Parks & Gardens.

Balmoral -as the other half lives! One of these big windows belongs to the Queens bedroom. The garden was being prepared, as always to look at it's best for August when the family takes residence here.

Here in my home town of Oldham, UK, we have a splendid public park. There are quite a few fences in there but this one recently caught my attention as it has just been completely re-furbished. An old Edwardian style wrought iron fence with a brand new coat of paint makes it a pleasure to view. (All right then, I know some people would describe this as a bridge railing but hey….it does carry on after the bridge…I think!) I wish you all, a great weekend, Herb

My local park certainly comes into its own each Autumn. - Only yesterday, after posting one of last years Autumn shots did I think that I was not going to be as lucky this year, and look what happens. Enjoy large.

As the morning mist rises from the water in my local park, the sun starts to show its head. Enjoy with me this moment of tranquillity whilst it last.

This park really comes into its own at this time of year. Not only do we have the wonderful yellow and golds of Autumn but we also have a local grey heron waiting for sight of a fish. Rather unusual sky lighting as a big dark cloud was moving into the scene from the right. Breaking all the rules as well by having this big tree stump divide the picture in half :) Worth full size.

As I walk near the trees of my local park, I am reminded again how colourful Autumn can be. See Pip Enjoy large.

I am here at my local Alexandra park again collecting yet more Autumn scenes. Taken just before the best of this year’s Autumn golds but on a beautiful clear dry day. Notice on the lawns across, the now very local Canadian Geese that have taken up residence here. – Sorry for the slightly out-of-focus fence, I was obviously too taken up with the landscape and light. I wish you all, a great weekend, Herb

A wonderful Autumn morning at Tandle Hills Park, brings out dog walkers by the dozen and quite a few photographers too. Enjoy large

Now that almost the last golden leaf has dropped here, I can reflect on our park again. This taken only weeks ago showing one of the many lanes that crisscross this delightful park. As I prepare to snap this, a squirrel has just ran across here. In these days of climate change - the importance and beauty of these trees gets to be key! Enjoy large.

Sometimes we just have to take a walk. Get into the fresh air, feel the wind in our face and cold air on our hands (sometimes, even warm air!) - Here in my local park I see the sun’s rays reaching through the trees towards me and hear the soft rustle of falling leaves as I stop and gaze at this new-to-me fence. HFF on this our last one of this year. See you next year.

A light autumn mist compels me to dash to my local Alexandra Park again and I am not disappointed in what I see. Here is perhaps its most noteworthy sculpture –its fountain. For many years devoid of water and life, thankfully fully restored now to its former glory as seen here. Of course once again it really the light here that makes it for me, hopefully for you too. Enjoy full screen

There is something going on here at Oldham’s Alexandra Park Conservatory. The whole inside almost pulsates with light as though some link to another world is taking place… And…someone or something has transported all the beautiful hot-house plants to …where? - Only to replace them with bits of wood in a most haphazard, even explosive fashion! It’s perhaps just as well that a high well-locked fence protects us on this side, as there is no telling what might happen to us if we should try to pass through that door! HFF. Have a safe and enjoyable weekend.

Another look at this Alexandra Park in Oldham , now toward the old ‘Lions den’ pavilion. This was another ramshackled structure until being completely re-furbished some years back now. A stone lion still sits at the foot of each front corner. Of course it is this burning gold tree that really strikes us here, a sign that Autumn is well under-way and Winter is just around the corner. Full screen essential.

Another isolation walk on our local linear railway walk, now in the Winter time. This was taken just a week or so ago now and although it has snowed quite heavy in some area’s yesterday, we have none here. No children on this photo but as we passed here again a day or so back, there were a few braving the cold with their mums. HFF to one and all and have a fine safe weekend.

A look at our Tandle Hills Park here whilst taking another one of our exercise walks the other day. This is the highest point at 222m and shows the war memorial commemorating the men of Royton who died during the First World War and was unveiled on 22 October 1921. Originally the memorial, which is constructed from Portland stone, bore plaques listing the fallen and a bronze statue. We also see one of our dwindling 'Trig Points' used by our Ordinance Survey to denote the exact height - now made redundant by GPS. The park consists of approximately 110 acres (45 ha), a combination of beech woodland and open grassland. The first two PiPs were taken in the winter of 2015 from the spot were that guy is looking to. These are towards the city of Manchester and the town of Rochdale. The third pip shows an 2018 Autumn view from the park behind me Enjoy full screen

As our southern trip continues, we are nearing Sant Elm and spy these step gardens so typical of the Mediterranean. It looks like there are a mix of crop trees and plants here and I think I spy some olive trees. Below these steps it looks like there are vines too. Best seen full screen

Alexandra Park Oldham in June. The circus comes to town for a week of performances. This, for me is simply a chance sighting and I saw nothing of the artist or visitors in these days where Covid still dictates our days out. Fortunately though I saw a father buying tickets for his eager children from the box-office. Enjoy full screen.

Another golden oldie here from my 2015 Panoramio album. Taken in our local town park in wonderful morning lighting. Enjoy full screen.