Hexham Abbey

I had a few moments to walk around the beautiful Hexham Abbey yesterday.

Ash Tree

This Ash Tree came down in the field a few years as ago and the trunk left as a seat beside the Burn. I occasionally stop and take pictures of the changes as it dries and of the moss and fungi that grow on it. The other day I noticed the capillaries on the sawn end. Quite beautiful.

Candelabra...

I think for the first time ever, I found this three headed Self Heal on the scrub banks above our little burn.  Looks just like a beautiful little candelabra.....

Harvest Time

On the southern edge of Northumberland they have been busy with harvest, the straw bales are waiting for collection in this field overlooking Shotley Bridge on the other side of the River Derwent, in Co Durham, I can just about see my old family house from here....

The Derwent Valley

On the southern boundary of Northumberland runs the Derwent Valley, home of the River Derwent and much long gone industry. Iron and steel production, mining, sword making , flour and paper mills. This part of the valley above Shotley Bridge marks the start of the truly agricultural part of the valley reaching up to and beyond the beautiful village of Blanchland.


During dinner, it was fascinating watching the fog and rain roll back, revealing the lovely landscape.

Had an impromptu run to the Lakes the other afternoon, a lovely mellow sunset from Hartside Pass on the way home.

Sunset

A lovely sunset at the Cottage yesterday evening.

Common Field Daisy, Friends and a Foe...

I had a short cycle ride over to Winnows Hill on the edge of Slaley Forest today, just a short way from the Cottage, a pleasant afternoon after the miserable weather we've been having over the last few weeks. I haven't been that way for a few months and I was pleased I went with plenty to see.

I spotted this little group on the edge of the new forestry planting.  A Common Field Daisy surrounded by Bird's Foot Trefoil, sadly joined by Pirri Pirri Burr - Acaena novae-zelandiae , an extremely invasive thug. Just a couple of Burrs in this photo but on site there are hundreds of square meters of the stuff.......

Cockoo Flower - Cardamine pretensis

At this time of year we have so many beautiful wildflowers here in Northumberland, this Cardamine pretensis is perhaps one of my favourites.

We have lot of very old trees at or close to the cottage, the large tree on the right is a huge, quite ancient Native Crab Apple - Malus Sylvestris, still fruiting after all those years.

Malus Sylvestris

Sporophytes

I was really pleased to find this patch of moss growing on a log beside our little Burn yesterday, the sporophytes looking wonderful. #Slaley

Moss Sporophytes

The underside of a bracket type fungus found this afternoon. Quite beautiful......  South Northumberland.

A chilly walk with the dogs round the fields this afternoon. There are a few of these dead hawthorns, but this one caught my eye.  Slaley, South Northumberland.

I have had a few days in Newcastle-upon-Tyne lately, both with time to kill and so presenting opportunities for pictures.  The place I always visit is the Quayside, so different to my first visit some 45/50 years ago.

The Tyne Bridge

The Sage Arts Center

Ouseburn Harbour

Back to normal...

We have had a few days of very unseasonably warm and sunny weather, but yesterday it was heavy, thick fog.   Still, always an opportunity for a photo.....