Learning to look more closely

As will be clear, I enjoy walking and the sense of moving at a realistic pace through the landscape.  Often in the past the objective often has simply been to "go for a walk" for the sake of fresh air and a general appreciation of the lie of the land.  Photography is encouraging me to look both at the landscape and at the details rather more carefully, which become increasingly rewarding.  I have had a general interest in wild flowers for some time, but only now am I really appreciating them, along with the stirrings of wanting to find out more about lichen and fungi.  Birds are of great interest too, but being so mobile and quick, I have a fast growing regard and respect for people who photograph them.  As for insects, any pictures I get will have to be of particularly slow types or ones that don't mind getting close with the camera.   I am far from having the eye or the skill to catch fast moving subjects that are easily startled.

I suppose the reputation for fungi and lichens (also grasses and mosses) as being complicated and difficult has always put me off.  But so many fungi appeared last autumn that just cried out for a picture, and it always seems like a job less than half done to have a reasonable picture of something and not a clue what it is.  So there is a new found desire to try and start tackling the subjects.  At least there are plenty of on-line tools these days as well as books, and I am hoping to make some progress.

Some fungi and lichens are just so great to look at and attempt to photograph.  Their forms and colours are so varied.  It is also striking how the same group of fungi seen on walks a few days apart can look very different as they mature, which just adds to the complexity but also to the interest.

As far as wild flowers are concerned, new types are appearing in flower on almost a daily basis as the spring season unfolds.  But first there are some lichen pictures, all taken yesterday afternoon on a short walk locally.

The other three shots for this post were also taken yesterday, featuring plants and insects.   Plenty to see!  Must keep looking....

If, in future, my walking pace declines to a few hundred metres an hour and I start complain about those who are content to rush through the countryside at three miles an hour, then it probably started about here.  I can see that I am going to be torn between trying to accomplish a meaningful walk in terms of distance with the time to take in more of the detail along the way.

Local evening stroll, Carr Vale reserve

If I am not away elsewhere, I usually try to get out a bit and more often than not end up doing a round of one or both of the local reserves.  Carr Vale Flash nature reserve was established in a former mining area where a group of small lakes or flashes had formed due to the industrial workings.  They are located in the Doe Lea valley close to the Carr Vale area of town where we live.

These pictures give a flavour of what can be seen on just a short evening stroll in the spring.  Things change almost on a daily basis, and this April the weather changes virtually minute by minute.

Meadow Flash, Carr Vale - after April showers

Evening at Meadow Flash, Carr Vale reserve

 Meadow Flash is in open fields, the others are more secluded and enclosed.  A pair of Great Crested Grebes has taken to the other main lake this year.  Just one of them was out and about this evening.  I do not have the big lenses and equipment necessary for close ups of birds, but did manage to get a silhouette with the unmistakable outline of this elegant and striking bird.

Silhouette, Great Crested Grebe

The smaller middle lake between the other two sometimes comes up well for a picture.  The reeds are just coming to life, and I always like the patterns on water, whether reflections on still water, or abstracts caused by ripples or waves.  This evening the water was calm in this sheltered spot.

Reeds in the middle lake at Carr Vale

Many of the spring flowers are now in full force.  One of my favourites (although with a long flowering season not restricted to spring) is the White Dead Nettle.  To me it seems to be camera friendly, showing up lovely details.  A tiny bug of some sort also features in this evening's shot.

White Dead Nettle

One common flower that seems to have eluded me until this year is Ground Ivy.  I saw it the other day and got a nice picture, and managed to identify it successfully, realising I had somehow missed out on getting to know it before.  It is a lovely little plant, and enticed me into taking another picture of another good patch of what is obviously a widespread plant.

Ground Ivy

As noted in a recent piece, I am very intrigued by lichens but put off by their complexity.  This one, however, is common and quite recognisable, and I managed to identify it through visual comparison without too much trouble.  It's simply called Common Orange Lichen.

Common Orange Lichen

It always seems worthwhile getting out, and there's usually something fresh to see, even on a familiar little walk.  How pleased I am to have become interested in photography - it is literally an eye opener.  I was already interested in places and nature in general, but the combination with photography is focussing things much more for me.  Above all it directs my thoughts in wonder and awe before the Creator God, with evidence of the hand of a master designer at work on every hand.

Two trips to Big Moor

The main walk on Saturday Apr 14th was 9.5 miles, starting by Ramsley Moor at the Shillito Wood car park on Fox Lane.  I crossed the access land on Leash Fen - just in time as the land is rapidly getting wetter after the many April showers this year.  Crossing the main road, I followed the lane for a short distance before taking a path that heads to a lengthy journey north along White Edge, cutting across to the B 6054 and then using the track across Big Moor past the drained reservoir and down the Bar Brook valley and back across Ramsley Moor to the car park.  It was most enjoyable, with a sense of wide open spaces, peace and quiet.  The walking was very fast and easy, making it little more than a half day walk.

On Wednesday Apr 18th I had the car and it was a wet day, and I decided to go back to the moorland again. It was not a real walk but developed into a couple of excursions out on to the moor.  The area was wonderfully atmospheric, and at long last there was sufficient rain to look as though it was making an impact on the unusually dry ground through the winter and much of the last couple of years.  One conclusion from the day, was, as I suspected, some little used but quite expensive traditional waterproofs were much less effective (especially the jacket which really has been very poor) than another set of cheaper ones I have have been using.  My camera gave up after a while, which tends to happen when rain really sets in.  Perhaps I'll have to look into waterproof options for this sort of day.

Saturday photos.

On Leash Fen

Lichen on rock, Leash Fen

Leash Fen was worth tackling while the ground was still reasonably dry, it must often be a nightmare underfoot.  Even so the tussocky grass and mossy areas meant that picking a way was slow and required care.  It may seem desolate and unappealing, but I was glad to have ventured across.  I have decided that I really am intrigued by lichens, but that they are extremely difficult to identify and understand.  I am feeling the same way about fungi, but at least there are some which can be identified by the beginner.

Leaving the lane west of the A621, I had an encounter with Highland cattle.  They were either side of the path and seemed surprised that I used the path right through the middle of the group.  As I approached one actually fell to the ground and scrambled to its feet with a startled look.  This really aroused the interest or concern of the others, and they were quite noisy and followed me for some distance to make sure I was not a threat.  Thankfully none of them made any really threatening approach, although they looked and sounded on the verge of being quite cross at the disturbance.

Highland cattle, keeping watch after my intrusion

Looking back to the A621 and corner of Leash Fen (upper left)

The path climbed gently to the line of White Edge, which is just above the surrounding plateau and moorland.  The edge is only significant because of the general gentleness of the plateau - in most hill country it would hardly register as a feature.  However it does provide particularly grand walking, and there were a few people enjoying the area even though there are much more popular walks nearby.

White Edge trig point and Big Moor

White Edge, looking south

Below White Edge - Stoke Flat

Walkers on White Edge, looking south

The above four pictures are between the Curbar gap lane and the westernmost point which the walkers were rounding.  The path changes direction from NNW to NNE, but continues to follow the line of the edge, with views towards Longshaw and Win Hill beyond.  Even in the dull weather the views looked good, even if not ideal for colourful photography.  Hopefully some of the atmosphere of the day is conveyed.

View from White Edge

Big Moor

Little stream exiting Big Moor

Northern section of White Edge, looking south

A couple of slightly larger rock formations can be seen right at the north end before the edge merges into the moorland at White Edge Moor.  By now the clouds were gathering and as I cut across to the B6054 a sleety shower set in, moderately heavy for about 20 minutes.  A couple ahead of me had to hang around waiting for their dog to return from some private extra exploration of the area - later they were seen behind, reunited.  The next objective was the crossing of Big Moor passing the old reservoir on Bar Brook.  It all looked quite wild and remote, even though never really very far from a main road.

From White Edge Moor towards the B6054

Big Moor, sleet

Breached Barbrook Reservoir

Beyond, a very good track leads down the side of the deepening Bar Brook valley in a series of wide curves.  It is much quicker and easier to keep to the track rather than attempt short cuts.  The shower eased and the walk was very enjoyable, passing a small reservoir with the valley beyond quite steep sided, hidden away as a fold in the moor.  Finally the track curves to meet the A621 and cross Ramsley Moor to the other former reservoir.

Bar Brook valley

Small reservoir, Bar Brook

Bar Brook draining Big Moor

View from Ramsley Moor to main road and lanes

Tuesday pictures

There are just a handful of shots before the camera gave up.  Early on I heard a cuckoo call for the first time this year, just  near the trees in the first picture.  I found some fungi that I have managed to identify!  (The fact that is was growing on birch, which I can at least recognise, was certainly a help).  I crossed Ramsley Moor and went up the Bar Brook valley to the small reservoir and explored some of the open moorland, just experiencing the place and the conditions.  Moorland like this really ought to be enjoyed on days like this as well as on sunny August days when the heather is out, or in crisp winter weather with frost and a sprinkling of snow.  Or maybe I really am weird.  A full cry of a curlew filled the air as I exited the moor, all the more evocative being the only one heard on the day.

Trees, Ramsley Moor - here I heard the cuckoo

Fungi ID - birch polypore, Piptoporus betulinus

Former Ramsley reservoir

Part of a stone circle above Bar Brook

Bar Brook valley track

Canada Goose at the small reservoir

Walking the hills - lessons in perspective

It is said that a considerable majority of visitors to Britain's national parks rarely stray more than 10 minutes away from their car.  There are the popular "honeypots" or "tourist traps" which always seem thronged, whilst a short distance away a lovely peaceful spot can often be found.  If so, then many people only see the landscape from one perspective - the car window or the view from the popular hot spots.

For me, ever since I have seen views of hills, I have wanted to be in and amongst them, exploring and experiencing the slopes and the summits.   Now, a lot can be discovered about a hill by looking at it from valley or village level.  The varying steepness, the amount of bare rock, whether it has a simple or complex structure and geography - all these can be well appreciated.  It is also interesting how the same hill can look completely different from different directions.  The famous Langdale Pikes only really have one side, because behind there is simply a continuation of high ground.  Blencathra has the imposing southern side with its lofty ridges, so well seen from the main A66 between Penrith and Keswick - the other sides are more rounded and grassy apart from the hidden drama of Sharp Edge.  Skiddaw is immediately recognised by millions in pictures from Keswick, Derwentwater or Ashness Bridge which are all to the south.  How many would recognise a picture of Skiddaw from the north, perhaps taken near Bassenthwaite village?

Those who are content just to look at the hills miss out on so much.  Yes, it takes some effort and a bit of expense to get properly equipped.  Novices are definitely encouraged to do their first few trips with experienced walkers.  Yes, it does take energy and commitment to set off in good time and keep plodding up slopes that may seem never ending.  However, many Lake District hills have a distinct pattern.

At valley level there are usually farms and enclosed fields, usually bounded by dry stone walls.  The fields are tended and cultivated to some extent, usually with grass for sheep or cattle to graze.  Trees may grow tall and strong because of the shelter.  The valley sections of a walk are often very beautiful, but committed hill-goers sometimes say they find this section rather tame.  Newcomers will probably feel within their comfort zone.

The moment comes when you cross the stile or go through the gate at the final wall enclosing the "intake" ground.  Beyond lies the open fell, uncultivated and wild.  This is the moment many walkers look forward to, but where unease may start to creep in for the newcomer.  What is this new, wilder terrain going to bring?  It will certainly seem challenging, but this is just what the hill walkers find so good about the open fellside - the sense of challenge combined with the sense of space and freedom.  Some height has been gained, yet there is plenty still to achieve.  A depth begins to come into the views, which are now down as well as up.  The distant views also begin to expand.  The whole progress of the unfolding of these views and dimensions has a quality of endless fascination and interest for those who are hooked on the experience of walking in and through the landscape.  Those who stay within their cars, and only get out for tea shops and villages, or maybe some gardens or an easily accessible beauty spot never really discover for themselves the joy and satisfaction that comes from being up above the roads and villages, and further still beyond those intake walls.

Then the moment will come when a pass or a ridge is reached, with sudden fresh views in another direction. The valley or hillside may have been sheltered, and suddenly the breeze or wind can be felt.  You may now be high enough to round a crag and look down its steep sides and see the valley and village from above for a change.  The road looks like a ribbon and the traffic noise barely reaches this height, and individual houses are mere dots.  It's great to see the world from this new perspective!  And still higher reaches the hill towards the summit.  The sense of achievement on reaching the cairn never fails.  And beyond there are more ridges to walk, may a series of ups and downs linking several summits, before finally having to descend once more to "civilisation", refreshed and recharged physically, and, I would say, spiritually.

You can read about people who are enthusiastic about something, but can never really know what it is like without trying it.  I had to try rugby, but all enthusiasm eluded me.  I am not about to say that everyone who tries hill walking will, or even should, fall for the enthusiasm in the way I have described.  But if there is nothing in one's life that you can relate to that creates that sort of buzz and glow, then I would suggest there is something lacking.  It is very sad when this buzz is gained through harmful or unprofitable occupations, when there are so many positive ways of finding exhilaration and fulfilment.

Hill-walking is by definition a participation activity and not a spectator sport.

There is another area of life that never should be regarded as a spectator sport - the Christian faith.  It has to be experienced first hand.  Jesus defined it as being born again, as distinct as life and death, or light and darkness.  People can read all about it from a distance, but the perspective will always be flat and one dimensional.  The Bible must be read and applied first hand.  Reading it and applying it can be totally life changing.  Suddenly life has a whole new meaning and perspective.

Those who only see Skiddaw from Keswick or Derwentwater cannot know what it looks and feels like to be walking along the stony summit ridge, or looking down over Derwentwater from the Little Man, however much they might have read or seen pictures.  Christianity is similar.  From the outside looking in there are truths and depths and feelings and senses that must remain a mystery unless truly experienced.

For those who are willing, the Bible opens up like the fellside above the intake wall. The Bible becomes a living, vital resource of God's Word which the Holy Spirit applies to each Christian in an individual way through their own experience of God in their lives.  The pattern and foundation is set.  The way in is through personal faith in the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, recognising Him as the Son of God.  That our own sins are the reason for His death must be accepted personally.  That He is the only true hope for forgiveness and eternal life must be firmly believed.  Taking the Bible as God's Word - God sets what is right and wrong and shows the way we should live for Him.  It is not a list of "do nots" but a door into a fulfilling, satisfying life with new dimensions and depths, even if, like the crags on the mountains, they can be challenging and almost scary at times.  A Christian has a one to one vertical relationship with the Creator of the universe!  A Christian is lifted from the valley of despair and the false perspectives of the materialistic world all around us.  We find a new viewpoint and the vista is marvellous.  We get glimpses of the God who is the God of the enormity of space and the stars as well as the God of the detail of the atom and the electron.  With respect to time we get a glimpse of how a day is as a thousand years - He can look down and take account of thousands of millions of individual lives and knows the number of hairs on the head of each one at every moment of their lives, and the thoughts and intents of their hearts.  And yet He also sees a thousand years as but a day - Christ died just the day before yesterday, so fresh is it to Him.

Are you not ready to have your eyes opened to things beyond imagination?  How exciting, that, even for experienced Christian believers who have left the valleys and explored the mountain tops of faith, there is still more to come - much more.  "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him".  (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Christianity has an enemy, Satan, who constantly wants to misrepresent it as dull and negative.  Jesus said that He had come to bring life, and life in all its fullness.  He speaks as the Creator and giver of life.  He does not make false promises, and does not hold back in the generosity of His giving.

The equivalent of the valley and the intake wall is the sum of human reason and experience.  It is bounded and can never reach the heights of knowing God.  Man cannot invent or work out God.  God must reveal Himself.  He has done so through the Bible, the written Word, and through His Son Jesus Christ, the living Word, the Word made flesh.

The equivalent of the gate onto the open fell is the cross of Christ.  As portrayed in Pilgrim's Progress by Bunyan, the burden was lifted at the foot of the cross which was by the wicket gate.  A great journey of challenge and discovery lay beyond, with many ups and downs.  The cross of Christ is where we must come, reaching the end of our own human resources and receiving the wonderful gifts of life from God.  Jesus said Himself that He is the door, and He opened the door through going to the cross and rising again.  A whole new world and perspective is opened up when we go through.  How do we go through?  Simply by believing that He has achieved everything needed to make us right with God and open up that personal vertical relationship with Him.

As far as the exhilaration of hill walking is concerned, the reader can make their own judgement.  I will continue to enjoy the privilege of exploring the landscape God has provided for us to inhabit, use and enjoy. But I will allow for no exceptions as far as Christianity is concerned.  It is a message of good news for everybody, with results that will positively transform the live and outlook and prospects of all who genuinely experience God's love and forgiveness for themselves.  Any other perspective on Christianity is falsehood and a dangerous lie.  Why remain unforgiven when you can have every burden lifted?  Why remain uncertain about death and what lies beyond when you can have the assurance of eternal life, which will be exciting, fulfilling, satisfying, joyful, and amazing - so unlike every awful caricature of strumming harps and boredom.

Come on, leave the sad little material honeypots of this world behind, do a little exploring of God's Word and go through the little gate onto the open mountainside.  Experience the thrill and the freedom and the sense of life and space.  Make the promises of God personal to yourself and see if your whole perspective and outlook is not completely transformed.  It must be first hand - second hand Christianity is an impossibility.  It is positive, altogether worthwhile and meaningful and freely available to whosoever will.  God's Word is a world to explore.  It is the spiritual equivalent of what God said to Abraham after he had travelled to the unknown land all the way from Ur, and it was at last spread out in a great vista beneath his feet - "Walk the land".

April afternoon - spring showers

If I cannot get further afield, on most days I try to get out for fresh air and usually the walk includes the lakes at Carr Vale reserve, just 15 minute's stroll away from the front door.  Yesterday was great for weather watching, which is something I particularly enjoy.  So here are some shots to share how the afternoon developed.

The oil-seed rape seems to be coming into flower early this year.  Just a few weeks ago the snow was on the ground, and otherwise the plants don't seem to have been especially thriving because of the dry weather. However, the usually bright mass of flowers is well on the way now, and they made a good foreground against the sky.  For a long time it was unclear whether or not the clouds really "meant business".  The clouds were very slow moving so it was interesting to see how they were developing and reshaping.  Eventually it did become darker and closer.

Even so, it still looked quite localised, and I wandered the short distance down to the "Meadow Flash" - one of the lakes in the Carr Vale reserve.  This southern lake is in an open setting, hence "meadow", and it is one of a series of lakes caused by industrial activity, hence "flash".  A little curtain of rain developed, but seemed quite insignificant.

However, very quickly, everything intensified.  By the time I had reached the other of the larger lakes there was quite a downpour on the go.  It did not last for long, but was quite impressive.  The next shots give a bit of an impression.

The intensity soon eased, but a gentler rain continued for about 20 minutes.  This period brought the general grey and damp look to the fore on the path by the woods in the adjoining Peter Fidler reserve.  The birch trees are just coming into leaf.

The Peter Fidler reserve has a couple of smaller lakes and pools.  I got a nice shot of birch twigs after the rain, with out of focus reeds in the background.  There was also an attractive insect sheltering on a post which obligingly stayed put for a photo session.

Insect on a post, since identified as alderfly

I also took shots of a hawthorn branch with the lake beyond and a couple of dandelions which brightened up the scene.  Also, one of my favourite  subjects - ripples and patterns on water - this time after a duck had swum across.

By now, things were drying up quite nicely, although the sky was in quite a state of cloudy chaos.  Nothing developed further in the way of showers and the sky gradually calmed.  However there were some great scenes of clouds and blue sky with the sun going in and out.  It was just great to be out and about and I returned home almost dry, thanks to the waterproofs.  The camera had stood up quite well to the rain, so that was another bonus.  Later on, after a very slow build up over the Pennines, seen from home, a larger shower system finally came through after 6.30 pm, but it was decaying a bit and the rain was not as heavy or prolonged as it must have been over the hills.  I hope seeing the selection of pictures captures something of an afternoon of April showers.