Photographs – a Visit to Gloucestershire Warwickshire (Steam) Railway

Posted on by L M Dee

Photographs taken during a visit to the volunteer-run heritage railway Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. Even if you’re not that interested in trains, it’s a great day out in wonderful countryside and with home-made cake and local ale for sale.

Continue reading Photographs – a Visit to Gloucestershire Warwickshire (Steam) Railway

Sheldon Country Park/Old Rectory Farm & Babbs Mill Local Nature Reserve

Posted on by L M Dee

A few photos taken in and around Sheldon Country Park and Old Rectory Farm:

“Sheldon Country Park covers an area of just over 300 acres, comprising open grassland, wetlands, old hedgerows and some mature woodland. Situated on the very edge of the city, the land has escaped development and has become a haven for wildlife.
The Parks Ranger Service is based at Old Rectory Farm, a 17th Century dairy farm, which is situated on the main entrance to the park.
The farm has historic importance, having been the home of Sheldon’s most celebrated son, Thomas Bray, from 1690 to 1721.
Old Rectory Farm has been fully restored and operates as a demonstration farm, showing city dwellers traditional methods of farming. Animals kept at the farm include Jersey cattle, pigs, goats, ponies, ducks, chickens and geese.” Source: Sheldon Country Park

The park includes a viewing area of Birmingham International Airport, a playground, and plenty of space to picnic.

Thomas Bray “was an English clergyman and abolitionist who helped formally establish the Church of England in Maryland” Source: Thomas Bray

photob
photoa
One image was taken at the lake at Babbs Mill Local Nature Reserve.

“Babbs Mill Park was created in 1977 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II. A haven for wildlife, it was recognised as a Local Nature Reserve in 2002.
Complete with lake, the meandering River Cole, wildflower grasslands and woodland, Babbs Mill LNR is a wonderful space for us all to get in touch with nature. A natural habitat for owls and a protected area for bats, it is a diverse habitat well deserving of its Local Nature Reserve status. ” Source: Babbs Mill Local Nature Reserve

It is a pity then that the council is seeking to remove the Local Nature Reserve Status in order to build 52 luxury houses on this precious nature spot. Source: Petition to save Babbs Mill’s Local Nature Reserve (LNR) status and Action for Babbs Mill

Photos: The Big Hoot Project

Posted on by L M Dee

The Big Hoot – 20 July – 27 September 2015
A few photosI took of some of the owls featured in The Big Hoot project. From the official website:
The Big Hoot captured the imagination of everyone in Birmingham and beyond this summer, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets with their Big Hoot Trail maps to explore the colourful invasion of individually designed owls. Taking in the city’s 10 districts, tourists and residents alike enjoyed their owl adventure, discovering and celebrating the extraordinary creativity produced by many of Birmingham’s artistic community and over 25,000 young people.
The Big Hoot owls went under the hammer on 15 October 2015 at The Big Hoot auction sponsored by Vodafone and we are thrilled to have smashed our target by raising the incredible sum of £508,035!
The money raised from the auction will support Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity’s £3.65m Star Appeal. This appeal will enable us to create a first of its kind, a Rare Diseases Centre in the UK specifically for children. It will provide co-ordinated care, treatment, support and most importantly hope to children and families living with a rare or undiagnosed condition.
In addition the auction raised £15,000 for G’owl’d by Temper with proceeds going to Edward’s Trust, and £7,800 for Fleet and Free with proceeds going to Birchfield Harriers.