Tag Archives: nature

17th August picture of the day…

17 Monday Aug 2026

Posted by in West Yorkshire, Photography, Picture of the day, Climate Change

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We’ve kicked off another week with something everyone’s been desperate to see – rain. Only there’s been nowhere near enough of the stuff. It hasn’t even matched the forecast predictions. Some hours of the day delivered little more than a smattering. Just enough to dampen the dust and little else. Even so, it’s welcome. The landscape here in West Yorkshire’s as dry as a bone – and we’re nowhere near as bad as the South of England.

Anyone with half a brain can see that the climate’s changing before their eyes. We’re breaking record after record, but there’s always a few who refuse to believe what they see and take refuge in conspiracy theories and fossil fuel lobbyist propaganda. Their problem is none of it will stop what’s actually happening.

I’m hoping that the new Labour leadership will step up to the plate and start tackling the issues that face us. There’s a few encouraging signs but not that much of a sense of urgency – despite the fact the country’s already started burning. One wonders what sort of event will need to occur before there’s that ‘oh, shit!’ moment when things become very real indeed?

Still, there’s more rain supposed to be on the way for us, which is a blessing. Well, apart from the fact I’ll be off on my travels again later this week. On Wednesday I’ll be down in Birmingham on an HS2 site visit, then I’ll be back in Southport for the weekend. The rail network has been very fragile of late due to the long dry spell and heat so travel could get ‘interesting’. Our Victorian network simply wasn’t built with these conditions in mind – and it’s starting to show. Climate change coupled with a cutback on investment is causing havoc across several routes, and there’s little sign of the powers that be grasping the implications.

On the bright side, expect more blogs from the week as I start to stretch my wings again.

In the meantime, here’s today’s picture. You may remember that last year I did a series of ‘reservoir blogs’. I’ve not the time to do it again this year but Dawn and I did visit one location recently that featured heavily. Baitings reservoir has a sunken bridge that appears when levels get very low. This time last year it was almost fully exposed. It’s not as bad as that (yet) but levels are dropping rapidly.

Peek a boo! The old bridge in the foreground is gradually being exposed. Normally, the water levels are just below the new bridge in the background. This used to be a rare event. Now it’s becoming almost yearly. This picture was taken a week ago. Water levels have dropped a lot more since.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

4th August picture of the day…

04 Tuesday Aug 2026

Posted by in Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, Travel, West Yorkshire

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After yesterday’s trip into Liverpool I’m on the move again, this time to head back to West Yorkshire for a while. The weather’s finally broken on both sides of the Pennines. Early this morning we had a loud thunderstorm with flashes of lightning which heralded heavy showers in Southport. It didn’t last long but the rain it brought was welcome. I nipped out to quickly check on the trees I’d been nursing through the drought. They all seem to have survived, although a couple are looking iffy. I’m hoping that the bouts of heavy rain we’ve had will help revive them.

By early afternoon my cat-sitting duties were at an end, allowing me to catch a train from Meols Cop station to head East. Whilst there were some moody skies and dramatic looking clouds around I saw more sun than showers along the way to Manchester. The old Class 769 which carried me isn’t fitted with air-conditioning so it was rather a noisy journey as nearly all the windows had been opened by travellers trying to keep cool as the sun beat through the windows, turning the train into a greenhouse.

I made a brief stop in Manchester in order to visit the excellent fresh fish market in the Arndale Centre. I’d suggested to Dawn that I could pick up a couple of tuna steaks for tea tonight. Fortunately, one of the stalls had plenty of freshly prepared ones. Whilst pricy (nearly £12 for 2) they were huge. If you’ve never tried fresh tuna I’d highly recommend it. It’s a world apart from the stuff you get in tins!

As I had a while to wait for my train to Todmorden I nipped into the station’s Victoria Tap for a quick pint, dodging heavy showers in the process. Manchester was getting a soaking but with the weather being so hot the streets dried up in next to no time with only a few puddles left as evidence.

It was the same story on the other side of the Pennines. Todmorden was surrounded by huge, threatening clouds and the sound of the occasional thunderclap in the distance but little sign of immediate rain, which was a blessing as I’d a way to walk after leaving the station. Once again I was lucky and made it in unscathed. Now the pair of us are stuffed full of tuna and relaxing as we watch the rain beating on the window, illuminated by the golden glow of the sunset. West Yorkshire’s seen little of the rain that we’ve had on the coast, so it’s doubly welcome here. Here’s how it looked through the living room window.

A mist of gently falling rain acts as a filter for the light from the sun as it disappears behind the hills on the opposite side of the vallley.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

19th July picture(s) of the day…

19 Sunday Jul 2026

Posted by in Music, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Southport, Travel

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Another week ends and another chapter begins. My time in Marshside is over. Anne and Steve have returned from their break in Croatia so I’m moving again as I go from cat sitting to people sitting (long story). Right now I’m back at my sisters, helping out with a few chores before my next adventure.

the weather here in Southport has remained wall to wall sunshine, which is lovely if you enjoy the outdoors and getting a tan. It’s also been fabulous for the golf and the Open has been in town all week. Oddly, despite the numbers of people it draws in, the place has never felt overrun, Far from it. Whilst I’ve avoided Hillside and the areas around the Royal Birkdale course, if you went North of the town centre to places like Churchtown you’d have no idea anything special was happening.

Now the golf is over, although it’ll take a few days for the logistics to wind down and everything to be cleared away. Who won? I’ve no idea!

My day’s been taken up by caring for some recently planted trees on a local park which are feeling the stress from a lack of water. The park contains some exercise machines that I’ve been using several times a week, so I’ve taken to carrying bottles of water with me to give the trees some liquid relief. I’m not sure all are going to survive, but I’m doing my best.

The trees I’m trying to keep alive.

Apart from that I’ve been continuing my perambulations around town, watching what’s going on. Southport seems to be undergoing somewhat of a cultural revival, with all sort of events being staged. Today it was the turn of the old bandstand on Lord St. It’s been restored and the past couple of Sundays have seen various music events laid on.

A great group of schoolkids playing a mix of rock and folk. Sadly, I didn’t catch their name.

In fact – thinking about it – Southport’s has a lot of live music going on, and all of it for free. On Saturday there were craft stalls and a music stage outside the old market hall.

Then there’s the Northern end of Lord St, which is popular with buskers, and you can often catch acts outside this bar in the backstreets.

This spell of dry and sunny weather’s predicted to last until next weekend, so let’s enjoy it whilst we can. I’ve a busy day ahead of me tomorrow, but I’m hoping to get a trip away from the seaside later in the week, let’s see…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

Devon days, part 5…

13 Saturday Jun 2026

Posted by in Devon, Flora and Fauna, History, Photography, Railways, Travel

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The weather here in Devon picked up again on Friday. We still saw mixed skies and the occasional light shower, but sunshine was a constant visitor throughout the day and temperatures were ideal for walking – which is what we did.

Today’s plan was to walk more of the Tarka trail, this time South from Bideford to Torrington, a distance of about 6 miles. Clive had some work to do which left our trio (Dawn, Ann and I) to complete the trek and meet Clive for tea and cake at the other end.

Here’s a few pictures from the walk.

We joined the Tarka trail at Bideford station, where the old signalbox museum was open. Here’s a look inside.
The signalling diagram for Bideford station, showing the old track layout.
The railway bridge over the River Torridge is a great place to stop and watch the wildlife on land and sea.
There’s a short tunnel on the section between Torrington and Bideford which is fun to walk through. It’s well lit, so not too spooky!
Inside the tunnel, showing the mixture of construction techniques.
There’s plenty of wildlife en-route, including butterflies like this.
Torrington is the site of the Tarka Valley Railway. They have a couple of old industrial diesel shunters and an ex- GWR Class 143 ‘Pacer’ DMU. This is a Ruston and Hornsby 0-4-0 built in February 1969 as a 192hp diesel electric shunter. Works number 544998, it was last standard gauge locomotive built by the company. It was delivered new to the Nevils Dock and Railway Company in Llanelli where it continued to work until 1990.
Torrington station contains the Puffing Billy cafe which offers a range of snacks, drinks and meals. The station was once an important freight location, sending two daily trains of milk tankers to London Waterloo station.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

Devon days, part 1…

09 Tuesday Jun 2026

Posted by in Devon, History, Photography, Railways, Travel

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Monday was our first full day here in Devon. We’re staying with our friends Ann and Clive here in Bideford, a lovely area on the North Devon coast. I’ve not time to write a full blog so I’m going to leave you with pictures from the days activities which involved a long walk into Appledore, the ferry across the river to Instow and then a hike along the Tarka trail (the old railway) from Instow to Barnstaple before getting the bus back.

Looking across to Lundy Island.
Rather poignant seeing as the anniversary of the D-day landings was only a few days ago.
Looking back to Appledore as we cross the river Torridge on the little ferry.
Instow station on the Tarka trail. The old signalbox and some other rail features have been restored.
Heading towards Okehampton on the Tarka trail. The trackbed had been tarmaced, making an easy surface for cycling/walking.
The cafe and information centre at Fremington Quay on the Tarka trail. This was once a busy port, transhipping coal and clay from rail to ship. The quay closed in 1969. The cafe here serves a range of food and drink – and great cakes!
An abandoned yacht on the edge of the River Taw as we approach Barnstaple.
Nice here, innit? Rather bigger than Bigland Towers too…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

2nd January reservoir walk…

02 Friday Jan 2026

Posted by in Food and drink, Reservoir blogs, Travel, Walking, West Yorkshire

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With New Year behind us and the weather remaining cold but turning sunny we felt it was time to work off some of the festive food by heading out to explore a new walk. Looking at our options I plumped for another water walk, this time around the Digley reservoir near Holmbridge in the Holme valley, near the well-known town of Holmfirth (the setting for the long-running TV series ‘last of the summer wine’).

The drive over to Digley takes about 45 minutes cross-country, which isn’t bad, although the closer we got the more ‘interesting’ the country roads became due to a mixture of shallow snow and black ice which was cunningly hidden in the shadows. Digley is actually two reservoirs, with the smaller Bilberry up above it.

Bilberry has an interesting history. It was the original of the two, and in 1852 it burst, spilling 86 million gallons of water down the River Holme, causing 81 deaths and a large amount of property damage. The disaster caused a change in the way dams were built from then on.

In contrast, Digley wasn’t opened until 1954, despite being planned in the 1930s. The waters now cover the site of two mills and a pub, amongst other buildings. Here’s how the area looked in 1915.

There plenty of car parking at either end of the dam. The walk’s very pleasant as it passes through woodland and also dips and climbs as the well-maintained paths don’t follow the reservoir edge too closely so you get a variety of views. Here’s a few pictures from our trip.

Looking down on Digley with the dam in the distance.
Looking down on the Digley reservoir from Greaves Head. The edge of the Bilberry dam can be seen at the very right hand edge of the picture. As you can see, there’s some gorgeous views across the Holme valley from here.
Looking back the opposite way from the dam itself, with the large and ornate dam drain in the foreground (which isn’t open to the public, for obvious reasons).

There’s nowhere to buy food or drink near the dam, so bring your own. However, the Fleece Inn in nearby Holme does food and a range of real ales and other drinks.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Cheers!

Paul

15th December picture of the day…

15 Monday Dec 2025

Posted by in Calder Valley, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, West Yorkshire

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Another (wet) week begins here in Bigland Towers as the Calder valley remains sodden and often shrouded in mist and cloud. We may be getting closer to Christmas but there’s little likelihood of us having a white one. Daily temperatures have been hovering around double figures and well above what they should be by a minimum of 2-3 degrees. We even hit a ridiculous 14 degrees last Tuesday. With such unseasonably warm weather it’s hardly surprising we’re getting so much rain, which isn’t encouraging me to get out and about with the camera very much.

That said, on Saturday the sun Gods smiled, which was just as well as it was the official opening of the restored and repurposed Mytholmroyd station building. Dawn and I have been involved on the periphery of the project so it was lovely to be invited to see the finished building. I’ll write up the day in a separate blog once I’ve dug out some of the old photo’s which show what the interior used to look like. It was a lovely event and chance to catch up with old friends and colleagues from the world of community rail and the wider rail industry. Then on Sunday, it was back to normal with rain, rain, rain!

I’ve another couple of days working from home before heading down to London for a couple of days starting on Thursday. Looking at the forecast this crappy weather’s due to follow me South, but I don’t mind too much as Thursday is the Railway Carols service so most of my time will be spent indoors anyway. I was hoping to maybe catch up with the few remaining Class 455s working for SouthWest Railways but I may have to take a rain-check on that – literally!

Friday’s a more social event, after which I’ll be heading North ready for the last weekend before Christmas, although that won’t be a frenetic as previous years. We don’t have to tour farm shops as it’s going to be (mostly) a meat-free Xmas – which is easy on the wallet as well as the stomach! We’re intending to get out walking too as the weather’s looking more promising, so it may prove to be one of the healthiest festive seasons we’ve had for a while.

In the meantime, I’ve a few projects to fill the next few days with, which will keep me occupied whatever the weather. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with today’s pictures which was taken with a long-lens from our bedroom window this afternoon. Here’s how the Calder valley’s looked for much of the day.

Now you see it, now you don’t…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Cheers!

28th October picture(s) of the day…

28 Tuesday Oct 2025

Posted by in Calder Valley, Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Railways, West Yorkshire

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There’s been another quiet day here at Bigland Towers and in the Calder valley. I’ve spent most of it working from home, having had the place to myself whilst Dee’s been over at her parents to sort out the aftermath of the car accident.

Mind you, the weather here this morning was spectacularly awful, with high winds and driving rain, so being cocooned in the cottage was ideal. This afternoon, the weather changed. We had a spell of glorious sunshine and clear skies, so I thought I’d nip out with the camera to get shots of the railway crossing the Copley viaduct surrounded by trees in their autumnal colours. Only it didn’t quite work out that way. By the time I got down to the river the weather had changed again, with leaden skies and rain heading my way. However, I did find Network Rail contractors who’d been busy clearing trees along the embankment of the line to Greetland. This has opened up a couple of new photo locations, with more in the offing as the work is continuing.

I made my way up the other side of the valley through a lovely green tunnel which has formed over an old sunken track. Then, sheltering from a sudden downpour under some Oak trees, I surveyed the valley. Here’s the results.

The green tunnel, and old track which is slowly being reclaimed by nature.
A train bound for Halifax passes the site where contractors have denuded the embankment of trees to open up this view which has been hidden for decades. In the background is a modern housing estate which has been built between the River Calder and the canal.
The same train crossing the Copley viaduct, surrounded by trees which are slowly gaining their autumnal finery. The widest arch to the right is where the railway crosses the Calder and Hebble Navigation (canal).

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Cheers!

Reservoir (and more) blogs. Part 7…

22 Monday Sep 2025

Posted by in Climate Change, Photography, Railways, Reservoir blogs, Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade, West Yorkshire

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After Sodden Saturday we had Sunny Sunday, a day which encouraged the pair of us to get out and make the most of things. As we’d heard about all the rain Yorkshire had seen whilst we were away in Portugal we thought we’d check out how things stand with some of the local reservoirs. However, there was something else I was keen to have a look at seeing as we were out in the car – and that was progress on rebuilding Huddersfield station. Dawn kindly detoured so we could take a look. Here’s some of what we saw.

The view inside the trainshed seen from the nearby road bridge (which offers a grandstand view). To the right is the newly extending bay platform used by terminating services from Sheffield. The old Platform 1 have been extended outwards, taking over the course of the old track, which has been re-laid closer to the old platform 3. Originally there were four tracks running through this part of the station, but the centre two roads were removed in the 1980s.
What a change! This was the site of platform 8 and the stabling sidings. The smaller station roof has been removed and all tracks lifted. Eventually, a new island platform will be built here.
The area in the centre of the picture was the site of the two short bay platforms. They’ve disappeared completely. The only remains are the wooden platform end fence to the right of the yellow crane. The Eastward extensions of the through platforms, which have been built over the replacement William St bridge.
A general view of the North side of the station and old island platform. The roof’s gone, as has the signalbox. Only the lift shaft and an equipment room remain.

Having checked out TRU progress we headed out to the M62 for a short trip to Junction 22 where we passed the Booth wood reservoir. We’d visited it back in August when it was looking perilously low. To be honest, there seemed little difference in the levels, as this picture shows.

From Booth wood it was a short drive to Baitings, where we got a surprise as levels have increased by around 3 meters.

Looking towards the dam from the new road bridge. Just a few days ago an earlier dam could be seen in the foreground. It disappeared again virtually overnight thanks to the recent rains.
The old bridge has water under it once more as the Ryburn has started bringing water down from the moors.
A torrent of water is entering the reservoir from Horse Hay Clough which runs off the moors to the North of the res’.

Does this mean an end to the drought? I doubt it. No more rain’s forecast, and there’s still a lot of ground (or should that be water) to make up…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312


The seasons change…

03 Wednesday Sep 2025

Posted by in Climate Change, Musings, Photography, West Yorkshire

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Alas, the glorious weather we’ve enjoyed this year feels like it’s coming to an end as the seasons change. Autumn is fast approaching, although for many farmers it arrived unseasonably early, allowing them to harvest weeks earlier than normal, with some enjoying very good crop yields, despite the dry weather and heat which has meant that 2025 has been identified by the Met Office as the warmest summer on record. The worrying thing is that record is very likely to be broken next year.

Now the rain’s taken over here in West Yorkshire. We’ve had several days of heavy showers and leaden skies. I shouldn’t really complain, anyone who’s read any of my reservoir blogs will know how desperate we are for rain around here. Yorkshire Water reports that levels are down to 32.6 per cent – well below the 72.7 per cent average for this time of year. So we’re going to need a hell of a lot of steady rain to make up the deficit – and avoid floods. Still, Dawn and I are off to Portugal on Friday, so if the heavens want to open for the next couple of weeks, then don’t mind us!

I nipped out between heavy showers earlier to get shots of the signs of the seasons change. The Oak trees that make up some of the woodlands surrounding us are a mass of acorns right now. It’s difficult to walk through the woods without getting bombed by them dropping. The downside is that the local grey squirrels have gone into overdrive, collecting and stashing as many acorns as they can find as food for the winter months. The problem is these pesky rodents are seeing my flowerbeds and pots as part of their larder, destroying any plants that get in their way. Bloody things…

The persistent rain’s brought the valley sides to life again, reinvigorating grass and woodland alike. It’s also made for some interesting skies, like this. I managed to get home before this little lot dumped on me.

Looking across the Calder valley to Norland and the Ryburn valley beyond.

We’ve a thunderstorm warning for the rest of the day, which could produce some fun. Let’s see…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312