More signs of Spring

Continuing the theme of spring awakening, I have a few more images taken in various locations, but mainly in Suffolk and near to home. This is most peoples favourite time of year and you can see why. After the long drag of winter, to be awaked , as it were, by the sight of so much beauty, should make anyone cheerful!

One of our lesser seen wild flowers is the Snake's-head fritillary. It was not so long ago that the spring markets of Covent Garden were overflowing with the nodding, pink-and white-chequered blooms of snake's-head fritillaries. Handfuls picked from meadows beside the River Thames were taken to London by local children to be sold for a pretty penny or two. But, today, the carpets of this flower that once straddled our rivers and adorned our wet meadows have become a rare sight. Locally, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, have particular meadows open so that you can book to go and see them when in flower. The situation is as dire as that!

Hedgerows full of Blackthorne

The leaves of the Buttercup. You don't often notice them at the stage.

Ransoms or Wild Garlic. Another of the flowers I look forward to seeing in the woods and roadsides near home. You can usually smell them well before the flowers come fully into bloom.

Pathway through the very pungent Oilseed Rape

Scorpion Fly or perhaps better known as the Lacewing.

No spring would be complete without the Bluebell

Bearded Tit probable hunting for his young or maybe just nest building still. Who knows, but great to see.

The flowers of the Sweet Chestnut

Female Orange Tip butterfly. Common, but always great to see.

Duck symmetry - youngsters being shown their world.

As the Oilseed Rape dies back, so the poppies show through.

These things arrive every year without fail but I never get tired of looking out for them as I walk the countryside.

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Emily enjoys the park

One of the joys of young babies and even slightly older ones, is their wonderment at the most mundane of things!  Emily is nearly one year old and a visit to the park was amusing to watch and one wondered, just what was she thinking as she explored her surroundings.

Emily with proud mum

That man there who is pointing at you, is Grandad

Let's start by seeing you stand on your own, and then you can go and explore.

OK, so what is bright yellow thing?

Let`s touch it and perhaps give it a pull.

Yuck! something sticky on my fingers now.

You take it Grandad

Now to get something for mummy.

Here you go mummy!

Now, who else is there I can give something to?

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Time with Adam

Adam, our grandson, spent several days with us during the first half of 2011 and hopefully enjoyed himself in the various activities we did together. He seemed to anyway, and we certainly did!

Lets help Nanna water the polythene

First pictures are of Nanna explaining the hidden secrets of the rings on a tree that had been felled in Arger Fen. 

Then I will have my picture taken on a tree stump. 

Arger fen has the most magnificent display of bluebells and Adam ran up and down the steps in the part of the woods so that we could get a blurred image. Bless him! 

Without the blur! 

Next was a trip to see the steam trains at Hedingham railway museum 

Catching insects in among the poppy display in the Oilseed Rape field near home. This year we had one of the best poppy displays for many a year. 

However, the Oilseed Rape was so tall in places that he had to have a `piggy back` which he loved. 

Finishing off the day with a picnic 

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Ipswich - Graffiti and other art

Ipswich has a range of Art dotted around the town and these are just three of the ones I photographed today. More to follow later. Then I wandered along some of the river side to look at the Graffiti.

The first one,`Giles`, is one of my favourites. The Giles Statue, also known as 'The Grandma Statue', depicts the popular cartoon family from famous Ipswich-based illustrator Carl Giles, Britain's best loved cartoonist 

Carl Giles drew weekly topical cartoons and comic strips for the Daily Express and Sunday Express that often included characters from his fictional 'Giles Family' of which the Grandma was the most popular character. Other characters from the family that also feature on the statue are The Twins, Lawrence and Ralph and Rush the dog. Also just behind is Vera with her constant runny nose!

This bronze statue depicting Gile's most beloved characters was unveiled in 1993, just 2 years before the cartoonist died. The statue is positioned so that Grandma is looking up at the studio window of the former East Suffolk House where Giles used to work, above what is now a Costa Coffee shop.

Has Grandma pinched his wallet?

The Major By Paul Richardson 

This sculpture was made in steel by Suffolk sculptor Paul Richardson and is on the roof of the public toilet building at Major's Corner. The Major is swatting flies! 

Apparently the Borough Council felt that a building that provides such essential public facilities, but by its function is quite plain in design, should be enlivened by public art, particularly as public art commissions are becoming an increasingly common part of the development process. 

The brightly coloured mural was created by Creative Space International, who are based in Norwich, and were commissioned by Ipswich Borough Council's Environment Department.

It was thought that the river wall had become an eyesore with unpleasant looking scribbles.

The Sir Bobby Robson Bridge is a 60-metre (200 ft) cable-stayed pedestrian footbridge over the River Gipping, built at a cost of £800,000. The height of the structure makes it the 2nd highest structure in Ipswich. The bridge was named after Sir Bobby Robson, the ex–Ipswich Town manager, Newcastle United manager and England national football team manager, who died in 2009. Funded by the property developer Fairview, the bridge was constructed in 2009 and designed by Train and Kemp. It connects a residential development with the town centre. Before the construction of the bridge, residents had to walk a considerably long way to the next river crossing. 

The Navigator

John Atkin was commissioned to make this sculpture for Ipswich, alongside the River Orwell, by Ipswich River Action Group. The sculpture was inspired by Ipswich's Maritime history and industrial past. Influences were found amongst a variety of sources, from nineteenth century stern castings for ships, navigational instruments, to pattern templates and the “wheels” of industry.

This work was constructed in corten steel, a material that is synonymous with the area's past industrial use. It stands, 16ft high, alongside the river, adjacent to a cycle path, watching, guarding, a sentinel to a new era. The Navigator alludes to Ipswich maritime history as well as a navigator for the future.

More Graffiti Art along the riverside. Some of this work is brilliant, and in my opinion, enhances the area which looked rather scruffy and rundown.

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After the snow - high water

After a December with a reasonable amount of snow, it was to be expected that in January when the temperature rose a bit, the floods would come. Or at least a big rise in river levels. This year the rivers rose a lot, but peaked just short of flooding. Here in Layham, our little River Brett gave the opportunity of a few photos.

The mill pond at its highest I had seen, short of flooding.

... and looking back across the mill pond from the footbridge. 

I wonder why this is called Water Lane! Normally a narrow, but dry, lane in Layham. Even 30 mph is out of the question I think. This house, part of the old mill/granary complex, stands on blocks which normally keep it clear of the water. This time they have disappeared under! 

On the opposite side of the road, their tennis court is somewhere here! 

A normally shallow and placid stream nearby. 

Most of the year this is virtually dry but today it was taking the bulk of the Brett overflow past the mill and granary. And the noise!! Believe it or not, there are several steps under this deluge. 

Normally a very pleasant view of the river and meadows. 

Just outside the village the Brett changes course for a day or two. Not the best grazing area at the moment. 

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