View allAll Photos Tagged optimistic
Having done the "Drive-by" portrait of Ed ( Stranger 80 ), I was keen to create a portrait using an installation I had earmarked as a backdrop. I had seen Cecil Balmond's "H_Edge" installation the night before and had waited 2-3 hours with no joy. Today, I felt more optimistic but still had to bide my time.
I already had one rejection that day but am so glad as otherwise I wouldn't have met Yasmine. She was sitting nearby waiting for a friend who was more than 40 minutes late when I approached her. Although, slightly hesitant at first when I explained the project and showed her what I had in mind she agreed to follow me into the installation.
The good and the bad thing about this installation was the lights placed on the floor illuminated the shimmering metal nicely but it was also creating all sorts of dappled lighting on Yasmine's face. I moved her very carefully until the light was even on her face although my directions did cause a little confusion at first. I took a few shots and reviewed them with Yasmine and she agreed with me that this was the shot which had the best connection.
Yasmine is originally from Somalia and it turns out that she is no stranger to having her portrait taken as she is often a guinea pig for her photographer friend. Thank you so much for allowing me to take your portrait Yasmine, hope you like it.
Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the
100 Strangers Flickr Group Page
Connect with me on my facebook page: Shooting the Streets
As always any critique welcome.
First, an apology, for the standard of the next handful of images - I really shouldn't have taken them in the first place ! We were at the end of the day, the light had gone, and my old camera was not fit to take pictures in these conditions, but rather optimistically, I still tried. They were woefully under-exposed and out of focus, taken at a very slow shutter speed while my hands were no doubt trembling from the cold - it was a bitter day from start to finish. But somehow, my scanner, with a few other tweaks along the way, has managed to turn them into something that might bring back some memories for a few people, and you never know, they just might be the only pictures of these coaches on t'net !
Ballard of Welshpool was a classic rural coach operator, only running 2 or 3 vehicles at a time, always Bedfords, always in their previous owner's colours, and only twice stretching to running a 36-footer. Well you can see why, can't you - anything longer than a YRQ would block the entire lounge window !
The livery in this case is unmistakable - it came from Delaine of Bourne in 1982, and stayed here until 1994, when it moved down the road to Beadles at Newtown.
During the early optimistic days of SSI UK ownership, GB Railfreight-operated Di8 class diesel-electric loco No. '820' draws a loaded torpedo wagon away from the Redcar Blast Furnace in October 2012. The 'Di8' class was previously used for freight traffic by the Norwegian railway company CargoNet. Twenty locos were constructed in 1996-97 at the Maschinenbau Kiel (MaK) plant in Kiel when it was part of 'Siemens Schienenfahrzeugtechnik' and GB Railfreight acquired ten for the Redcar contract. SSI UK went into liquidation during October 2015, resulting in 1,700 job losses at the plant alone.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
I apologize to my Flickr friends for a long absence. What started out as photographing these Eagles at Anclote has now turned into a mission to save their nest. For the first time in a week, I feel optimistic about the future of this pair and their nest. Last week I was invited to the release of Eagle 512
audubonoffloridanews.org/?p=3926
Some of you might have read her story on Burdr.com. Her nest is just a few miles from my house and I have been checking every few days to make sure she hasn't returned.
At this release I was fortunate to meet David of Progress Energy (the company that owns the property that "my" eagles are on). He accepted my invitation to meet at the nest yesterday, he stayed for three hours (Eagle watching can be very captivating). We are working on a creative solution that would be implemented after nesting season is over. I am very hopeful that many more people will have the chance to see their first Bald eagles here at Anclote in Florida just as I did......
Stay tuned - I am not giving up!!
Update march 10th - visual deterrents were installed on the power lines and caps put up on the utility poles too, making this a safer environment for the Anclote Eagles - thanks to Progress energy for following through on their promise!
Perhaps a little optimistic, but at least it's forecast that it's going to warm up over the weekend! Have a good one!
A little about our stay at Hotel Chocolat, for those who're interested...
For anyone who's familiar with the brand of chocolate "Hotel Chocolat" this is the hotel, restaurant and plantation where it all begins. We were lucky enough to meet co-owner Peter Harris on our stay, a fascinating guy who started the business as a mail order chocolate company and has worked to create something virtually unique. I've not met many true entrepeneurs before, but what I found most interesting is that I got no sense that he'd built this for the money. It seemed much more about creating something very special, realising a dream if you like. It seemed clear that the workers here are getting a good deal. The plantation works to promote agriculture and to help farmers set up their own crops, with a clear focus on education and providing a fair return on the cocoa! If ever you're lucky enough to visit St Lucia, I cannot recommend this place enough. It makes you see your chocolate in a whole new light, and I doubt you'll ever grumble again at paying a couple of pounds for quality bar of dark chocolate once you've seen the work that's gone into it!
I had read about the new RSPB reserve opening and decided to take a look. It opened on the 25th of May. When we arrived there were only 2-3 cars. The visitor centre overlooked a lake, stunningly bleak view but with no birds to be seen. No birds and no people yet the RSPB staff and volunteers appeared were so cheery and optimistic. Once out onto the reserve and onto the hilltop you get a beautiful view of the reserve and hear the sound of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Blackcaps and Whitethroats. When you descend you see the birds and also hear them. I would recommend it as a place to visit. I was very impressed!
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/s/staidans/
St Aidan's is a perfect place to get close to nature and relax, unwind or exercise in a stress-free environment. Just outside Leeds on the banks of the River Aire, it's a big new space to walk, run, cycle, or ride your horse and enjoy the wildlife that surrounds you.
It has a wide range of wild plants and animals, and is home to thousands of birds, brown hares, roe deer, wild flowers and insects - all living in a stunning landscape of vast reedbeds, grassland, woodland, lakes, ponds and islands.
With a variety of circular paths of varying lengths and large areas of open grassland, St Aidan’s is a great place for families to enjoy the outdoors, share a picnic and play together.
Over 7.5 miles (12 km) of footpaths, bridleways and cycle routes connect the surrounding communities, with links to national footpath and cycle networks. St Aidan's is a fantastic place for locals wishing to explore the wider countryside or as a destination for people who love nature.
Opening times
St Aidan's is an open access site. Opening times apply to the visitor centre and car park. From March-October they're open from 9.30 am to 5 pm. From September-February it's 9.30 am to 4 pm. They're closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Entrance charges
Entry to the site is free but donations to help us continue our work are welcome. There is a car park charge of £2.50 per car for RSPB non-members. RSPB members and disabled badge holders park for free.
Information for dog owners
Dogs are allowed on the reserve as long as they are kept on a lead in the appropriate designated zones. There are some less sensitive areas within St Aidan's where dogs are allowed off the lead. Please check with staff before letting dogs off the lead.
Star species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
Bittern
Bitterns are brown, secretive herons, camouflaged to hide amongst reeds. Visit in spring to hear male bitterns 'booming' or summer to watch the parents making feeding flights.
Great crested grebe
Watch the amazing courtship ritual of great crested grebes on the open water in spring. You may see pairs performing their 'weed dance' when they present one another with weed and patter across the surface of the water together.
Little owl
You may be lucky enough to find one of these compact owls perched in a tree or on a fencepost. They become very active at dusk and you may hear their shrill calls.
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.
Skylark
Spring visits will be enriched by the beautiful song of skylarks. They rise up into the air from the grassland until they are barely visible and only their song can be heard
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/s/staidans/seasonal_highli...
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
Look out for marsh harriers displaying over the reedbeds, great crested grebes performing their elaborate courtship dances and returning swallows skimming low over the water and grasslands as they collect insects. Listen out for skylarks filling the air with their song, the deep booming of male bitterns, male snipe 'drumming' as they vibrate their tail feathers to attract females and lapwings calling as they perform their aerobatic displays. Enjoy the fusion of colour as wildflowers burst into bloom and a host of brightly-coloured butterflies and dragonflies take to the wing. Spring is also a great time to see kestrels. You can often see several hovering around the site at the same time as they hunt for voles in the grassland. Kestrels have also been seen nesting in the huge dragline.
Summer
Watch overhead for herons and little egrets dropping into the reeds to feed, female bitterns flying low over the reedbeds as they seek out food for their chicks or marsh harriers passing food to each other in flight. Keep an eye on the open water for lines of young ducklings paddling along behind their parents or young great crested grebes riding around on their parents' backs and admire the abundant lilypads on the lakes. Stoats, weasels and water voles are often seen at this time of year as are basking butterflies and dragonflies hawking the waters edge. Thousands of black-headed gulls set up a colony at this time of the year filling the air with their calls. Summer is the best time to spot the elusive black necked grebe as it will have its fluffy youngsters in tow. Avocets also nest at this time of year. St Aidan’s is a good place to spot this iconic bird that is the logo of the RSPB.
Autumn
Autumn sees the arrival of migrant birds, such as black-tailed godwits, ruffs and green sandpipers. Local birdwatchers will also spot a few rarities such as spoonbills and pectoral sandpipers. Huge flocks of lapwings arrive to spend winter with us and can be seen around pool edges and on grassland. Short-eared owls hunt over the reedbeds and our winter wildfowl begin to arrive. Look out for flashes of blue as kingfishers flit up and down the river.
Winter
Waders and wildfowl such as lapwings, curlews, wigeons, teals, shovelers and goldeneyes gather in big numbers, roosting and feeding across the grasslands and pools. Water rails can be spotted feeding on frozen pools, or you can listen out for their strange, pig-like squealing! The elusive bittern is also drawn out into the open at times. One of the most awesome spectacles in winter is seeing massive flocks of roosting birds panic and fly into the air as peregrines hunt over the site. Look and listen out for overwintering stonechats. Their calls sound like two pebbles being knocked together!
Facilities
Facilities
•Visitor centre
•Car park : There's a car park charge of £2.50 per car for RSPB non-members. RSPB members and disabled badge holders park for free. We have cycle parking and a height restriction of 2.7 m (8' 10'') for vehicles.
•Toilets
•Disabled toilets
•Baby-changing facilities
•Picnic area
•Group bookings accepted
•Guided walks available
•Good for walking
•Pushchair friendly
Nature trails
Bowers Bimble: Starting from the car park, this 0.9-mile (1.5 km) flat trail takes you on a short walk around Bowers Lake then through grassland and wild flower meadows. Great for a relaxing stroll (20-30 minutes).
Lowther Loop: For a walk through shady woodland glades and along the banks of the River Aire, venture onto this 1.3 mile (2 km) flat trail. In wet winter months, it’s a welly boot walk (60 minutes).
Hillside Hike: For stunning landscapes and panoramic views of the nature park and surrounding areas, t ake a hike onto the hillside. This trail is 1.3 miles (2 km) with some steep hills and inclines, which wind through the trees and grassland (40-60 minutes).
Reedbed Ramble: To explore the magic of the whispering reedbeds, take a walk on this 1.7-mile (2.8 km) flat route that runs around the edges of the reedbeds and loops back to the main entrance (40-45 minutes).
As the new custodians of St Aidan's, we are aiming to improve the accessibility of our paths as soon as we can. Please contact us for updates on footpath and bridleway conditions.
Refreshments available
•Hot drinks
•Cold drinks
•Snacks
•Confectionery
By train
The nearest train stations are Woodlesford (3.2 miles), Castleford (3.2 miles) and Garforth (4.3 miles). If you're going to be walking or cycling from the station to St Aidan's, choose Woodlesford station. Turn left out of the station then left onto the main road. When you get to the bridge over the Aire and Calder navigation, cross it, then turn right and walk along the riverbank until you reach St Aidan's. If you're going to take a taxi from the station to St Aidan's, head towards Castleford station as it's easier to get a taxi there.
By bus
The nearest bus stop is just outside the entrance to St Aidan’s, on Astley Lane. The Number 167 Leeds to Castleford bus stops here and is run by Arriva Yorkshire.
By road
Reach us from junction 46 of the M1. Follow the A63, signposted Selby and Garforth. At the roundabout, take the fourth left for Wakefield A642, Swillington and Oulton. Follow the A642 for 1.5 miles then turn left on to Astley Lane. St Aidan's is 1.8 miles on the right.
From Castleford, follow the A656 (Barnsdale Road) north out of the town centre for 1.4 miles. Turn left onto Station Road towards Allerton Bywater and travel 1.2 miles. Turn left onto the Leeds Road (next to the yellow corner shop). St Aidan’s is 0.5 miles along the road on the left.
Other ways to get to the reserve
It's easy to get to St Aidan's by bike. The site is bordered on its south-east edge by the Trans-Pennine Trail central section (Route 67). This runs north all the way to Leeds city centre, and south to join the main east-west route near our Old Moor nature reserve at Barnsley. There is also a local cycle route called the Linesway Greenway (Route 697) that runs between Garforth and Allerton Bywater with a spur at the Allerton Bywater end that links into the site. St Aidan's is also bordered by the Leeds Country Way. Maps of this route can be found on the Leeds City Council website. There are also many other local footpaths and bridleways that link into the site from the surrounding towns and villages.
Is there anything as optimistic as a young buck (or a young man just about to head out into the world)? Their beauty and confidence are inspiring.
Our Daily Challenge: THE COMMON GROUND
I came across this beauty on a walkabout near Capitola, CA. Copyright: Sweezey Pictures - Ken Sweezey.
IN ENGLISH BELOW THE LINE
El fusell alemany de la I Guerra Mundial, el Mauser Gewehr 98 (no comfondre amb el Kar98k de la II Guerra Mundial, més petit), tenia un molt optimista mira graduada des de 400 fins a 2000 metres. Com si haguessis de encertar a algú a dos quilometres!
www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=WkBrh1euWg0
El Museu del Exercit Nacional o Muzeum Armii Krajowej, a Cracovia, mostra la organització d'una resistencia armada durant la Segona Guerra Mundial contra la conquesta alemana del 1939, però també contra els sovietics tant a partir de 1939 (al·liats amb els nazis) com a partir de 1944. El més interessant és la colecció d'armes d'infanteria de l'època, sobretot les improvissades.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armia_Krajowa_Museum_in_Krak%C3%B3w
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The German World War I rifle, the Mauser Gewehr 98 (not to be confused with the smaller World War II Kar98k), had a very optimistic "tobogan" like rear sign graduated from 400 to 2000 meters. As if you had to hit someone two kilometers away!
www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=WkBrh1euWg0
The National Army Museum or Muzeum Armii Krajowej, in Krakow, shows the organization of an armed resistance during the Second World War against the German occupation of 1939, but also against the Soviets both from 1939 (allied with the Nazis ) as from 1944. Most interesting is the collection of infantry weapons of the time, especially the improvised ones.
Current mood: Optimistic
Current song: Signs
Two ravens in the old oak tree, one for you and one for me
Bluebells in the late December, I see signs now all the time
The last time we slept together, there was something that was not there
You never wanted to alarm me but I’m the one that’s drowning now
I could sleep forever these days because in my dreams I see you again
But this time fleshed out fuller face in your confirmation dress
It was so like you to visit me to let me know you were ok
It was so like you visit me, always worrying about someone else
At your funeral I was so upset, so upset,
in your life you were larger than this
statuesque
I see signs now all the time that your not dead your sleeping
I believe in anything that brings you back home to me
Another couple of quick people watching shots from the summer that I hadn't uploaded yet for some reason. This was after the severe Lockdown restrictions and before the second wave causing us all problems and more restrictions now, a short period of people being a bit happier and more optimistic (sigh). With it being summer and still restrictions on numbers who could meet indoors even then, this group were having their little party in the open air of Princes Street Gardens. I loved that some had little party hats on too! Quick shots using the zoom from the path above.
Maybe not.What are your alternative sources of protein then? Not meat, or even fish, but something like soy or beans or even eggs?If you are a vegetarian or vegan, this is a daily concern. And even if you are not, it’s good to eat something different once in a while, right?But some people don’t have this luxury, and in the not too distant future, you might not either.Do you know how many people are on the planet right now, and what that number will look like in 2060? According to a recent article in the Guardian:The world’s population stands at a little over 7bn; by 2060 this will have risen to perhaps 9.5bn, and that is a fairly optimistic scenario.So that is a lot of people, and growing by the minute. However, let’s take a deeper look at the need for protein which is one of the biggest issues we will have to face in the future.As the population of the world also gets richer, so too does the demand for meat. And the same article from the Guardian claims that meat demand will more than double by 2050. But why is this such a problem?Producing beef, chicken and other similar meats is extremely inefficient and produces a lot of problems at the same time. Here are some of the statistics that make Western style meat farming such a wasteful and harmful idea:Meat production causes 5% of global CO2 emissions, 40% of methane emissions, 40% of various nitrogen oxides (FAO.org).Growing beef uses four times the food to produce the same amount of meat (compared to insects) (The-Scientist.com).Growing beef uses four times the food to produce the same amount of meat (compared to insects) (The-Scientist.com).Animal protein requires 100 times more water than protein from grain (TheConversation.com)/li>So as you can clearly see, the production of meat is not an ideal way to use our resources to produce protein. Especially when we are looking at double the consumption in the not too distant future.What Are The Existing Protein Alternative Sources.In 2015 we have a wide range of protein alternatives, many of which you have probably never heard of. Let’s take a look at all of the alternatives, including those you already know.Common Protein Alternatives.In 2015 we have a wide range of protein alternatives, many of which you have probably never heard of. Let’s take a look at all of the alternatives, including those you already know..Common Protein Alternatives.When you are thinking about protein, all of the following probably come to mind:Red Meat (Beef, Pork, Lamb. etc)White Meat (Chicken, Turkey etc)Fish (Salmon, Tuna, Sea Fish etc) Eggs How about eating insects for protein then?Red Meat (Beef, Pork, Lamb. etc)White Meat (Chicken, Turkey etc) Fish (Salmon, Tuna, Sea Fish etc) Eggs.Milk Products (Yogurt, Cheese etc.)
Beans (Lentils, Kidney Beans, Black-eyed Peas, Chick Peas etc) Nuts and Seeds Soya Products (such as Tofu) .As the consumption of protein is not a new problem, there are already some interesting options which Forbes wrote an great piece on last year:Forbes wrote an great piece on last year:
Seaweed Pea protein based products Soylent (Liquid food)
Chirps (Cricket Chips) And then there are the more fringe ideas such as laboratory or “fake” meats which have not yet become viable alternatives.How are insects being used in the western world as protein alternatives right now? Let’s take a look at how some people are eating insects for protein.
4ento.com/2015/01/26/insects-as-a-protein-alternative/
In praise of slowness to change our habits polluter.When Ann Parkes decided to swap the elegant shops of Bond Street for the earthy delights of a snail farm in France, her friends thought she was mad.Ten years later, Mrs Parkes, a former general manager of the jewellers Mapin and Webb, is a fully-fledged heliculturist – and the only Briton in France to farm snails professionally."Never in a million years did I think I'd be doing this," she said. "Everyone told me we were crazy to even think about it."I had no interest in snails whatsoever. I'd eaten them many times, but hadn't envisaged rearing them."With her husband Mike, 64, who also worked in the jewellery business in London, Mrs Parkes farms up to 150,000 snails a year on the meadow behind their Provencal farmhouse, which they turned into a boutique hotel.Related ArticlesAsian hornets could invade Britain 25 Feb 2011The French shell out for organic snails 06 Aug 2007Slow route to riches 31 Jan 2005Your dinner's on the wall 28 Oct 2006The couple manage the entire operation themselves: putting the three-day old snails in the park in May, feeding and watering them over the summer, and then picking them in September. "Everything is done by hand, and it is very labour-intensive," she said.But now Mrs Parkes is retiring and selling the business, and France risks losing its one and only British snail farmer.The hotel, nine miles from Avignon, is set in four acres of landscaped gardens and is on the market for €2.45 million (£2.1m)."Running the hotel and farm has been very enjoyable. It'd be wonderful if other Britons wanted to follow the path I've carved," said Mrs Parkes.The sales particulars for the property, Les Carmes, lists its seven suites, inner courtyard for al fresco dining and its swimming pool in glowing terms before adding - almost as an afterthought - "and a working snail farm."The new owner of the property does not have to take over the business, but Mrs Parkes said they would be very welcome to do so.Yet the thought of an Englishwoman taking up such a quintessentially Gallic profession did, initially, leave a bitter taste among her French fellow farmers."It's bizarre that an English person took up snail farming," said Alphonse De Meis, a snail farmer in the nearby Provencal town of Saint-Rémy. "They British don't have a natural affinity for snails."But eventually outrage turned to acceptance. "When they first found out that a Briton was farming snails, they were absolutely shocked," said Mrs Parkes, 58. "Especially as it was a woman. They couldn't believe it, and were horrified."At the markets, several people were very taken aback, and asked why on earth I'd done it. They couldn't imagine a British person studying snail reproduction."Gérard Dupont, the president of French Culinary Academy, said that it had been "brave" of Mrs Parkes to enter the trade."England is not a country that automatically understands heliculture," he said. "But what matters to French consumers is quality, and it is good she has made the effort."The Parkes farm "Gros Gris" snails – the same species as garden snails, but slightly larger. After being harvested the snails are taken to a nearby state-licensed laboratory to be kept for a few days without food, to cleanse them internally, and dried out before being killed and frozen, for use in the kitchen."We serve our snails with garlic butter, with an aperitif," she said. "American guests love them, and so do the Belgians. The British often say they've never tried snails, but then always seem to come back for more."The Parkes' son James, 29, runs the kitchen, and his signature dish is snail ravioli. "Keith Floyd came to do a programme and he said it was the best snail ravioli he had ever tasted," said Mrs Parkes.They sell their surplus snails in the markets of nearby towns such as L'Isle Sur La Sorgue, where trestle tables laden with olives, brightly-coloured vegetables and local cheeses display the finest in Provencal produce. Twelve of the Parkes' finest snails will retail to French gastronomes and adventurous tourists for around €5 (£4.30) and make a popular starter served in a garlicky butter with crusty bread.French consumers eat an estimated 35,000 ton of snails a year, according to the French snail producers' union. But only around 1,500 tons of those are produced in France, with the rest imported from eastern Europe, where they are picked in the wild.There are only 200 professional snail farmers in France and to qualify as one of them, Mrs Parkes spent three months studying snails' reproductive cycles, the grains on which to feed them, and how to set up an electrically-fenced enclosure.The couple had never imagined acquiring such intimate knowledge of a snail's anatomy when they decided to move to France and renovate the crumbling Provencal farmhouse as a small hotel. But they discovered to their dismay that, in order to qualify for a business permit, they had to use the land to farm."A huge black cloud descended on our dream," Mrs Parkes said. "We didn't know what to do. But then I found out about snail farming. And so I signed up for the course."Christophe Simoncelli, who runs the snail producing school in the Alpine town of Chambéry where Mrs Parkes studied, said: "I was really surprised when she turned up to our classes. But maybe the British are finally losing their gastronomic inhibitions.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8320336/...
Phew! Insects AREN'T the future of food: Crickets may be nutritious, but they're not a green alternative to meat, researchers claim.
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3043876/Phew-Inse...
I can well imagine that the thought of cooking and eating snails may seem a forkful too far for some people, but snails have a long and illustrious gastronomic history. The Romans were very fond of them, and introduced snail farming all over their empire. Ever since, the snail has been a regular part of the diet of many European countries, including this one. The main varieties of snail for eating are the Burgundy, otherwise known as the vineyard or Roman snail (Helix pomatia linne), and the petit gris (H. aspera), which is smaller than the Burgundy but regarded as slightly finer for eating.Not only are snails delicious to eat - and you'll never know if you like them until you've tried - but they have a fascinating sex life, too. All snails are male until they mate, which is when something pretty strange happens. Below one eye, each snail has a type of penis that emerges during mating. This links up with the corresponding organ of the mating partner, and remains joined for up to 10 hours while the two politely exchange semen. One or other of the snails will then be inseminated, and will set off to lay several hundred eggs. Snail caviar, as the eggs are known, were quite fashionable in gastronomic restaurants in the 1980s, but to tell the truth they do not have much flavour. They look a little like grains of tapioca, and "pop" in the mouth, a characteristic that won't appeal to everyone.Anyway, assuming that the eggs don't end up in the mouth of some discerning gastronome, each will hatch into a snail, which will form its shell as it grows. When they are about six months old, they are ready for the pot. Of course, many people (some of whom will never even have tried one) are quick to dismiss the snail as being not much different from a bit of rubber, cooking wise, but properly prepared they are really pretty tasty. You can buy them in tins, ready prepared, though I recommend getting them through L'Escargot Anglais (01432 760218). Tony Vaughan, who runs it, retired as a photographer for the SAS to breed snails for the table. And that is an even bigger career change than mine from credit controller to chef.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2003/nov/08/foodanddrink...
Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.
"Roy T. Bennett",
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#bangalore #bangalore_insta #sobangalore #bengaluru #streetphotographyindia #vidhanasoudha #nightclicks #Light #heartofcity #creation #creative #inspiration #inspirational #inspirational_attitude #inspirational_life #inspirational_quotes #inspire #inspiring #life #lifeandliving #life_lessons #life_quotes #living #optimism #optimistic #positive #positive_affirmation #positive_life #positive_thinking #worry
On marriage
Marriage is a way of life;
Marriage is so natural;
Marriage is the better way,
For two, to reach Heaven.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 3-7-2006
For We're Here! who are visiting Optimistic Cloudgoats. I survived this encounter and really need to find a better place to hike.
Last year started out on an optimistic note, on a nice sunny day, as I recall. I had 30 or 40 people over for Hoppin' John, and we all had a festive time. And then look at what that year became.
So this year has started out on a decidedly gloomy note. No visitors allowed. Rain and wind. Too gloomy to go out for a walk. Just right for indulging my depression on the couch all day with 47 episodes of Big Bang Theory. So....maybe that means that the year will become something positive and wonderful and sane.
That reasoning sounds plausible enough.
The We're Here! gang is exploring Dark Days today.
Call me Snake offers an optimistic provocation – ‘imagine what could be here’ by Judy Millar. On a walk into the city October 3, 2015 Christchurch New Zealand.
The work is comprised of vibrant graphics of Millar’s looped paintings, which are adhered to five intersecting flat planes, and draws inspiration from the forms found in pop-up books. The colourful piece will add a dramatic and rhythmic counterpoint to the city’s current urban landscape — a mix of flattened sites, construction zones and defiant buildings that have stood through the quakes. The work employs theatricality, playfulness and visual trickery, whereby the viewer is unsure about the work’s flatness or three-dimensionality; and it has been designed to offer a different perspective from each angle. The bright colours interrupt the grey of the work’s surrounds, and as buildings pop up around it,
SCAPE 8, New Intimacies curated by Rob Garrett was a contemporary art event which mixed new artworks with existing legacy pieces, an education programme, and a public programme of events. The SCAPE 8 artworks were located around central Christchurch and linked via a public art walkway. All aspects of SCAPE 8 were free-to-view.
The title for the 2015 Biennial – New Intimacies – came from the idea that visually striking and emotionally engaging public art works can create new connections between people and places. Under the main theme of New Intimacies there are three other themes that artists responded to: Sight-Lines, Inner Depths and Shared Strengths.
For more Info: www.scapepublicart.org.nz/scape-8-judy-millar
"Sunshine, you're my hero. Forever optimistic, you are always shining somewhere."
- Lucas Hopper
Ya gotta see this in the lightbox! Press L! It's awesome!
Pardon my absence :p it was a weird week, and the details are iffy. . so yea. . . great week!
Public transportation is a wonderful thing. I ride it all the time. I'm riding it now! But we sit shoulder to shoulder with a perfect stranger and sometimes never utter a word. It's amazing how comfortable we are on an air tight train through a city, but we'd freak the hell out if that same guy tried to sit next to us at a McDonald's. Strangers are strange. Try to sit next to me at a McDonald's and I'll ask how your days been. The world would be even more amazing if we treated every experience like public transportation: we're in this together, it'll be fast or we may be delayed together. But it's over in a bit.
Now this stranger next to me now is probably reading what I'm writing so I'ma finish typing this and give her a "oh yeah! I would like to go to lunch with you" look. I'll let ya'll know if it works. She's like 50-ish hahaha
Have a great weekend ya'll!
L.A.S.E.R.S ya'll!! (Love Always Shines, and Everyday Remember 2 Smile)
The Dixie Walesbilt Hotel, known as the Grand Hotel in later years, is one of a small number of skyscrapers built in the 1920s that still stand today and is a prime example of how optimistic people were during the Florida land boom. Built in 1926, it found financing through a stock-sale campaign in the local business community, costing $500,000 after it was completed(which equates to about $6 million today.)
The building architecture, masonry vernacular with hints of Mediterranean-Revival, is also a good example of the time is was built. It was designed by two well-known architects at the time, Fred Bishop who designed the Byrd Theatre in Virginia, and D.J. Phipps, whose designed both the Wyoming County Courthouse and Jail and the Colonial Hotel in Virginia.
The hotel was constructed using the “three-part vertical block” method, which became the dominant pattern in tall buildings during the 1920s. Three-part buildings are composed of a base, shaft and a cap, all noticeably visible.
The hotel opened as the “Walesbilt” in January 1927, shortly after the land boom had started to collapse and two years before the Great Depression began. It’s also best to note that the hotel opened around the same time the Floridan Hotel in Tampa opened, another hotel built during the Florida land boom.
In 1972, the hotel was purchased by Anderson Sun State and renamed the “Groveland Motor Inn”. The firm completely renovated the hotel and used it to host visitors to the area who were interested in Green Swamp, land sectioned off for land development. At the time there was heavy speculation in the land because of it’s close proximity to Walt Disney World and were selling for around $5,000 an acre at the time. That ended after a state cabinet designation of the swamp as an area of critical state concern, placing the land off-limits to any large land developments. The firm filed for foreclosure and the hotel was auctioned off in 1974. Despite RCI Electric purchasing the hotel, it remained empty for many years afterwards.
n 1978, the hotel was signed over to the Agape Players, a nationally known religious music and drama group, who would assume the mortgage and would pay the costs to make improvements to meet city fire and safety standards. The hotel was renamed the “Royal Walesbilt” and after extensive improvements were made, it became the headquarters for the Agape Players; using it as a teaching facility and the base from which the group launched their tours. In addition, they operated a restaurant, an ice cream parlor on the lobby floor and a “Christian hotel” on the upper floors, catering mostly to groups. The Agape Players disbanded in 1985 and put the property up for sale
Victor Khubani, a property investor from New York acquired the property and renamed the hotel “Grand”. The hotel closed briefly in December 1988, due to a variety of code violations and causing the owner to later pay $14,000 in fines. On August 31, 1990 it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, possibly for tax exemption reasons. In October 1991, The State Fire Marshall’s Office gave the owner one year to install a new sprinkler system and in May 1993, the code enforcement board gave Khubani until March to complete the work.
In March 1994, the hotel closed due to multiple code violations and was to remain closed until a new fire sprinkler system was installed. To reopen, the fire escapes and elevator, which did not function, would have to be repaired as well. In 1995, the hotel was auctioned off to a redevelopment firm, which dismantled part of the interior for reconstruction, which was never completed.
Since then, the hotel has deteriorated, becoming an eyesore to many of the residents of Lake Wales and nicknamed “The Green Monster” for the greenish color it has acquired from over the years. In 1995, it was even jokingly mentioned to become a sacrifice to “the bomb”, an economic boom that occurred in parts of Florida where movie production companies would pay cities to blow up buildings for their movies. In 2007, the city foreclosed on the structure for more than $700,000 in unpaid code fines, with hopes in finding someone to restore it.
Development firm, Dixie-Walesbilt LLC announced plans to restore the hotel, signing into an agreement with the city of Lake Wales in February 2010. By the agreement, the city would retain ownership of the building until a defined amount of work had been accomplished. The work must be completed within 16 months and the amount of money invested must succeed at least $1.5 million. The building would then be handed off the Dixie Walesbilt LLC, where they may continue with private funding or other methods to for debt funding.
Ray Brown, President of Dixie Walesbilt LLC, planned to invest $6 million into the renovation, with original plans to put retail stores on the ground floor and using the upper floors for as many as 40 condominiums.
On June 2, 2011, the city of Lake Wales agreed to deed the building off to Ray Brown in a 4-1 vote, after meeting the requirements of the redevelopment agreement. Though Brown submitted a list of costs to the city totaling $1.66 million, Mayor Mike Carter wasn’t satisfied with the results so far, pointing out that Brown failed to repair the windows and repaint the building. Previous owners had put tar on the building and then painted over it, so much of Brown’s investment went to stripping the tar off the exterior walls.
To repaint the building, Brown would also have to resurface the hotel with hydrated lime to replicate the original skin as well as the window frames would need to be constructed of Douglas fir, red cedar and gulf cypress. According to Brown, previous owners who renovated the building rarely removed the building original elements. They carpeted over intricate tile flooring, stuck tar paper above skylights and placed modern drinking fountains in front of the originals. He estimated about 98 percent of the building is still in it’s original form.
Restoration of the building’s exterior began in January 2015 and included surface repair, pressure washing, paint removal, chemical treatment, and a comprehensive resurfacing of the exterior.
While the original plans were for turning the building into condominiums, that has since changed and current plans call for operating the building as a boutique hotel. The hotel will feature geothermal cooling as opposed to traditional air conditioning, a permanent art gallery as well as theme gallery showings throughout the year, and the best WiFi/internet in the city. The project is expected to be completed in 18 to 24 months.
Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
www.cityoflakewales.com/505/Dixie-Walesbilt-Hotel
www.abandonedfl.com/dixie-walesbilt-hotel/
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
All rights reserved © fairuz 2011
Sometimes it seems your ever-increasing list of things to do can leave you feeling totally undone.
160910..
I had read about the new RSPB reserve opening and decided to take a look. It opened on the 25th of May. When we arrived there were only 2-3 cars. The visitor centre overlooked a lake, stunningly bleak view but with no birds to be seen. No birds and no people yet the RSPB staff and volunteers appeared were so cheery and optimistic. Once out onto the reserve and onto the hilltop you get a beautiful view of the reserve and hear the sound of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Blackcaps and Whitethroats. When you descend you see the birds and also hear them. I would recommend it as a place to visit. I was very impressed!
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/s/staidans/
St Aidan's is a perfect place to get close to nature and relax, unwind or exercise in a stress-free environment. Just outside Leeds on the banks of the River Aire, it's a big new space to walk, run, cycle, or ride your horse and enjoy the wildlife that surrounds you.
It has a wide range of wild plants and animals, and is home to thousands of birds, brown hares, roe deer, wild flowers and insects - all living in a stunning landscape of vast reedbeds, grassland, woodland, lakes, ponds and islands.
With a variety of circular paths of varying lengths and large areas of open grassland, St Aidan’s is a great place for families to enjoy the outdoors, share a picnic and play together.
Over 7.5 miles (12 km) of footpaths, bridleways and cycle routes connect the surrounding communities, with links to national footpath and cycle networks. St Aidan's is a fantastic place for locals wishing to explore the wider countryside or as a destination for people who love nature.
Opening times
St Aidan's is an open access site. Opening times apply to the visitor centre and car park. From March-October they're open from 9.30 am to 5 pm. From September-February it's 9.30 am to 4 pm. They're closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Entrance charges
Entry to the site is free but donations to help us continue our work are welcome. There is a car park charge of £2.50 per car for RSPB non-members. RSPB members and disabled badge holders park for free.
Information for dog owners
Dogs are allowed on the reserve as long as they are kept on a lead in the appropriate designated zones. There are some less sensitive areas within St Aidan's where dogs are allowed off the lead. Please check with staff before letting dogs off the lead.
Star species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
Bittern
Bitterns are brown, secretive herons, camouflaged to hide amongst reeds. Visit in spring to hear male bitterns 'booming' or summer to watch the parents making feeding flights.
Great crested grebe
Watch the amazing courtship ritual of great crested grebes on the open water in spring. You may see pairs performing their 'weed dance' when they present one another with weed and patter across the surface of the water together.
Little owl
You may be lucky enough to find one of these compact owls perched in a tree or on a fencepost. They become very active at dusk and you may hear their shrill calls.
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.
Skylark
Spring visits will be enriched by the beautiful song of skylarks. They rise up into the air from the grassland until they are barely visible and only their song can be heard
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/s/staidans/seasonal_highli...
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
Look out for marsh harriers displaying over the reedbeds, great crested grebes performing their elaborate courtship dances and returning swallows skimming low over the water and grasslands as they collect insects. Listen out for skylarks filling the air with their song, the deep booming of male bitterns, male snipe 'drumming' as they vibrate their tail feathers to attract females and lapwings calling as they perform their aerobatic displays. Enjoy the fusion of colour as wildflowers burst into bloom and a host of brightly-coloured butterflies and dragonflies take to the wing. Spring is also a great time to see kestrels. You can often see several hovering around the site at the same time as they hunt for voles in the grassland. Kestrels have also been seen nesting in the huge dragline.
Summer
Watch overhead for herons and little egrets dropping into the reeds to feed, female bitterns flying low over the reedbeds as they seek out food for their chicks or marsh harriers passing food to each other in flight. Keep an eye on the open water for lines of young ducklings paddling along behind their parents or young great crested grebes riding around on their parents' backs and admire the abundant lilypads on the lakes. Stoats, weasels and water voles are often seen at this time of year as are basking butterflies and dragonflies hawking the waters edge. Thousands of black-headed gulls set up a colony at this time of the year filling the air with their calls. Summer is the best time to spot the elusive black necked grebe as it will have its fluffy youngsters in tow. Avocets also nest at this time of year. St Aidan’s is a good place to spot this iconic bird that is the logo of the RSPB.
Autumn
Autumn sees the arrival of migrant birds, such as black-tailed godwits, ruffs and green sandpipers. Local birdwatchers will also spot a few rarities such as spoonbills and pectoral sandpipers. Huge flocks of lapwings arrive to spend winter with us and can be seen around pool edges and on grassland. Short-eared owls hunt over the reedbeds and our winter wildfowl begin to arrive. Look out for flashes of blue as kingfishers flit up and down the river.
Winter
Waders and wildfowl such as lapwings, curlews, wigeons, teals, shovelers and goldeneyes gather in big numbers, roosting and feeding across the grasslands and pools. Water rails can be spotted feeding on frozen pools, or you can listen out for their strange, pig-like squealing! The elusive bittern is also drawn out into the open at times. One of the most awesome spectacles in winter is seeing massive flocks of roosting birds panic and fly into the air as peregrines hunt over the site. Look and listen out for overwintering stonechats. Their calls sound like two pebbles being knocked together!
Facilities
Facilities
•Visitor centre
•Car park : There's a car park charge of £2.50 per car for RSPB non-members. RSPB members and disabled badge holders park for free. We have cycle parking and a height restriction of 2.7 m (8' 10'') for vehicles.
•Toilets
•Disabled toilets
•Baby-changing facilities
•Picnic area
•Group bookings accepted
•Guided walks available
•Good for walking
•Pushchair friendly
Nature trails
Bowers Bimble: Starting from the car park, this 0.9-mile (1.5 km) flat trail takes you on a short walk around Bowers Lake then through grassland and wild flower meadows. Great for a relaxing stroll (20-30 minutes).
Lowther Loop: For a walk through shady woodland glades and along the banks of the River Aire, venture onto this 1.3 mile (2 km) flat trail. In wet winter months, it’s a welly boot walk (60 minutes).
Hillside Hike: For stunning landscapes and panoramic views of the nature park and surrounding areas, t ake a hike onto the hillside. This trail is 1.3 miles (2 km) with some steep hills and inclines, which wind through the trees and grassland (40-60 minutes).
Reedbed Ramble: To explore the magic of the whispering reedbeds, take a walk on this 1.7-mile (2.8 km) flat route that runs around the edges of the reedbeds and loops back to the main entrance (40-45 minutes).
As the new custodians of St Aidan's, we are aiming to improve the accessibility of our paths as soon as we can. Please contact us for updates on footpath and bridleway conditions.
Refreshments available
•Hot drinks
•Cold drinks
•Snacks
•Confectionery
By train
The nearest train stations are Woodlesford (3.2 miles), Castleford (3.2 miles) and Garforth (4.3 miles). If you're going to be walking or cycling from the station to St Aidan's, choose Woodlesford station. Turn left out of the station then left onto the main road. When you get to the bridge over the Aire and Calder navigation, cross it, then turn right and walk along the riverbank until you reach St Aidan's. If you're going to take a taxi from the station to St Aidan's, head towards Castleford station as it's easier to get a taxi there.
By bus
The nearest bus stop is just outside the entrance to St Aidan’s, on Astley Lane. The Number 167 Leeds to Castleford bus stops here and is run by Arriva Yorkshire.
By road
Reach us from junction 46 of the M1. Follow the A63, signposted Selby and Garforth. At the roundabout, take the fourth left for Wakefield A642, Swillington and Oulton. Follow the A642 for 1.5 miles then turn left on to Astley Lane. St Aidan's is 1.8 miles on the right.
From Castleford, follow the A656 (Barnsdale Road) north out of the town centre for 1.4 miles. Turn left onto Station Road towards Allerton Bywater and travel 1.2 miles. Turn left onto the Leeds Road (next to the yellow corner shop). St Aidan’s is 0.5 miles along the road on the left.
Other ways to get to the reserve
It's easy to get to St Aidan's by bike. The site is bordered on its south-east edge by the Trans-Pennine Trail central section (Route 67). This runs north all the way to Leeds city centre, and south to join the main east-west route near our Old Moor nature reserve at Barnsley. There is also a local cycle route called the Linesway Greenway (Route 697) that runs between Garforth and Allerton Bywater with a spur at the Allerton Bywater end that links into the site. St Aidan's is also bordered by the Leeds Country Way. Maps of this route can be found on the Leeds City Council website. There are also many other local footpaths and bridleways that link into the site from the surrounding towns and villages.
Autumn impressions from Graz and (near) Vienna Lobau - I know, I'm late with my autumn pictures, but I wanted to use Lightroom and I had to learn it first. :-)
See also my album: portraits when passing by and... you are welcome to visit my profile You should have a look on my Faves too.
I had read about the new RSPB reserve opening and decided to take a look. It opened on the 25th of May. When we arrived there were only 2-3 cars. The visitor centre overlooked a lake, stunningly bleak view but with no birds to be seen. No birds and no people yet the RSPB staff and volunteers appeared were so cheery and optimistic. Once out onto the reserve and onto the hilltop you get a beautiful view of the reserve and hear the sound of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Blackcaps and Whitethroats. When you descend you see the birds and also hear them. I would recommend it as a place to visit. I was very impressed!
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/s/staidans/
St Aidan's is a perfect place to get close to nature and relax, unwind or exercise in a stress-free environment. Just outside Leeds on the banks of the River Aire, it's a big new space to walk, run, cycle, or ride your horse and enjoy the wildlife that surrounds you.
It has a wide range of wild plants and animals, and is home to thousands of birds, brown hares, roe deer, wild flowers and insects - all living in a stunning landscape of vast reedbeds, grassland, woodland, lakes, ponds and islands.
With a variety of circular paths of varying lengths and large areas of open grassland, St Aidan’s is a great place for families to enjoy the outdoors, share a picnic and play together.
Over 7.5 miles (12 km) of footpaths, bridleways and cycle routes connect the surrounding communities, with links to national footpath and cycle networks. St Aidan's is a fantastic place for locals wishing to explore the wider countryside or as a destination for people who love nature.
Opening times
St Aidan's is an open access site. Opening times apply to the visitor centre and car park. From March-October they're open from 9.30 am to 5 pm. From September-February it's 9.30 am to 4 pm. They're closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Entrance charges
Entry to the site is free but donations to help us continue our work are welcome. There is a car park charge of £2.50 per car for RSPB non-members. RSPB members and disabled badge holders park for free.
Information for dog owners
Dogs are allowed on the reserve as long as they are kept on a lead in the appropriate designated zones. There are some less sensitive areas within St Aidan's where dogs are allowed off the lead. Please check with staff before letting dogs off the lead.
Star species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
Bittern
Bitterns are brown, secretive herons, camouflaged to hide amongst reeds. Visit in spring to hear male bitterns 'booming' or summer to watch the parents making feeding flights.
Great crested grebe
Watch the amazing courtship ritual of great crested grebes on the open water in spring. You may see pairs performing their 'weed dance' when they present one another with weed and patter across the surface of the water together.
Little owl
You may be lucky enough to find one of these compact owls perched in a tree or on a fencepost. They become very active at dusk and you may hear their shrill calls.
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.
Skylark
Spring visits will be enriched by the beautiful song of skylarks. They rise up into the air from the grassland until they are barely visible and only their song can be heard
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/s/staidans/seasonal_highli...
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
Look out for marsh harriers displaying over the reedbeds, great crested grebes performing their elaborate courtship dances and returning swallows skimming low over the water and grasslands as they collect insects. Listen out for skylarks filling the air with their song, the deep booming of male bitterns, male snipe 'drumming' as they vibrate their tail feathers to attract females and lapwings calling as they perform their aerobatic displays. Enjoy the fusion of colour as wildflowers burst into bloom and a host of brightly-coloured butterflies and dragonflies take to the wing. Spring is also a great time to see kestrels. You can often see several hovering around the site at the same time as they hunt for voles in the grassland. Kestrels have also been seen nesting in the huge dragline.
Summer
Watch overhead for herons and little egrets dropping into the reeds to feed, female bitterns flying low over the reedbeds as they seek out food for their chicks or marsh harriers passing food to each other in flight. Keep an eye on the open water for lines of young ducklings paddling along behind their parents or young great crested grebes riding around on their parents' backs and admire the abundant lilypads on the lakes. Stoats, weasels and water voles are often seen at this time of year as are basking butterflies and dragonflies hawking the waters edge. Thousands of black-headed gulls set up a colony at this time of the year filling the air with their calls. Summer is the best time to spot the elusive black necked grebe as it will have its fluffy youngsters in tow. Avocets also nest at this time of year. St Aidan’s is a good place to spot this iconic bird that is the logo of the RSPB.
Autumn
Autumn sees the arrival of migrant birds, such as black-tailed godwits, ruffs and green sandpipers. Local birdwatchers will also spot a few rarities such as spoonbills and pectoral sandpipers. Huge flocks of lapwings arrive to spend winter with us and can be seen around pool edges and on grassland. Short-eared owls hunt over the reedbeds and our winter wildfowl begin to arrive. Look out for flashes of blue as kingfishers flit up and down the river.
Winter
Waders and wildfowl such as lapwings, curlews, wigeons, teals, shovelers and goldeneyes gather in big numbers, roosting and feeding across the grasslands and pools. Water rails can be spotted feeding on frozen pools, or you can listen out for their strange, pig-like squealing! The elusive bittern is also drawn out into the open at times. One of the most awesome spectacles in winter is seeing massive flocks of roosting birds panic and fly into the air as peregrines hunt over the site. Look and listen out for overwintering stonechats. Their calls sound like two pebbles being knocked together!
Facilities
Facilities
•Visitor centre
•Car park : There's a car park charge of £2.50 per car for RSPB non-members. RSPB members and disabled badge holders park for free. We have cycle parking and a height restriction of 2.7 m (8' 10'') for vehicles.
•Toilets
•Disabled toilets
•Baby-changing facilities
•Picnic area
•Group bookings accepted
•Guided walks available
•Good for walking
•Pushchair friendly
Nature trails
Bowers Bimble: Starting from the car park, this 0.9-mile (1.5 km) flat trail takes you on a short walk around Bowers Lake then through grassland and wild flower meadows. Great for a relaxing stroll (20-30 minutes).
Lowther Loop: For a walk through shady woodland glades and along the banks of the River Aire, venture onto this 1.3 mile (2 km) flat trail. In wet winter months, it’s a welly boot walk (60 minutes).
Hillside Hike: For stunning landscapes and panoramic views of the nature park and surrounding areas, t ake a hike onto the hillside. This trail is 1.3 miles (2 km) with some steep hills and inclines, which wind through the trees and grassland (40-60 minutes).
Reedbed Ramble: To explore the magic of the whispering reedbeds, take a walk on this 1.7-mile (2.8 km) flat route that runs around the edges of the reedbeds and loops back to the main entrance (40-45 minutes).
As the new custodians of St Aidan's, we are aiming to improve the accessibility of our paths as soon as we can. Please contact us for updates on footpath and bridleway conditions.
Refreshments available
•Hot drinks
•Cold drinks
•Snacks
•Confectionery
By train
The nearest train stations are Woodlesford (3.2 miles), Castleford (3.2 miles) and Garforth (4.3 miles). If you're going to be walking or cycling from the station to St Aidan's, choose Woodlesford station. Turn left out of the station then left onto the main road. When you get to the bridge over the Aire and Calder navigation, cross it, then turn right and walk along the riverbank until you reach St Aidan's. If you're going to take a taxi from the station to St Aidan's, head towards Castleford station as it's easier to get a taxi there.
By bus
The nearest bus stop is just outside the entrance to St Aidan’s, on Astley Lane. The Number 167 Leeds to Castleford bus stops here and is run by Arriva Yorkshire.
By road
Reach us from junction 46 of the M1. Follow the A63, signposted Selby and Garforth. At the roundabout, take the fourth left for Wakefield A642, Swillington and Oulton. Follow the A642 for 1.5 miles then turn left on to Astley Lane. St Aidan's is 1.8 miles on the right.
From Castleford, follow the A656 (Barnsdale Road) north out of the town centre for 1.4 miles. Turn left onto Station Road towards Allerton Bywater and travel 1.2 miles. Turn left onto the Leeds Road (next to the yellow corner shop). St Aidan’s is 0.5 miles along the road on the left.
Other ways to get to the reserve
It's easy to get to St Aidan's by bike. The site is bordered on its south-east edge by the Trans-Pennine Trail central section (Route 67). This runs north all the way to Leeds city centre, and south to join the main east-west route near our Old Moor nature reserve at Barnsley. There is also a local cycle route called the Linesway Greenway (Route 697) that runs between Garforth and Allerton Bywater with a spur at the Allerton Bywater end that links into the site. St Aidan's is also bordered by the Leeds Country Way. Maps of this route can be found on the Leeds City Council website. There are also many other local footpaths and bridleways that link into the site from the surrounding towns and villages.
San Gimignano , italy
Camera: Nikon D3
Lens: NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4D
Exposure Program: Manual
F-Number: 1.4
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1000)
ISO: 200
Departing Seaton Carew station, 156487 works 2N42 Hexham to Nunthorpe. The title refers to the inclusion of an ICE train picture on the 'Friends of Seaton Station' banner.
This is a picture I took a while back and made into a collage, but picnik brought out a range of new effects so I thought I'd have a look, and i really like this :)
I'm feeling very optimistic about my coming adventures. I'm excited and anxious, and I think I'm ready. I hope so anyway.
There's something very optimistic about a sunrise. I photographed this one on Seven Mile Beach a few weeks ago - you might recognise the hues from my first postcard video. I am sometimes asked how I manage to be in the 'right place at the right time' and the answer is that it is far from lucky. I simply go out as often as I can and let the law of averages work in my favour. Or to put it another way, if you don't go fishing, you won't catch a fish. Cheers me dears :)
We were in the car long enough today for it to warm up. Despite it being minus ten degrees C on the other side of the glass, this spider was stretching his or her legs and looking around as if to find something to pounce on.
After we turned off the car, the spider probably went back to hibernating. It's minus twelve out there now. Brrr.
He/she was tiny; excluding the legs its body was about three mm long.