield vehicle and can be easily converted to serve in dedicated capacities as a troop transport, mobile field hospital, mobile repair works, mobile command center, or, in small enough units, as all four functions at once. The Rhino’s personnel area comfortably accommodates a medic, mechanic, and eight foot soldiers, although more may be crammed in as necessary. The forward compartment offers the commander seclusion in which the battlefield action may plotted on the chart table and orders sent via radio.
The Rhino’s size and weight are deceptive of the remarkable speed gained from its enormous engine and its pilot must be skilled to rein its great momentum as it charges around attending to the needs of battle. As the vehicle and its occupants are too valuable to be risked in assault, the armor and turret autocannons are for pure defensive reasons.
Play Features:
-Remote control operation
-Motorized dual-drive tracks
-Rotating turret geared to side wheel
-Removable roof sections
-Dependent track wheel suspension
-Opening rear ramp and side hatches
-Tool storage compartments
-Easy charging port and switch access
Music: Ground Control soundtrack
At the centre of Hull Old Town lies Holy Trinity Church. The city's main civic church and England's largest parish church by area was originally just a chapel of ease to All Saints Church in Hessle when it was begun. One of the first parts to be built, the transepts, were constructed largely out of brick, one of the earliest medieval structures to use this building material, lost since the days of the Romans. Building then continued in stages for over two hundred years, finishing with the completion of the tower in 1520. Internally, the church benefits from an abundance of light as well as a range of wonderful features from across the ages; from the 14th century marble font through to later periods such as Thomas Earle's memorial carvings, the grotesque creatures on the Victorian pew ends and up to the recent installation of a memorial stained glass to lost trawlermen. The church also houses England's largest parish church organ with around 4000 pipes.
Our area the borderland of Lancashire and Yorkshire is now described as the South Pennines. One of the most interesting features to us is the abundance of reservoirs built to supply water to the industrial towns of the North. These are still used to supply water but are now also great leisure facilities.
Perhaps the prettiest reservoir is Widdop about 5 or 6 miles from our town.
It was completed in the 1870s and covers 93 acres. There is a feeling of being in the Lake District as the reservoir is so natural.
The two nearby reservoirs are Upper and Lower Gorple (built in the 1930s) not as pretty but there is a good walk over the moors between the three reservoirs. Although if you choose to do it in winter as we did care must be taken as it is wild moorland country.
...to Shakira face features on top Mikil 21 shape, will be refined
awfully tricky to redo using limited SL sliders, testing different chocolate skins, work in progress, version 09 so far, 07 was better
~ for Dahlia ~ who is curious and deserves an answer
this is a poster advertising an RL company called KUONI, a travel agency that offers exotic destinations, sorry I was unable to find either the name of the photographer or of the model, I imagine the raw picture suffered a brutal digital enhancement, the result is just WOW I WANT
The interior features a kitchen with sink and microwave, a bathroom with toilet and shower, a staircase with built-in shelving that leads to a lofted sleeping area, and a table and chair set that folds and stows on the wall to allow access down the narrow hallway.
The $80-million, 125,000-sq-ft convention center features a bowed facade, like the hull of ship, along the lakefront and includes a 65-ft-high sky bridge spanning an inlet of the bay and connecting to a 200-room hotel.
Won the 2008 Build America Award from the Associated General Contractors of America.
Won the 2009 Aon Build America Award for best construction management.
Flame Trooper features Custom helmet and waterslide decals. A modded CAC flamethrower with removable flame.
Thanks to Apples for the NEW dark orange Arealight helmet!
I think I put it to good use.
Features: Bronzer, Freckles, Mole, Blush, Evox and Swallow Ears Compatible
AIMI SKINS EXCLUSIVE @ Planet29 Event
Event Period: JAN 29th to FEB 22th
maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Planet29/87/126/21
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Features:
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-FN EGLM
-Magpul MOE-K
-VLTOR AR Stock Adapter
-Noveske KX3
Made in PMG 0.6
Just as my SHIPs in previous years, the Vahtary VI features a lot of stuff to play with. I tried packing even more play features into it, than into the Erinye and in the end 12 features came together. Below you can find a complete list and of course you can see all of them in the video.
I hope you like it and thanks again for your support!
The music track used in the video is „Star Fleet“ by A Pocket of Scores. I think the title is very fitting.
To have a better look at the whole ship, please go over to the main photo.
EDIT: Apparently Flickr has limited my video to 3:00 minutes, though it is a bit longer. One play feature is missing now. I will try to upload it to YouTube as soon as possible., so you can see everything.
EDIT: The full video is now also on YouTube.
Chad Sprage in English class. I dont think he knew I took this. I added more light to it so you could make out the facial features.
The brief and questions I gave myself for this project were:
if I truly had to design my very own craft what would I want it to look like?
As a pilot, what kind of tech would I want to see in the cockpit?
What real life scenario could I incorporate making it a unique experience?
If I needed it repaired/ refueled, would I have the correct gear?
Could I build in real safety features?
What if I crashed in a remote place and needed to survive?
Can I challenge myself from a builders persepctive using parts that hardly ever come out to play?
Could I revisit my stickering techniques on such a small build?
My answers were:
I wanted something that visually had a very aerodynamic shape that looked like it was moving even when stationery, it had to have a unique "skin" that set it apart from any of my previous builds. Plus been a Starfighter, it had to be equipped with lots of weapons, that could shoot any enemy in any direction. If I wanted to be able to end a mission I could just inject and still tell the tale to my mates. My wishlist for this very personal project was, make it truly mine!
Over 80 hours of building and experimental phases was a challenge, only as its 16 x 35 studs and 9-in height, made it rather difficult to integrate not only the many play features but the final balance display stand. Ive truly enjoyed the Jam, guys you are all my hero`s, such a wonderful creative bunch. Thank you kindly to the organization of this great contest! Over &-Out
Play features on FXX (-number of features after the # )
·Front pronge shooters rotate 180° (left & right) #2
·Hidden frontend loading slot for missiles #2
· Squeeze side panels to release main missiles to fire (left and right) #2
·Open side panels to release the drop target bombs (left and right) #2
·Trigger the side decoy flares (left & right) #2
·Swivel hydrolysis pipe for regas when in servcie (left & Right) #2
·Fully opened bottom panels reveal computer charger panel and refuelling ports which are numbered from 1·3: 1) is jet fuel 2) is for hydrogen and 3) us for oxygen #5
·Removable engine covers on rear mechanism, access to batteries and cooling refuelling ports #2
·Removable quantum batteries #2
·Refuelling connection port for cooling #2
·Swivel side panel opens hatch (left):
Contains 9 items that can be removed and used: Hammer, spanner, ice hammer, screwdriver, GPS unit, emergency sky flare, galaxy neutral passport card, tablet and first aid kit #10
Swivel side panel opens hatch (right):
Contains 6 items whuch can be removed and used: main laser shotgun, Handheld tazer gun, a pack of Hero Bullets, camo face paint cream, 2 meters carbon rope, 1.5m bugee card hidden in the door #7
·Under carriage features frontend full foldable landing gear integrated into body#1
·Turn nob switch activates light inside cockpit to show pilot landing gear is activated (for real) #2
·Fold down panel fires a rear bomb disc #1
·Once pushed into full lock it automatically fires without the need to finger fire #1
·Swivel and folable landing rear gear #2
·Fully removable cockpit screen #1
·Wind screen holder for pilot entry and exit #1
·Pilot has own personal storage unit #1
·Datacard used to release Drone, which automatically falls from craft #2
·Drone folds open and has adjustable antennas #3
·Hidden side lazer guns can swivel up to 172° (left & right) #2
·Injectable pilot seat release #1
·Pilot has flying seat once fully activate folded for flight #1
·Fold down display stand #1
·Removable steering /-navigator tablet for pilot #1
· can come in/ out #1
A ruby-crowned kinglet is perched on a thorny branch, its feathers fluffed up against a softly focused background. The sunlight creates a gentle glow, highlighting the bird's delicate features!!!
Features 4 Ingredients: Israeli Dates, Muscovado Sugar, Eggs, & Almond Flour.
From cookbook author and Food Historian Claudia Roden.
The Lake Dunn Sculpture Trail features 40 sculptures along the way as well as the renowned Gray Rock historical site, the wonder of Horsetailer’s Gorge, the mystical Healing Circle and the glorious Lake Dunn. More sculptures are being added each year so keep your eyes out for new additions.
The Lake Dunn Sculpture Trail is a circuit starting in Aramac but is also accessible from Jericho. You can travel the loop either way and it covers a distance of approximately 200km.
Before you leave Aramac, take the time to find the giant scrap metal Red Roo that is situated at the town’s roo works.
How did the sculptures get there? Ask a local and you may be told an interesting story about a sheila with a few roos loose in the top paddock. In reality, the sculptures are the works of a local sculptor, Milynda Rogers, who did reside on a grazing property along the trail and decided she needed a platform to display her work. The result is one of the biggest, permanent, outdoor sculpture exhibitions in the world. She has combined her love of sculpture and incredible ability to turn junk into art to fulfil her wish to put a smile on the faces of the people who travel through one of the most beautiful and historical parts of Queensland.
Source: Barcaldine Regional Council.
Belgian e-card by Boomerang, no. 1022832, 2007. Photo: Cinéart / Universal / Focus Features. Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain (Ang Lee, 2005).
The career of American actor Jake Gyllenhaal (1980) has spanned more than three decades. He is the son of film director Stephen Gyllenhaal and screenwriter Naomi Foner, and the younger brother of actress Maggie Gyllenhaal. He had his breakthrough in the cult film Donnie Darko (2001). He earned praise for his performance as Jack Twist in Ang Lee's gay drama Brokeback Mountain (2005), including the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor and an Academy Award nomination. Gyllenhaal starred in various action films and thrillers, including David Fincher's Zodiac (2007) and Nightcrawler (2014).
Posthumously, Australian actor Heath Ledger (1979–2008) won an Oscar for his portrayal of the Joker as the psychopathic clown prince of crime in The Dark Knight (2008). In 2006, he was Oscar-nominated for his role as a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain (2005). In his short career, Ledger acted in 19 films and won 39 awards, including a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe.
And, please check out our blog European Film Star Postcards.
Used to travel between India and Nepal in the Himalayas and all available for hire in this Lepcha village.
Most date from the 1950s (Series 1 Land rovers) and retain original features although they have been embellished.
This photo features an architectural icon, the Miami Tower, flashing off the colors of the city’s basketball team, the Miami Heat of the NBA (National Basketball Association). On this particular night, the Heat had defeated the Milwaukee Bucks for the second night in a row at the American Airlines Arena, and the city was going crazy with excitement.
I am not a big sports buff by any means, but I always love to witness a city’s population get excited about an event. It’s that invigorating energy of the people that really makes the city sizzle with anticipation and vibrancy -- and that’s something I love to see, witness, and capture on camera if at all possible. It’s the city’s endemic energy that contributes to the personality of the city, which is always significant for me to showcase.
I almost did not take this photograph on account of having explored the city, mostly on foot, and carrying my gear all day long. I was exhausted, without a doubt. Didn’t really care about the game by the time I got back to my hotel room. I knew the Heat had won, but I didn’t think much of it. I undressed, drank some cold water, opened the curtains of the window and looked towards the city. People were out and about, still rooting for the Heat’s victory. I smiled and looked up. That’s when I saw it -- The Miami Tower lit up in red and white, acknowledging the victory of the Miami Heat for all to see, including the overexerted photographer from Seattle looking forward to a few hours of sleep before sunrise. All the previous nights, Miami Tower’s lights typically changed to different colors in a random pattern, but this night, it was red and white on purpose, and remained so.
I thought long and hard -- How often would this happen while I was still in town? If Miami loses the next game against Milwaukee, the loss would not likely be acknowledged with the team colors on the Tower. It was almost midnight. If I waited any longer, the Tower itself might switch off its lights for the night and it would still be a lost opportunity. I shook my head, got dressed again, hauled my gear, and headed to the vantage point (one of the Metromover stations) to get this shot just for documentation. Very happy I did in retrospect. It was worth it, though my feet would have disagreed vehemently.
The Miami Heat went on to become the NBA’s Eastern Conference champions for the third consecutive year. For a few minutes, I can admit I caught the “Spirit of the Heat” as well.
TIA INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY / TIA Facebook / TIA Twitter / TIA Blogger
This coffered ceiling adorns the lobby of the first floor of the Dedman Life Sciences Building. Located in the Science Quad, the building is one of the newest in Dedman College, being built in 2010, and features a variety of facilities such as laboratories, classrooms, and offices.
Il bacio is an 1859 painting by the Italian artist Francesco Hayez. It is possibly his best known work. This painting conveys the main features of Italian Romanticism and has come to represent the spirit of the Risorgimento. It was commissioned by Alfonso Maria Visconti di Saliceto, who donated it to the Pinacoteca di Brera after his death.
After the defeat of Napoleonic France in the 19th century, the Congress of Vienna was held in 1815 to redraw the map of Europe. Italy had a very marginal role compared to other European countries and was slated to be divided into several states. Every state was either ruled directly, or strongly influenced, by the Habsburgs of the Austrian Empire. That fragmentation went against the growing nationalist sentiment for Italy's unification, and caused the creation of secret societies with democratic-radical orientations, such as the Carboneria and Young Italy. Although those associations were unsuccessful, their role was fundamental in shaping public opinion.
The first war of Italian independence (1848) was a failure but, by 1859, the secret agreement between Napoleon III and Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour stipulated the formation of an anti-Austrian alliance. The contribution of France was considered crucial, because the Austrian armies were defeated by the alliance in the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia. That victory initiated the unification process, and the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed a few years later, in 1861.
It was during that period that Francesco Hayez painted The Kiss. Mindful of the bloody repression of the nationalist movement, the artist decided to disguise the ideals of conspiracy and the struggle against the invaders under a representation of past events. The use of ambiguous, opaque metaphors allowed the artist to avoid censorship by the authorities.
The first version of The Kiss was commissioned by Count Alfonso Maria Visconti of Saliceto. Hayez, who was very well known amongst Milanese patriots, was asked by the Count to depict the hopes associated with the alliance between France and the Kingdom of Sardinia.
The artwork was created in 1859 and presented at the Pinacoteca di Brera on 9 September. It was hung as a decoration in the luxurious residence of the Visconti family for more than twenty-five years. It was only in 1886, a year before his death, that the Count presented the canvas to the Pinacoteca di Brera, where it is still exhibited today, in Room XXXVII.
Although the oil version is the most famous, Hayez produced two other versions of the painting, one in oil and one watercolor. The second version was painted in 1861 for the Mylius family, and was sent to Paris to be exhibited in the Exposition Universelle in 1867. In 2008, that version was sold at Sotheby's for 780,450 pounds. The difference between the second painting and the previous one is that the woman’s dress is colored white. The third version is the only one to have been rendered in watercolor on paper. Painted in 1859, it has an oval shape, and was donated by Hayez to Carolina Zucchi. It is now exhibited at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana in Milan.
The last painting differs from the original because of the addition of a white cloth lying on the steps beside the couple, and the bright green paint used for the man's mantle.
The painting represents a couple from the Middle Ages, embracing while they kiss each other. It is among the most passionate and intense representations of a kiss in the history of Western art. The girl leans backwards, while the man bends his left leg so as to support her, simultaneously placing a foot on the step next to him as though poised to go at any moment. The couple, though at the center of the painting, are not recognizable, as Hayez wanted the action of the kissing to be at the center of the composition. In the left part of the canvas shadowy forms lurk in the corner to give an impression of conspiracy and danger.
The geometric and perspective scheme of the Kiss is set on a series of diagonals which follow the course of the steps and converge to the vanishing point, placed to the left of the two lovers. These lines represent the framework of the painting and brings the observer’s attention to the couple.
The chromatism of the painting is inherited from the Renaissance schools of the Venetian masters where Hayez conducted his first studies. The brown of the cloak and the red of the boy's tights blend harmoniously with the light blue in the dress of the girl, while the neutral shades of the background help the couple stand out. A light, coming from an external source placed to the left of the picture, hits the whole scene homogeneously: its reflections enhances the silky dress of the girl, emphasizing also the pavement and the bricks on the wall.
This painting has been regarded as a symbol of Italian Romanticism, of which it encompasses many features. On a more superficial level, the painting is the representation of a passionate kiss, which puts itself in accordance with the principles of Romanticism. Therefore, it emphasizes deep feelings rather than rational thought, and presents a reinterpretation and reevaluation of the Middle Ages in a patriotic and nostalgic tone. Some art historians also suggest that one of the political meanings that Il Bacio can carry is that a young Italian soldier, going off to fight for Italy against the Austro-Hungarian Empire, says goodbye to his love kissing her for one last time.
On a deeper level, the painting symbolizes the romantic, nationalist and patriotic ideals of the Risorgimento; this interpretation is endorsed by several iconographic elements.
The imminent farewell between the lovers is suggested by the man’s foot temporarily resting on the step and the tight grasp with which his beloved is holding him. This represents both the necessity that he must leave whilst showing the danger of being a patriot. Other elements are the dagger hidden in the mantle, a sign of the imminent rebellion against the Habsburg invader, and the date of the painting (1859), the year of the second war of independence. However the most obvious allegory in the painting is its chromatic range, which summarizes the political changes that involved Italy in the 19th century. In the Brera version, the blue of the woman's dress and the bright red of the young man's tights allude to the colors in the French flag.
Hayez intended to pay tribute to the French nation, now allied with Italy. In the three subsequent versions the allegorical-patriotic connotations became even more obvious: in the 1861 version, the dress of the girl assumed a neutral white tone, as a tribute to the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy. In the fourth version, Italy manifests itself instead in the clothes of the man, who now wears a green cloak, symbolizing the Italian national banner.
The Kiss has enjoyed extensive popularity from its exhibition onward, especially in Italy, and has been the subject of much commentary. In the 1920s the art director of Perugina, one of Italy's leading chocolate manufacturers, revised the image of the painting and created the typical blue box of the popular "Baci" chocolates with the picture of two lovers. In 1954 the great Italian director Luchino Visconti took inspiration from the painting for one of the leading scenes of his masterpiece movie, Senso.
What could cause a huge cylindrical mountain to rise from the surface of Venus? Such features that occur on Venus are known as coronas. Pictured here in the foreground is 500-kilometer wide Atete Corona found in a region of Venus known as the Galindo. The featured image was created by combining multiple radar maps of the region to form a computer-generated three-dimensional perspective. The series of dark rectangles that cross the image from top to bottom were created by the imaging procedure and are not real. The origin of massive coronas remains a topic of research although speculation holds they result from volcanism. Studying Venusian coronas help scientists better understand the inner structure of both Venus and Earth. via NASA ift.tt/2e9hMOr
atelier ying, nyc.
Features of the 1965 James Bond 007 Road Race Set, and Golferino, two rarities in the toy world, are linked closely to the plot of the Ian Fleming novel by this design.
Although not a replica of the fictional Royal St. Marks course in Sandwich, a.k.a. the real life Royal St. George course, this toy set is elevated to work more like an arcade shooting gallery, for golfers. James Bond and Auric Goldfinger play a round over a wager of a gold bullion bar. Various targets are set up on the board for a very precise, challenging game of golf. In fact, it's one of the toughest par-3 executive courses ever imagined, a collection of some of the toughest holes (and hazards) from world famous golf courses. The Royal St. George is recalled by a pot bunker on the lower left, and the famed Swilcan Bridge as the game's water feature provides the humification element for a drawer humidor underneath the game.
With a difficult 18 holes, at par 61, and variable speed greens (but no wind factor) this golfing set is completely outfitted with the most imaginative features, per the design drawing instructions.
Please also see my design no. 101 which is related to this type of golf game.
Design, concepts, text and drawing are copyright 2016 by David Lo.
Uranus has never looked better. Really.
Webb's first glimpse at this ice giant highlights bright atmospheric features, as well as 11 of the planet’s 13 rings. Only Voyager 2 and Keck (with adaptive optics) have imaged the planet's faintest rings before, and never as clearly as this.
Uranus rotates on its side, causing its poles to experience 42 years of sunlight and 42 years of darkness. (It takes 84 years to orbit the Sun.) When Voyager flew by Uranus in 1986, it was summer at its south pole. Currently, the south pole is out of view, facing the darkness of space.
Check out the polar cap (bright white area) on the right side of the image. Webb reveals a subtle enhanced brightening at its center. This polar cap appears in the direct sunlight of summer and vanishes in the fall. Webb's data will help us to understand this mystery.
This was only a 12-minute exposure image! And It's just the tip of the ice(planet)berg for what Webb will uncover. Read more: www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2023/nasa-s-webb-scores-anot...
Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, with image processing by Joseph DePasquale (STScI)
Image description: The planet Uranus is on a black background just left of center. It is colored light blue and displays a large, white patch on the right side as well as two bright spots and a surrounding system of nested rings oriented vertically. Just below the planet at the 7-o’clock position is a faint blue point labeled Puck. Brighter blue points at 8 o’clock, 5 o’clock, and 3 o’clock are labeled Ariel, Miranda, and Umbriel, respectively. Farther from the planet, two additional blue points at 7 o’clock and 5 o’clock are labeled Titania and Oberon. Faint orange smudges are scattered in the background.
Brockholes is a new kind of nature reserve, an unreserved reserve owned and managed by The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside.
There's lots to see and do at Brockholes, you can hunt out our floating Visitor Village with a restaurant, shops and Welcome Centre or explore our family-friendly hides, walking trails and play area.
At Brockholes you can explore our beautiful reserve, see the wildlife that call it ‘home’ or hunt out our Visitor Village with restaurant and shops, all of which float (yes really!) on one of our lakes.
Our floating Visitor Village features a gift shop and a restaurant providing stunning views across the lake. You can also discover our interactive Welcome Centre and learn all about the wildlife that you could see on-site. Be sure to call in to pick up a welcome leaflet that will help you plan your day. You can view the reserve map in our Welcome Leaflet here to help you plan your first visit.
2013/14 Opening Times:
4th November 2013 to 31 March 2014 10am-4pm
1st April 2014 to 31st October 2014 10am-5pm
Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day only
Car Park Charges
We don't charge for entry and any profits made here go back into looking after the reserve. So every time you pay for parking, treat yourself in the shop or enjoy some lunch, you are helping look after the reserve and the wildlife that visits us!
Sorry no dogs allowed!
There is a good reason! Dogs can disturb wildlife, especially nesting birds. If your dog was to get too close to a nesting bird it would cause the mother to leave the nest. So to avoid any accidents we ask that you don’t bring your dog. (Assistance dogs are welcome.)
Explore the reserve
Brockholes is one of the best sites in the UK for many species of bird and has one of the largest strips of ancient woodland in the county. You can take a stroll by the River Ribble, explore our woods or enjoy the lakes on site, which have all been specially designed to attract all kinds of wildlife for you to see!
Walks around Brockholes
What can I see at Brockholes?
Read about the happy habitats we've been working hard to create at Brockholes.
Watch out!
The Visitor Village floats on water and there are lots of areas of open water on the reserve. Take care in these areas and keep an eye on any children with you. The following activities are not allowed on the reserve:
Barbecues and fires
Fishing
Swimming
Please do not feed the birds
Big gulls know it’s much easier to find food when we leave it lying around rather than finding their own lunch. Here at Brockholes we have lots of species breeding with us, little ringed and ringed plover, lapwing, oystercatcher and redshank. Unfortunately the big gulls will eat the chicks of these special birds so if we feed the gulls and encourage them to stay there is a big chance that they will eat our important chicks, so please do not feed the birds and take your leftover picnic away with you.
www.brockholes.org/our-journey
The Lancashire Wildlife Trust has been working on developing Brockholes for nearly 20 years, here is an overview of our journey.
1992 Lancashire Wildlife Trust first contests the quarrying of Brockholes.
27 November 2006 The Lancashire Wildlife Trust has four weeks to raise £50,000 to buy the Brockholes site, near Preston, and protect it from development. Brockholes sits next to J31 of the M6 and is the size of 120 football pitches.
15 January 2007 The Lancashire Wildlife Trust makes the biggest land purchase in its history - thanks to donations from Wildlife Trust members, and an investment of £800,000 from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) under the Newlands scheme. The project to buy and develop Brockholes is also supported by The Tubney Charitable Trust.
3 May 2007 Ian Selby is appointed as Brockholes project manager. Ian has 20 years' experience of managing the North West's canal network for British Waterways, followed by environmental regeneration work. Sophie Leadsom, Brockholes' new reserve manager, has worked in conservation for 14 years.
July 2007 The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) announced the launch of a new open competition to design new visitor facilities.
5 October 2007 The Lancashire Wildlife Trust announced the shortlist for the new multi-million pound visitor centre. 61 architects from all over Europe submitted designs. The five were Adam Khan Architects, Arca, Architecture 2B, AY Architects, McDowell + Benedetti.
25 February 2008 The Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT) and partners announce the winner of its competition to design a visitor facility. Adam Khan Architects was selected for its inspirational design concept: "A Floating World". Designed as a cluster of buildings constructed largely of wood and other sustainable materials, it resembles an ancient marshland village.
April 2008 The Lancashire Wildlife Trust announced the completion of its first phase of preparatory work, including the restoration of the wetlands, creation of ponds, seeding of meadows, planting new hedgerows and trees, making access paths and building proper bird watching hides.
March 2009 The Lancashire Wildlife Trust secured £8million of funding from the North West Regional Development Agency (NWDA). The investment was made under ‘Newlands’, a NWDA and Forestry Commission programme that is regenerating brownfield land across the Northwest into economically viable community woodland.
Summer 2009 Volunteers gave us 134 hours of their time to help propagate our own reed seedlings on-site. We ended up with 20,000 new redd seedlings ready to plant out around our new visitor centre, creating two hecatres of brand new reedbed.
August 2009 The Lancashire Wildlife Trust were granted detailed planning permission for the site.
December 2009 Contractors first day of work as they begin to construct the iconic floating visitors centre. Press conference being held with a ‘cutting of the first sod’
November 2010 A herd of longhorn cattle move into Brockholes to graze the reserve.
December 2010 BBC Countryfile fronted by Julia Bradbury visit Brockholes to film a feature that airs in January 2011.
March 2011 Brockholes makes history as the Visitor Village is floated for the first time.
Easter Sunday 2011 Brockholes opens its doors to the public for the first time!
www.brockholes.org/happy-habitats-brockholes
Happy habitats at Brockholes
The Lancashire Wildlife Trust are using their expertise to create habitats that will encourage lots of different species to visit the site, read more about the work we are doing on the reserve...
Number 1 Pit
Uniform and steep, the edges around the original gravel pit used to look very different. The island looked different too – an egg-shaped piece of land sticking out of the water by three metres. These land profiles weren’t great for the bird species and aquatic invertebrates we wanted to attract. So, with bulldozer and digger we pushed earth into the lake to create shallow, underwater ledges and peninsulas where birds can roost and feed, safe from predators. Diving ducks, such as Great Crested Grebe, now hunt for fish in the deep water.
Nook Pool
The edge of this pool has been planted with reed to create places for small fish and aquatic invertebrates like dragonfly larvae to hide and grow, away from predator fish. The shelter provided by the vegetation provides an ideal hunting ground for lots of species of dragonfly including the impressive Brown Hawker and Emperor Dragonfly.
Meadow Lake
This shallow lake is great for bird watching: when the water level is down, wading birds feed on small invertebrates in the exposed mud. This lake has some of the richest water plant life in and around it, including White Water Lily and Cuckooflower. The reed fringes are becoming well established and hold some of the largest populations of birds on site. The islands provide safe roosting and breeding areas, we keep the vegetation short so the birds can watch out for predators.
Boilton Marsh
This area is part of our newly created wet grassland habitat. We remodelled 17,000 cubic metres of quarry spoil to create 10 hectares of wet grassland with nearly 2km of channels and five pools. This is the ideal habitat for breeding wading birds such as Lapwing, Redshank and Snipe. We now graze traditional breeds of cattle and sheep that thrive on the coarse grasses and rushes and provide the low grassland sward that encourages wading birds to nest.
The channels and pools are kept topped up by using a high-level reservoir, filled from Number One Pit by way of a solar pump.
Woodland
Brockholes is fringed by the ancient woodland of Boilton, Red Scar and Tunbrook Woods. Woodland has grown here for thousands of years and developed a very rich variety of wildlife. Looking after our trees and paths will help the woodland to thrive and enable you to see the wildlife safely.
Reedbeds
Reedbeds are home to Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings and Water Rail. We protect the new reed from grazing birds like Coot, Mute Swan and Canada Goose, by erecting chicken wire fences and baling string barriers. It will take several years before our lak fringes start to look like reedbeds. You might notice that the Visitor Village has been nestled in reedbed. This helps it to blend into the reserve and allows you to hear the song and chatter of the birds that nest there.
www.brockholes.org/brockholes-partners-and-funders
Brockholes partners and funders
For the past ten years, The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside have been working to secure this site of national environmental importance, and restore habitats to their full potential.
The £8.6 million of regeneration funding was provided for the Brockholes Wetland and Woodland Reserve project has been granted under 'Newlands' - a £59 million, Northwest Regional Development Agency and Forestry Commission programme to transform brownfield land into durable community woodland, which act as catalysts for economic, social and environmental gain.
The Lancashire Environmental Fund awarded £446,000 for the development of the education facilities, hides and infrastructure on the site. Tubney Charitable Trust granted £350,000 for Biodiversity and Natural England DEFRA's Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund awarded circa. £300,000. The Environment Agency granted £50,000 for the continued development of Brockholes.
The support of these funders helped make Brockholes a reality, as did the amazing support from our public appeal, which raised an amazing £63,000 - the most successful public appeal the Lancashire Wildlife Trust has ever run!
Volunteering at Brockholes
Around 200 volunteers have now been recruited, inducted and trained to begin volunteering at Brockholes, so we offer an enormous thank you to all who are helping it make such a big impact on our visitors... Volunteers truly are the face of Brockholes.
There are currently some exciting opportunities to be had volunteering here at Brockholes. Please have a look below at roles (you can click on the titles to download a full role description) which might suit you and click here to register, mentioning Brockholes and the role on the form.
Seasonal Activities Volunteer
Our seasonal activities program is the ideal opportunity for young people aged 16-23 to get involved here at Brockholes.
Running throughout all school holiday periods, you are expected to volunteer for 7 hours per week (normally one full day).
The Seasonal Activities Volunteer role is ideal for friendly, outgoing people who want to utilise their creative skills and help visitors – in particular children – enjoy the reserve. You will work alongside other volunteers to plan and deliver a variety of activities including pond dipping, guided walks, bird watching. The role will also include assisting with larger events such as our Extreme Adventure Weekend and Craft Fayres. Support will be given to you by the Events & Communications Manager.
This placement is perfect for those undertaking various award schemes, such as the Duke of Edinburgh award, as over the course of the summer you have the opportunity to gain upto 50 volunteering hours.
For full details on the role and what it entails, click here.
Seasonal Retail & Visitor Services
Our seasonal activities program is the ideal opportunity for young people aged 16-23 to get involved here at Brockholes.
As a volunteer for Retail & Visitor Services you will provide a warm welcome for visitors, helping to ensure that their Brockholes experience is a positive one. You will help visitors by providing them with information about products on sale in our gift stores and help them plan their visit by telling them about the various events and activities we have on offer.
The role suits a friendly, outgoing person who has an interest in wildlife and conservation.
Running throughout the school holiday periods, you are expected to volunteer for 7 hours per week (normally one full day).
This placement is perfect for those undertaking various award schemes, such as the Duke of Edinburgh award, as over the course of the summer you have the opportunity to gain upto 50 volunteering hours.
Each volunteer will be required to undergo a minimum of 1 and a half days training before they start. If you’d like to find out more or ask questions about any of these roles do not hesitate to get in touch with Catherine Haddon, Volunteering Support Officer on 01772 324 129 or email volunteer@lancswt.org.uk
Awards
Brockholes has scooped many high profile awards since opening in April 2011:
2013 Lancashire Tourism Award for Best Conference/Meeting venue
VisitEngland's Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme (VAQAS) 'Excellent'
Green Tourism Gold Award
Customer at the Heart Award
Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards 'Marketing Campaign of the Year'
National Wood Award
BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ for the interim design stage
Chartered Institute of Building Services – Building of the Year 2011
Civic Trust Award
Civic Trust Special Award for Sustainability
Highly Commended in portfolio of Newlands sites in Landscape Awards
CIWEM Living Wetlands award
Greenbuilds award
Green Apple Awards for the Visitor Centre
Sustainable Project of the year – 2012 Building Awards
RICS North West – Overall award
RICS North West – Tourism and Leisure
RICS NW – Design & Innovation
RIBA North West Building of the Year
RIBA North West Sustainability Award
RIBA Award for top 50 new buildings in the UK
Brockholes is an award winning-venue, which floats on one of our lakes - the only one of its kind in the UK.
Combine this unique design with access straight off the M6, a beautiful nature reserve, ample parking and on site catering, and you have found yourself the perfect venue for your next event. View our Conference Brochure here.
We think Brockholes is the natural place to do business, our dedicated centre can cater for 50 to 130 delegates.
We have a choice of two conference rooms and a reception/break-out area.
www.brockholes.org/conference-packages
At Brockholes we want you to be in control of your event as much as possible. This is why we have created these basic packages, enabling you to tweak each element to build an individual event.
Alternatively, we can cater to your specific requests if you require half day, early morning or evening hire.
Here is an overview of our conference packages, please contact us for a quote.
Our Conference brochure can be viewed in digi-book format here.
Day Delegate Package
Private room hire from 9am - 5pm
Tea and coffee served on arrival with bacon rolls
Mineral water for each guest
Tea and coffee served mid-morning
Buffet lunch served with tea, coffee and fresh fruit platter
Tea, coffee and biscuits served mid-afternoon
Use of a flip chart, screen and projector
Recycled pen and notepad for each delegate
Dedicated co-ordinator to assist you throughout the planning to delivery of your meeting
24 Hour Delegate Package
All of the above plus;
Three course dinner
Full breakfast
Accommodation in a standard bedroom at our recommended accommodation supplier
Accommodation
Preferential rates are available on request from a local hotel when booking through the Brockholes Sales Team.
We can tailor our packages to suit your needs. Make the UK's first floating venue your next choice
Please contact us for more information or to arrange a meeting or showround with our Conference Sales Co-ordinator
Call us on 01772 872005 or enter your details below and we will contact you to discuss your requirements.
www.brockholes.org/sponsorship-opportunities
Sponsorship Opportunities
Brockholes is an award winning nature reserve owned and manages by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, which was opened in 2011. The 250 acre reserve is already attracting record numbers of breeding birds and around 170,000 visitors each year. Brockholes runs a wide range of events throughout the year and has a particularly strong offer for families. Events include wild families, school holiday clubs, school and community group visits, self led trails and larger festivals during the summer holidays.
The key marketing campaigns run targeting families include Christmas, Summer and Easter. Each campaign targets a series of family focused publications across the North West, with a monthly average reach online of over 40,000 people through the website and social media. Advertising and direct marketing campaigns have an average reach of 70% of the total North West population.
Sponsorship and Partnership Opportunities
Summer at Brockholes sees a host of family events each year, from school holiday clubs to open air theatre, guided walks to family fun. Over the Summer period, Brockholes expects to welcome over 60,000 visitors. The marketing campaign is multi channel and will reach a wide audience of families across the North West. Brockholes has also been featured in the National Press for some of the unique events run. We have some new opportunities for sponsorship and partnership, which will allow your business to raise brand awareness and fulfill part of your Corporate Social Responsibility by supporting Brockholes and The Lancashire Wildlife Trust.
Summer at Brockholes Headline Sponsorship £4500
Expose your brand to thousands of families across the North West.
- Logo on all Summer promotional material
- Inclusion in all four of the Summer e-news and Lancashire Wildlife Trust e-news
- Sponsor Feature on Brockholes.org
- On site promotion
- Promotion through social media channels
- Inclusion in all PR activity
- Temporary use of Brockholes logo on promotional material directly related to the partnership
Wild Families Sponsorship £4000 per year
Our Wild Families events are always fully booked. With themes ranging from scarecrow hunts to nature detectives, each event provides quality family time for family members of all ages. Events are run throughout school holidays.
-Logo on marketing materials for Wild Families
-Inclusion in PR for trail launch
-Inclusion in social media activity
-Inclusion in Brockholes e-news
Seasonal Trail Sponsorship £500 per trail
Each visitor to Brockholes can collect their free seasonal trail on arrival. The trail helps visitors to explore the reserve, learn more about what to see and how the reserve changes with the season and challenges them to spot things.
-Logo on sponsorship trail
-Inclusion in PR for trail launch
-Inclusion in social media activity around the trail
Half term at Brockholes £1500
-Logo on all marketing materials
-Inclusion in launch PR
-Social media promotion
Annual Headline Sponsorship £10,000
- Logo inclusion on all Promotional Material
- Dedicated web page on Brockholes.org
- On site promotion
- Dedicated stand area on key event days
- Promotion through Brockholes and LWT e-news, member magazine
- Promotion through social media channels
- Inclusion in all PR activity
-Discounted delegate rate on our conference facilities
Children's Corner £500
Would you like to help brighten up the children's corner in our restuarant for our younger visitors?
-Inclusion in PR activity
-Recognition in the children's area
-Inclusion in activity to our database promoting the new area
To talk to us more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Ruth Gaskell rgaskell@lancswt.org.uk or call 01772 324129.
www.brockholes.org/commercial-opportunities
Commercial Opportunities
Make Brockholes your business
Businesses are being offered an opportunity to become partners in a North West tourism and wildlife success story.
Brockholes nature reserve is entering the second phase of development which will provide commercial opportunities for other businesses and boost local employment.
The Lancashire Wildlife Trust attraction attracted 185,000 people to its nature reserve and the first ever floating visitor village in the UK, last year. It is looking to top that visitor figure this year.
Just off the M6 at Preston and easily accessible from anywhere in the UK, Brockholes has received more than 30 regional and national awards despite only opening in 2011. Visitors continue to pour in despite the reserve being surrounded by the attractions of Manchester, Blackpool and Liverpool.
The business has shown year-on-year growth and, as a result, is seeking commercial partners for the next phase of development.
Anne Selby, Chief Executive of the Wildlife Trust said “Brockholes has performed incredibly well despite being launched in a recession. We have steered the business through the stormy weather and achieved fantastic results.
“We are now looking to move into the next phase of development. As a conservation charity, we want to ensure our focus remains on the nature conservation of the reserve, whilst ensuring the commercial income supports this work. We are looking for expressions of interest at this stage and asking businesses to be creative with their proposals.”
The Visitor Village has a restaurant, shops, conference centre, welcome centre and education centre. Major companies have made use of the conference centre including RBS and Aldi. The surrounding nature reserve is continuing to grow, with an increasing population of resident creatures and rare visitors like red kite, bittern and otter.
Anne continued: “Brockholes received funding for the initial start up and development phases but it was always designed to be a self-sustaining model. By making the most of the commercial opportunities and keeping these balanced carefully with the needs of nature, we believe we can continue to success of Brockholes into the future and achieve even more fantastic results for wildlife, our wide range of visitors and the tourism economy”.
Opportunities include retail, water sports (non-motorised), indoor play provision, events partners and mobile food concessions. However, the Trust is open to hear if any investors would wish to develop sympathetic commercial facilities on the site.
An opportunity information pack is available by request from:
Karen Williams Karen.Williams@brockholes.org
Expressions of interest should initially be made to
Lindsey Poole, Commercial Development Manager lpoole@lancswt.org.uk
Group Visits
Whether it’s a full day out or just a quick stop off on the way to your destination, Brockholes is the ideal place for groups to visit.
There's so much for all ages to see and learn about at Brockholes. Everyone from toddlers to seniors will find something to fascinate them, whether through our exciting range of organised events, or by just wandering around the site.
We are passionately committed to lifelong learning for all – our belief is that everyone should leave knowing something they didn't when they arrived! The Lancashire Wildlife Trust has over a decade of experience in delivering environmental education, so you can relax, enjoy the surroundings and be sure to come away both enchanted and enlightened...
We have several options for various groups, each with a variety of benefits. For more information click on the relevant link below…
Coach Groups
School Groups
Community Groups
To enquire about group visits please call 01772 872000 or email info@brockholes.org. Or leave your details on the form below and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Coach Groups
Situated next to Junction 31 on the M6, we are the ideal stop for coach trips, whether it is for a short stop, as a green motorway services, or as part of a full day visit.
Free entry for coaches and convenient coach drop-off point
We have a variety of walking trails for your group to explore, ranging from half an hour to 2 hours in length.
We have our floating visitor village that features a stunning waterside restaurant, 2 unique gift shops and a welcome centre with exhibits, which are ideal should your guests decide for something less active (or if the weather lets you down)!
All our buildings are fully accessible, while the vast majority of our paths are well surfaced, level and suitable for wheelchairs.
We now have a more convenient drop-off point exclusively for coaches and in addition have a number of benefits for coach groups:
• Free entry to the reserve and visitor centre
• Free coach parking
• Refreshment voucher for the coach driver
• Free familiarisation visit for group organisers
• Free meet and greet at the coach (on request)
• Free Brockholes welcome leaflet and trail guide
• Free events and activities throughout the year (visit our events calendar for details)
• Free play area
• Pre-booked guided tours (available at an extra charge)
• Adapted toilets available at the visitor centre
Please note that there is a 4 metre high bridge on the entrance to Brockholes. We also advise all coaches to let us know of their visit in advance by calling us on 01772 872000.
For any further information please just call 01772 872000, email info@brockholes.org
School Groups
Our 250 acre nature reserve and Visitor Village is a great place for school groups to visit. Children can learn about the geological history and how the quarrying has shaped the land today. And because we are a new nature reserve, you can watch it grow! It is also home to the UK's first floating Visitor Village.
Most importantly of all, the children will be able to see that Brockholes is home to a host of wildlife, with many different species of bird popping by throughout the year, along with brown hare, dragonfly and deer to name a few!
Facilities
Your school will have use of the education centre on our floating visitor village and you will have at least one Education Officer dedicated to your group throughout the day.
Plus... NEW FOR 2014!
Next year your school will be able to get even closer to nature at Brockholes by booking an education session in our new purpose-built bird hide classroom, right on the edge of the lake!
The hide will overlook No 1 Pit Lake which is home to many different species of birds and you'll also be able to look across to the new sand martin wall, which will provide valuable breeding habitat when they arrive in spring.
Why not your details below if you'd like us to keep to informed of these exciting new developments!
Programmes
We offer a wide range of programmes including:
Big Adventure in a Miniature World
Life Cycles
Migration and Hibernation
Environmental Art
Geography and Geology
Forest School
You can read more about the education programmes available at Brockholes here.
Education Team
Our Education Team are based at Brockholes and have a huge amount of experience in inspiring young people about the natural world. They are a lively bunch and pride themselves on creating an exciting and memorable experience for your school. You can read about how great our team is here: Meet the Education Team.
Outreach
Can't get to us? Then we can come to you! Our outreach education programme is very popular and offers a wide range of programmes for those who are unable to reach Brockholes.You can view our Outreach Programmes here.
For any information just call us on 01772 872000 for more information, email eduadmin@lancswt.org.uk
Community Groups
Brockholes is a great place to bring your community group, whether it's the Scouts, Guides, Cubs, Brownies or Beavers or a rambling or photography group, there is something for everyone!
As well as exploring our stunning nature reserve you can enjoy an activity such as a guided walk, a mini-beast hunt or an environmental art session.
You can visit Brockholes during the day or we have special community group evenings when the reserve is open beyond our usual opening hours. Group activities usually take place between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.
Forest Schools
Forest Schools is a unique outdoor learning experience that improves children's self-esteem, confidence and abilities.
Brockholes provides an inspirational setting for Forest Schools sessions and training, and is conveniently located just off junction 31 of the M6 at Preston.
Our Forest School sessions are designed and delivered by our experienced and fully qualified Education Team including our Level 3 Trained Forest Schools Practioner.
Our next Forest Schools adult training session will be running in October. To find out more about Forest School sessions at Brockholes please call 01772 872017 or email kphillips@lancswt.org.uk
Shop til you flock
Why not drop into our two on-site shops, The Nest and Village Store, which are packed with all sorts of goodies. We've a variety of products from local beverages and food, to cards and books and crafts and jewellery. They are the perfect place to pick up a unique gift... and there's plenty of treats for the little ones too!
The Nest
The Nest is home to an inspiring collection of gifts, jewellery, books, toys, arts & crafts. Discover what's inside The Nest here.
The Village Store
The Village Store stocks a wide range of products, from locally sourced food and drink treats to bird food, garden accessories and wildlife books. Come and look inside here.
Membership of the Wildlife Trust
Brockholes is a Lancashire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve. You can become a member today or talk to our friendly staff members and volunteers on your next visit to Brockholes. Gift membership is available in The Nest or you can buy it online here.
Our restaurant is the perfect place to stop and watch the world go by with panoramic views of our lake. Scrumptious homemade dishes and a taste bud tingling selection of Lancashire's finest local produce are all here to tempt you, along with fair trade tea and coffee.
Our restaurant is open from 10am to 5pm.
www.brockholes.org/very-special-occasions
Brockholes is a fantastic place for your very special occasions.
Our floating venue is one of the newest and most unique in Lancashire and promises you and your guests an unforgetable event whatever the occasion.
We have a dedicated function centre that can accomodate weddings, christenings and all sort of functions.
The clean, contemporary finish of our venue means that you have the perfect opportunity to put your own stamp on your event, with a flexible range of catering available from our on-site restaurant.
We have a dedicated Conference and Events Co-ordinator that will be available to help you plan your special occasion.
Very Special Weddings
We had our first wedding celebration September 2011 and since then it's been all go with Wedding Fayres and lots more bookings for this year and next. Find out more about weddings at Brockholes here.
Very Special Christenings
Brockholes is a real family friendly venue for a Christening celebration that you will remember for years to come. Find out more here.
For general enquiries about holding a function at Brockholes please call 01772 872005 or email philip.dunn@brockholes.org.
Engineers successfully fired a 2-foot-diameter, subscale solid rocket booster June 1, 2022, at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The test, conducted in Marshall’s East Test Area, produced 92,000 pounds of thrust and was done as part of the booster obsolescence and life extension (BOLE) program, providing an upgraded booster design for the evolved configuration of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for Artemis IX and beyond. The BOLE booster will be a larger and more powerful solid rocket motor to make the SLS rocket capable of sending heavier payloads to the Moon and beyond.
Image Credit: NASA/Samuel Lott
#MoontoMars #NASAMarshall #nasasls #artemis #NASA #NASAMarshall #MSFC #MarshallSpaceFlightCenter #SpaceLaunchSystem
Other than the spring-loaded trigger, this shot shows off all the major features of the model: The bolt (retracted) and the removable magazine, which has a more accurate shape in this updated version. This also highlights the reinforced stock - whenever I'd take the mag out of the old model, I had to take any weight off the stock of the gun lest it snap off. Now, I've managed to incorporate some Technic beams that mean the forces on the bottom end of the stock are transferred to the upper 'spine' of the model, and the whole thing is very sturdy.