North Meadow, Cricklade

This is North Meadow, at Cricklade, to which I made a visit en route to Guildford. It is "an old, flower-rich hay meadow on the northern edge of Cricklade. It lies on the glacial flood plain of the River Thames and the River Churn"
There is more information about it to be had in a leaflet dowloadable here.

Why is North Meadow important?

• It has a great variety of wildflowers
• It is internationally import as one of the finest examples of a lowland hay meadow in Europe.
• Most meadows like this along the upper Thames have been destroyed by agricultural ‘improvement’ or gravel extraction.
• It is protected as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
• It supports Britain’s largest population of the snake’s head fritillary, a beautiful and nationally scarce flower.

Gardeners may say "Oh yes, I have seen fritillarys in the garden Centre" or "Yes, I've got some in my garden, so what's the big deal?"

To which I reply......"Which is more thrilling? An otter in a sanctuary or zoo, or an otter in the wild? Surely, in the wild, albeit a nature reserve!".The same applies here."

Snake’s head fritillarys are the spring's star act, but other flower species thrive there too..... such as these marsh marigolds.

Bath time 3: street scenes

When I first arrived in Bath I had only a vague idea of plans to photograph and blog my visit. Coming across this Bath soft cheese stall sparked off inspiration for the whole subsequent series

Danger! Man at Work????

Cheese.......with olives perhaps??

or perhaps a little bit of hog roast takes your fancy?

For the healthy options, there is always a little fruit and veg.

Then refreshed by the food, be amused by the street entertainers...

and enjoy the sights and colours of Bath's streets, shops and stalls

Bath time 2: water features

Way down the Kennet and Avon canal from my last look at it
(Calne locks) is the Poultney Bridge and the beautiful curved
waterfalls, where seagulls fish and bathe....

Whilst I did not visit (this time) the famous Roman bath complex, nor the Thermae Bath Spa complex (its modern re-invention) I did at least take a little peek in the (Georgain) foyer of the Roman parts, and take a look at the ceiling........

Bath time 1: Easter

Happy Easter to all my readers/viewers!

For Easter Saturday I decided that a trip to Bath was in order, camera in hand! So with thoughts of the season in mind here are a few ecclesistical moments of tranquility in Bath Abbey

Altar frontal in the "Gethsemane Chapel"

A lily festooned cross at the High Altar

Then a trip to inhale aromas of chocolate ("heaven!!!") in the House of Minerva

and an enjoyable chat with Chocolate Master Philippe who willingly

acquiesced to my photographic attention

mmmmmm-mmm