Hi ho for Spring....

We never tire of our default walk - up through Gillfield Woods, across the Totley Brook and up Shep's Hill to Woodthorpe, then back along the White Lane. Or in reverse of course. It's always different, always new things to discover. And grand views to fields near Fanshawegate and across to moorland on Totley Moss.

Yesterday morning's sun lifted my heart.

And a note to myself that over the past few days, at dusk, there are lots of thrushes up on the Bradway bridlepath enjoying the sound of their own voices. Scolding blackbirds too. Robins singing much more assertively now. The rooks' nests by the council flats growing. The residents don't seem to mind their noisy neighbours - lots of bread being thrown out for them this morning. And they definitely know Barbara who feeds them regularly.....

Scrabbling about

Today Christine and I explored the deepest disused and presumably most ancient holloway on old Totley Lane down from Bradway. There are three levels at the Totley end, near Brook Hall and the Lodge. As one "road" became deep and muddy from packhorses and carts - it was abandoned and another path made higher up. Here we find an old purse and bag where some bad boy has chucked his stolen goods.


And an old fallen tree in the bottom, looking like something out of Tolkien.

Much singing from the birds today. The robins' songs seem less wistful, more confident. Later on, two were fighting over their territory at the edge of Greenoak Park.

Last night I was part of a small group (but set to grow larger) who have formed to fight the awful new lights on the A621 Baslow Road. These are huge, close together and line the open countryside and moorland outside Totley. The group also wants to monitor and campaign against other inappropriate development and creeping urbanisation in the city's green fringe , close to the Peak Park. The group is to be called SPACE - Sheffield and Peak Against Urban Encroachment. So - watch this SPACE!

yesterday....

A walk up the holloway to Woodthorpe - hey - give that man a fishing rod and a pond...

Then along by Hare Wood - funny, it looks like one from the shape on maps. Last time I was up here I found a travellers' encampment deep in the wood complete with scaffolding for tarpaulines and old lager cans...

Views of our house from the top of the ridge..

Then up and onto Rodmoor Road where I saw the first bit of hedge laying around here. There are evidently different regional variations in doing it - a bit like stonewalling. This one is on the Yorkshire/Derbyshire border near Mickley Farm.

Then found a milestone or sort of marker incorporated into a wall...

Back via the old bridleway from Bradway which near our end has three parallel levels - as holloways got deeper and muddier, higher paths were cut. Past the guard fierce dog chained behind a gate. Unfortunately my batteries ran out, otherwise I'd have snapped up his ugly mug, poor beast...