Patterns in Ice

Some patterns in the ice on our footpaths last week.

St Nicholas Church in Arrington, Cambridgeshire

 I'd never visited Arrington church until today - the churchyard is particularly attractive with spring flowers. The Parish Church of St. Nicholas in Arrington dates from 13th Century. The walls are clunch of local field stones and red brick. The main roof, now tiled, was originally thatched and probably continued to be so until comparatively recent times. The timber spire is lead-covered. The West Tower (9½ ft. square) was built c. 1300, rebuilt in the 18th century. The organ is gothic, 19th Century.

Tracks and Trails

With all the heavy rain over the last few weeks, all the paths are muddy around us. One upside is the visibility of animal tracks, even more so in last week's snow.  We have a Badger Sett that I walk past most days - the first two images show hind and fore paw prints. The tracks clearly lead from the Sett into Toft Wood and across. Badgers are protected by the Badgers Act 1992 which prevents injury to and the disturbance of badgers. Land owners must not disturb a badger or its sett without obtaining a licence but with all the clearing going on of the banks of the Brook, fingers crossed that this is upheld.

The other tracks are Muntjac, Fox (two photos), Dog and Rabbit

Soft Focus with the Hosebaby

Back in June I made myself a camera with a moveable lens to play around with soft focus and focus points using a flexible vacuum cleaner hose. Decided to give it another go, with some flowers I had been given. The focus point can be moved anywhere in the frame by flexing the hose - see set up at end.

Frozen Lichens, Mosses and Leaves

Some further frosty images taken in Toft Wood.