Wadsley's birds watch a record turnout of early morning ornithologists. The local charity that prevented a steel works at Edale. And: your 4th Secret Seating puzzle.
I remember as a child wandering along quiet lanes in the Cheshire countryside, and hearing yellowhammers and skylarks. Then as an adult, I used to drive along the M6/M56/M53 to visit my parents, little realising how close I was to the paths I used to wander. The motorways made the journey much quicker, but these days I feel quite bad that I was just the sort of person these motorways were build for. I wonder how much I would have been prepared to give up to preserve the countryside and the wildlife as it was……
Thanks for this Susan. Many of those old lanes are still there, walkers and bike riders look for the yellow or byway routes on Ordnance Survey maps. Author Jack Thurston has put together guides of 'Lost Lanes' around the country, technically for bike riders but just as useful for walkers and runners. This one might have some of the routes you remember: https://wildthingspublishing.com/product/lost-lanes-central-england-midlands/
Another great post David, thank you. I'm pretty sure that the Secret Seat is on the right bank of the River Sheaf at Broadfield Road. Note also the male Mandarin Duck in the photo, one of the 20 or so in what has become a thriving community of these somewhat ostentatious birds.
Thanks Andy, and yes, good spot! I wondered if any of the Sheaf & Porter Rivers Trust folk would get there first. And do the Mandarins sit in the chair too, I wonder?
I remember as a child wandering along quiet lanes in the Cheshire countryside, and hearing yellowhammers and skylarks. Then as an adult, I used to drive along the M6/M56/M53 to visit my parents, little realising how close I was to the paths I used to wander. The motorways made the journey much quicker, but these days I feel quite bad that I was just the sort of person these motorways were build for. I wonder how much I would have been prepared to give up to preserve the countryside and the wildlife as it was……
I still dream of those quiet lanes 🥹.
Thanks for this Susan. Many of those old lanes are still there, walkers and bike riders look for the yellow or byway routes on Ordnance Survey maps. Author Jack Thurston has put together guides of 'Lost Lanes' around the country, technically for bike riders but just as useful for walkers and runners. This one might have some of the routes you remember: https://wildthingspublishing.com/product/lost-lanes-central-england-midlands/
Oh wow! Thanks for pointing me towards these books David - they look wonderful!
Another great post David, thank you. I'm pretty sure that the Secret Seat is on the right bank of the River Sheaf at Broadfield Road. Note also the male Mandarin Duck in the photo, one of the 20 or so in what has become a thriving community of these somewhat ostentatious birds.
Thanks Andy, and yes, good spot! I wondered if any of the Sheaf & Porter Rivers Trust folk would get there first. And do the Mandarins sit in the chair too, I wonder?