Bingley bluebells

After I'd crossed Beckfoot Bridge (see yesterday) I walked along the River Aire and through the woods, returning through Bingley's Myrtle Park. It's a pretty walk and there were few people around so it made a change from the busier routes around Saltaire. The tree canopy is higher and rather more sparse than in my local Hirst Woods and, in consequence, the bluebells were a little more advanced, though still not at their peak. (This was a week or so ago.) It was all so pretty; it's definitely my favourite time of year and seeing nature so benign and abundant is a good antidote to the grim pandemic world we're living in.

There was hardly a breath of wind and the reflections in the river were wonderful. The shot below is taken from Cottingley Bridge, where Bradford Road crosses the Aire just south of Bingley.

People Play

I met my daughter at Halifax's Piece Hall recently, for a meal and then a trip to the theatre. We went to see 'Giovanni Pernice: This is Me' at the Victoria Theatre, a touring dance show starring the Italian professional dancer from 'Strictly Come Dancing'. It was colourful, cheeky and actually very funny in parts, with fabulous dancing, lighting and costumes as you'd imagine. We had a very good time, part of our Christmas present to each other. It's not often that just the two of us meet up separate from the rest of the family, so I enjoyed that.

Beforehand I explored the new sculpture installation in the Piece Hall courtyard. Called 'People Play', it has been commissioned from emerging artist Alice Irwin. It consists of nine large, colourful painted metal characters, exploring the concept of childhood, play and also referencing the treatment of children in the textile trade in Victorian times. I found it quite fun, though not especially engaging. Children (perhaps inevitably) seemed more drawn to it and to the holes and spaces within the figures. The Piece Hall is such a vast space that things within it seem tiny by comparison so, although the pieces were substantial, they still seemed a little lost in the space. But perhaps there is food for thought there too... 

It looked more interesting after dark, when a heavy rainstorm created reflections to add to the illuminations created for the exhibition's opening night.

Be my Valentine

I suppose there was a time when Valentine's Day was something to take a little bit seriously, and I think I've received a few cards in my time, some welcome and some not so... There were a few years, in between those when my mum used to send me a Valentine card and these latter years when I couldn't care less! Cynicism aside, I was nevertheless amused by this Valentine window display in an animal charity shop. Cute, I thought. I have to confess that I don't think I've ever watched 'Lady and the Tramp'. I think it has just been remade? One of these days I'm going to sit and watch all these movies that I never saw yet.

Fewston Reservoir

Fewston Reservoir looked stunning in the sunshine. I had a very pleasant walk round the perimeter path, which is wide, smooth and largely flat. It's about a four mile circuit and then I went in search of the snowdrops in the woods, so I walked about six miles altogether, very satisfying. The reservoir is a popular attraction for runners, dog walkers and those of us oldies wanting an easy constitutional. I passed a lot of people on the way round, some twice - haha! Most were friendly and said a cheery hello. Many of the dogs were friendly too, one so much so that it jumped up with its muddy paws on my coat. That does annoy me, that people can't control their animals. (Reservoir dogs - yikes!)

The reservoir, built in 1879, is one of four in the Washburn Valley. It was good to see it more or less full, though Lindley Wood, further down the valley, looked a bit low. I don't know whether the water stocks have been replenished this winter or not. We've not had much snow and I'd say the rainfall has been somewhat less than usual. After the dry summer we had last year, there is always the possibility of water shortages if we have similar weather this year.

Three angles on Lower Laithe

Lower Laithe Reservoir, west of Haworth, was constructed in the 1920s by building a dam across the Sladen valley, just above where Sladen Beck joins the River Wharfe. It supplies water to Keighley and the surrounding area. It is a noticeable landmark when seen from the higher moorland around it.

The valve tower is quite distinctive - and its walkway provides a roost for flocks of black-headed gulls.

There was hardly a breath of wind when I was walking there, so there were some interesting reflections in the water.

Salford Quays

Across the water from the Imperial War Museum (see yesterday) is an area called Salford Quays. It used to be docks beside the Manchester Ship Canal. In the 1980s, a huge urban regeneration project transformed it into a vibrant area that combines residential property, commercial, cultural and retail space. It is home to The Lowry theatre complex and across the dock from that is the huge Media City, where the BBC, ITV and other creative enterprises have offices and studios.

It's a wonderful place to explore at dusk when the lights come on, reflected in the water. We camera club members were all very happy!

The mystery of grace

There was a graceful young swan on the river in Saltaire, watching me warily. At least it didn't turn its back on me like they usually do. It looked rather attractive, gliding leisurely through the summery greens and golds reflected in the water. The young mute swans have much paler beaks than the adults, whose beaks are quite a bright orange. This one still had some buff coloured feathers among the white as well. It is probably one of last year's brood. I'd be surprised if this year's cygnets have reached this size yet. An 'ugly duckling' gradually growing into a swan... as perhaps we all are.

'I do not at all understand the mystery of grace. Only that it meets us where we are 

and does not leave us where it found us.' 

Anne Lamott

Autumn reflections

Though it's probably technically winter now, I'm loathe to let go of autumn, just as some of the trees seem loathe to let go of their leaves this year.

Leeds Dock at night

I met up with some friends from my camera club in Leeds one evening to take some photos around the Dock area. This is where the Leeds-Liverpool Canal ends and joins up with the Aire and Calder Navigation. The canal basin area has been redeveloped in recent times and is surrounded by apartments, offices, bars and restaurants. The Royal Armouries Museum is also in the vicinity (to the left on my photo). It can be quite a lively place during the day and at night comes to life with all the lights reflected in the water. It was drizzling heavily all evening so I had to keep wiping rain off my lens. (One of my photos has some interestingly blurry 'bokeh' caused by the raindrops.) At one point we all decamped to a café for coffee and to get dry, which warmed us up and provided some good camaraderie. Great fun - and I feel a lot safer in this kind of environment when I'm with friends. Not really a good place to hang around alone at night, I guess.

Salty reflections

The golden evening light reflected into the canal off the side of Salts Mill makes distinctive reflections. I'd recognise this anywhere; it's 'home' to me.

Thackley and Esholt 6

Just outside Esholt village there is an attractive railway viaduct. It carries the train from Shipley to Ilkley; a pleasantly scenic route, although I can't remember being aware of the viaduct when you're actually on the train.

Esholt also has an educational farm park that schools and groups can visit to see the animals and learn about farms. Unless you've booked a group you can't just wander in, but there was a pony fast asleep in a field (so fast asleep I didn't like to wake him by clicking my camera!) and lots of hens and geese gaggling around.

Then a walk through the woods... It was quite hard to follow the track and I need to hone my map-reading skills.

Once out of the woods, so to speak, you enter the area of Esholt Sewerage Treatment Works. It's a huge enterprise, dealing with the waste from 750000 people in Bradford and North Leeds. The filter beds are spread over a large area that used to be the Esholt Hall estate.  When Bradford's population exploded during the late 19th century as a result of the Industrial Revolution, waste poured into the little stream called Bradford Beck and led to a stinking and disease-ridden city. An embryonic sewage system was begun in 1862 but the Esholt site wasn't conceived until the 1920s. It has had several modernisations since and now produces biogas which is converted into electricity to run the plant and power about 7000 homes. Even walking around the edges of the site, it is quite well-screened, so you don't really get any idea of its size and complexity.

Some of the old Esholt Hall estate buildings have been attractively converted into a business park and educational centre.