The Stiperstones (SSSI and National Nature Reserve) Stomp walk with Ben 170713

The Stiperstones (SSSI and National Nature Reserve) Stomp walk with Ben 170713-      Hope you enjoy my blog

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The prominent ridge of the Stiperstones is located 15km to the south-west of Shrewsbury.

This is a classic geological site providing exposures of Ordovician rocks that were deposited in a shallow marine environment. The prominent ridge and crags is formed in durable Stipertstones Quartzite whereas the remainder of the site is underlain by Mytton Flags and Tankerville flagstones are of particular importance for the diverse trilobite and branchiopod fossils. 

The Quartzite tors including the Devil's Chair, which rise to 20 metres of the Stiperstones.  The quartzite weathers to  a free draining acidic soil which supports an extensive and varied heathland vegetation. 

The Stiperstones is an area as famous for myths and legends as geology. This area of Shropshire as inspired numerous artists, poets and authors including D H Lawrence. 

The quartizite sparkles even on dull days.  We stunning views.

Silver Studded Blue Butterflies Prees Heath 210713

Silver Studded Blue Butterflies
Prees Heath BC Nature Reserve
Shropshire 210713
ENDANGERED SPECIES
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So named due to the silvery blue metallic spots on the underside hind wings. The upper side are a deep indescent blue in the males with black border and the female are brown with orange spots on the edges. On some sites the females have blue colouration but never as blue as the males. 

They are an endangered species. Their favourite habitant is heathlands and heather. 

Eggs are laid on the ground or near ant nests and pass through the winter hatching in the spring March April. June July in Shropshire.

The larvae have a close relationship with the ants and the butterflies produce a honeydew like liquid to feed them.  The black ants in turn help to protect the butterflies from predators. Pupation takes near and often inside ant nests where continue to discrete honeydew until the butterfly emerges. 

Chesterton Windmill Leamington Spa Warwickshire 210713

Chesterton Windmill Leamington Spa Warwickshire 210713
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 Erected in 1632 from a design attributed to Inigo Jones. The machinery was extensively modified in 1860 but last used 1910.
The Warwickshire County Council are now guardian of the windmill and responsible for its upkeep.
Restoring work commenced from 1966 and completed in 1971 under control of WCC and the direction of County architect Mr Eric Davies.
Work on the building was carried out by E H Burgess Ltd of Leamington Spa and the reconstruction of the machinery by Mr Derek Ogden of Great Alne.

The design of the mill is unique both structurally and mechanically.

Originally there was a centrally timber structure containing a staircase and the lover bay of the hoist.

Most of the gearing is of timber two outstanding items being the  compass arm fixing of the eight feet diameter brake wheels and the lantern pinion wallower. The millstones are on the first floor set on timber frame know as a hurst, and arrangement not often found in English windmills The sails are of the common cloth spread type. The cap is turned into the wind by a hand operated geared winch mounted on the framework in the cap, which engages with the rack located on the top of the tower.

The longest word in the United Kingdom

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndribwllllantysiliogogogoch 
This is the longest name in Great Britain

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This village boasts of one of the longest place names in the world.

LLAN (Church) FAIR (mary) PWLL (a hollow) GWYN (white) GYLL (Hazel) GOGER (near to)

Y (the) CHWYRN (Rapid) DROBWLL (whirlpool) LLAN (Church) TYSILIO ( Saints) GOGO (cave) GOCH (red)

In English is Mary's Church by the white hazel pool, near the fierce whirlpool with the church of Tysilio by the Red cave

This was around the time when the railway was built between Chester and Holyhead at the beginning of the 1850's. A local committee was put together to try and encourage trains, travellers and 19th century tourists to stop at the village in order to help develop the village as a commercial and tourist centre. It is believed that the name Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch was invented by a cobbler from Menai Bridge, little did he know that he had implemented one of the most successful tourist marketing plans of all time! Today the village is signposted as Llanfairpwllgwyngyll and is known to locals as Llanfairpwll or Llanfair. P.G.

llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch..

LLAN - To start off with, pronounce this section as you would do the Scottish word "clan".

Then listen to the sound recording above taking particular notice of how the "ll" is pronounced. It is difficult to explain in words and is more easily learnt by oral example, but we will have a go here anyway. Lie your tongue flat in your mouth so that the tip is firmly touching the bridge behind your front teeth. Keeping the tip of your tongue in place, try and touch your back teeth with the sides of your tongue - now breathe out forcing the air to run strongly over the back of your tongue. This will cause a vibrating noise near your back teeth. Again, keeping the tongue in position, gently change the shape of your tongue until the sound becomes more controlled. This is the "ll" sound you are looking for. Listen to the sound file above and keep on practicing.

FAIR - Simply pronounce this section as you would the english word "fire", (not like you would expect to pronounce the word "fair" in English!) and change the "f" for a "v".

PWLL - Now you have been practicing your "ll" sound this will be a little easier to explain. The "pw" section is pronounced like the "pu" in the English word "put". Now add the "ll" on the end as described above. Now listen to the sound file again!

GWYN - You may have heard the Welsh name "Gwyn", well this is pronounced in exactly the same way. Just say the English word "win" and put a "g" in front of it. (pronounce the "g" as you would in the word "gone"). Easy.

GYLL - This is a bit more tricky. First say the English word "gil" (as associated with fish!"). Then change the "l" (as in "let") to "ll" as explained above. Listen to the sound file again

GO - Looks easy doesn't it - it is! Pronounce it as you would the "go" in "gone"

GER - Simply say the word "care" but change the "c" for a "g".

YCH - Like the pronunciation of "ll", this is another tricky section to explain. Think of something you don't like and say "yuck". Now take the "y" from the beginning to leave "uck". Now change the "ck" to "ch" as pronounced in the Scottish word "loch".

WYRN - This looks more complicated that it is. Just say the English word "win".

DROB - First say the English word "draw" and then add a "b" on the end. Easy.

WLL - You've learnt this already. It's pronounced the same as "pwll" above but without the "p".

LLAN - Again, this is exactly the same as the "llan" at the beginning of this section.

TY - Simply pronounce this section as you would the "t" in "twig".

SILIO - Just say "silly - o". The "o" is pronounced as in "cot".

GO - As above.

GO - As above.

GOCH - We're almost there. Simply say "go" as above, put the "ch" after it and that's it! Put it all together and keep on practicing. Now there is only one question remaining ....

Doxey Marshes Owl Shoot day Staffordshire 211012

Doxey Marshes Owl Shoot Day 
Staffordshire 211012 

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Barn Owl

Little Owl

This was a day out with a group of friends who love photography. 
We had a fabulous day.

Doxey Marches is a fantastic place to discover birds with over 200

species recorded and over 80 breeding species. The reserve is designated a Site of Special Scientific interest for its nationally important populations of Lapwing, Snipe and Redshank. 

Tawny Owl

Little Owl

Doxey Marshes is also home to regionally significant populations of Otter, Harvest Mouse and Water Shrew.

Doxey Marshes is a 150 hectares (370 acres) nature reserve located within two miles of Stafford Town Centre, and is managed by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. Doxey Marshes lies within the floodplain of the River Sow and periodically it breaches its banks and subjects the marshes to flooding. Wading birds love the shallow pools and muddy edges this flooding leaves behind as a source of food. In the autumn and spring during the migration period. 
Doxey can attract a Variety if rare birds. Rarities recorded in recent years include river warbler, marsh warbler, purple heron, cattle egret, spoonbill and bluethroat.

Coalbrookdale, Ironbridge and Jackfield Shropshire

Coalbrookdale, Ironbridge and Jackfield Shropshire

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 The line was killed off the surviving river traffic carried by the River Severn. The railway was opened in 1864. It was closed in the 1960's though part of it still carries coal and wood pulp across the viaduct and over the Albert Edward Bridge to the Ironbridge Power Station. The Coalbrookdale Viaduct is brick built twenty six arched structure.

 The area around Ironbridge is described as the birthplace of the Industrial revolution because it is near the place where Abraham Darby I perfected the technique of smelting iron with coke. The grandson of the first Abraham Darby. Abarham Darby III built the famous bridge- originally designed by Thomas Farnolls Pritchard to link the two areas. Construction began in 1779 and opened on New Years Day 1781. In 1986 Ironbridge became part of the UNESCO world heritage Site.

Jackfield is famous for Tile making. Jackfield was constructed on a particularly unstable part of Ironbridge Gorge, where several landslips have been recorded. The landslip of 1952 devastated the of core of Jackfield. Flooding also badly affects parts of Jackfield from time to time. There is still a wooden road that moves with the ground. Very nervous to drive over and it as moved such a lot.

Heath Hill Poppies Telford Shropshire 260613

Heath Hill Poppies Telford Shropshire 260613

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Sunset over the Heath Hill It was a gorgeous evening out a group of other photographers.

We have some wonderful poppies out in various fields at the moment in our area 

My lovely little Ben sitting there just waiting for his
photograph to be take. Earlier that day
Ben my border collie 
is 6 years old and my best friend.

Evening out with Pam Telford City Centre 250613

Evening out with Pam Telford City Centre 250613

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 One of many glass fronted buildings in Telford City centre- Which was name after Thomas Telford. The town was put together in the 1960's and 1970's. Telford merged a lot of smaller settlements such as Wellington, Oakengates, Madley, Dawley and the ironbridge Gorge. Which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Which advertises itself as the Birth of Industry.

Thomas Telford (1757-1834) was a Scottish civil engineer, architect and stonemason. Designed numerous road and canal projects in Shropshire. 
The life sized statue was sculpted bt Andrew Wallace in 1987

The statue of Thomas Telford outside the law courts
In the city centre. 
Telford Square Telford Town Centre TF3 0AA     That is me leaning on the statue

Wood Lane Grebes 6th May 2013

Wood Lane Nature Reserve Shropshire Selection of my Great Crested Grebe photographs

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On the 6th May 2013 I visited Wood Lane Nature Reserve  Ellesmere. It was an amazing day the grebe was sitting on four eggs.  I really enjoy my visits here. 
It is one of the best bird watching sites in Shropshire. Developed on old sand and gravel workings. 

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