Alrewas

Lovely afternoon in Alrewas. Lunch at the George and Dragon, which was open and serving food. I know this doesn't sound like much but recent expeditions have resulted in long winded searches for pubs serving food!

National Memorial Arboretum was peaceful and I saw parts of it I had not visited before. Dodged showers and marvelled at the beauty of everywhere after the rain,

My favourite images from the day:

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Arts and Sculpture

As the regeneration of the Ashby Woulds area continues we are starting to look further afield and linking the other areas at the heart of the National Forest. We know there is a lot of interesting sculpture and art in the villages that are within the triangle formed by Ashby, Measham and Swadlincote - but no-one has ever considered it as a whole before.

We have set up a Steering Group of interested people who will pull all the current art and sculpture together and find ways of adding to it, representing it, encouraging people to visit to enjoy it and attracting artists to contribute to it.

Two pieces of sculpture I love are these:

Dunblane Flame at Conkers Waterside

Swadlincote Woodland sculpture

I am very excited about this project and hope that I feature information and images about it on here so you can all see.

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Hicks Lodge Cycle Centre - Official Opening

It's all official - it's open. What a gorgeous building and what a great attraction to be opening in Ashby Woulds. We are so lucky living here - so many regeneration projects that encourage opportunities for inward investment, tourism and enjoyment and it lifts the spirits as a resident to see people using and enjoying themselves in the area.

Some of the many bikes available for hire

Hicks Lodge Cycle Centre from the lake

Hicks Lodge Cycle Centre from the car park

The Ashby Woulds Town Council Mayoral Chain

Councillor Laurence Ordish

Must get my bike sorted and go and try out the new trails that have been created. I have the whole summer so that should easy to achieve.

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Both sides of the camera

You may recall I mentioned the Minster of State's visit to the National Forest conference on 31st March 2011. I now have copies of photographs from the event from both sides of the camera.

The offical tree planting photograph used by the National Forest for the front page of their quarterly Newsletter:

And a shot I took whilst waiting for the photographer to organise us:

The official opening of Hicks Lodge Cycle Centre will take place on 1st June and I will be there to photograph the Mayor of Ashby Woulds - Councillor Tony Allan - cutting the ribbon.

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Viking Characters

I was very impressed with how thoroughly immersed all the Vikings of Middle England were at Moira Canal Festival this weekend. They develop their characters and stick with them including the trades they undertake. My favourites:

Handsome

Handsome again

Relaxed Handsome

Religion

Visiting the Blacksmith

Blacksmith

Warrior

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Vikings in Moira

I was blown away by the Viking village at the Moira Canal Festival at the weekend. Here are some of my favourites of Viking life:

I have been asked by the happy band of people that consist of the Vikings of Middle England to let them have any images I am happy with. I can say that I am going to be sending them quite a few.

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Moira Canal Festival - fun all the way

Will be photographing all the fun, excitement, colour and entertainment at Moira Canal Festival today. I have just found out that there will be a Lancaster Bomber and ferret racing. I hope the two are not connected. That would be messy.

The Lancaster Bomber did not fly - it was far too windy and as it is the last one the RAF have it is best not to risk damaging it.

I joined the Mayor and Deputy Mayor and took some great images for the Ashby Woulds Community Newsletter.

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor meet the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Ashby Canal Trust
l-r Geoff Pursglove, Sue McKendrick, Tony Allan, Paul Johnson

Mayor of Ashby Woulds Town Council
Councillor Tony Allan

The Chain of Office

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In lieu of a bluebell

I have still to find a wood with the sea of blue underfoot so I thought I would explore my garden:

My Bluebells

Solomon's Seal

Rhubarb Flower

Clemetis

Ain't nature beautiful.

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bluebell search continues

I took a little drive and found ... no bluebells. I do not want to drive all the way over to Yoxall. I may photograph the ones in my garden tomorrow. However I did find these:

and my favourite from the day:

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In search of bluebells

Went in search of bluebell woods today:

Think the bluebells got wind of my intentions because I couldn't find any. Except this one:

I do know where there are beautiful bluebell woods but the last time I was there I was with my angel and so wanted to avoid those to avoid the tears.

Will pop out to Calke Abbey or Ferrers Centre on Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday this week to get them before they start to fade.

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Panorama - Prestop Park

Felt the urge to get out and capture a panaorama when I woke up this morning. I had made a panorama of Prestop Park in December 2009 and I have always planned to capture the same image through the seasons. The trees are that beautiful lime green of early spring at the moment so I went out in the early morning hazy light. Here's the result:



April 2011

 

December 2009

The detail in these images is stunning - not helped by having to reduce the quality so they can be uploaded onto this blog. I will go back in Summer and Autumn so I have the full set.

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Landfill

Spent the morning in the company of a very interesting man who took me around the Veolia Landfill site. A stunning feat of engineering and a very pleasant morning.

Clayworks



Landfill



Landfill

Thank you Keith.
Looking forward to going around the Clayworks with Lenny.

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Minister of State

Attended a Conference held by The National Forest Company at Conkers Discovery Centre today which was attended by the defra Minister of State - Jim Paice MP and also the local MP Andrew Bridgen was also in attendance.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Food - Jim Paice MP

The National Forest Company outlined their plans for the future. It was good to hear that the plans and targets already set are to be kept in place. There was a chance these may have changed with all the adjustments taking place within the National Forest Company - including the reduction in funding from Central Government and the change of Chair. It was a relief to hear that plans are still on track and that targets are being met and that the work continues apace and continues to amaze.

Simon Evans - Chief Officer Land Use, The National Forest Company

Sophie Churchill - Chief Executive, The National Forest Company

The Minister was given a tour of iconic sites around the National Forest - including the new Cycle Centre at Hicks Lodge. As this is in Ashby Woulds I was asked to be available to meet and greet the Minister and assist with a tree planting in commemoration of his visit.



The New Cycle Centre at Hicks Lodge

 

The Cycle Centre is almost complete



Tree planting to commemorate the visit

The Cycle Centre is approximately 6 weeks away from being completed and opened. The last time I visited it was 6th Dec and the temperature was -14. brrrr. It was lovely to see it almost completed and on a sunny day. It will be a fabulous attraction when it is complete. I might even apply for a job there to keep me busy over the Summer.

brrrrrrrr

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