Gipton Wood

Picture of an entrance to Gipton Wood at Oakwood, Leeds.

This is an entrance into Gipton Wood on Roundhay Road, it is about opposite The Roundhay pub on the other side of the road. Its a short walk from the Tesco store where there is a blue plaque marking the site of the former Olympia Works and Blackburn aircraft.

Gipton wood is quite a small (8.2 hectares) area of ancient woodland with predominantly oak, sycamore, beech and hornbeam trees. Whilst there are I think a lot of trees in Leeds I struggle with the concept of Leeds city council calling it part of the Forest of Leeds. There may be 1200ha of woodland across the metropolitan area of the city of Leeds but that consists of 55 smaller plots including woodland at Lotherton Hall, which is miles from Gipton and Oakwood. The metropolitan area of Leeds is about 213 sq miles. So by my rough and ready estimate there is 1 hectare of woodland per 46 hectares that consists of roads and housing estates, factories and the like. Also the councils Forest of Leeds pages lists events happening in 2005/06. All this before I mention the Leeds New Forest Village, which is I think a housing development by another name.

Honeysuckle Flower

Picture of honeysuckle flower.

I saw this honeysuckle growing wild a few days back, I think this a garden variety that has escaped from nearby gardens. The native wild variety is I think more yellow. Either way this plant is quite good for butterflies and bees and I think these need all the help we can give them. It is also apparently liked by the Hummingbird Hawk-moth and I love to see those.

For Steffe

Another picture from the recent event at VQ Leeds, The Wizard of Oz Shopping Party.

This young woman was I think dressed as a rather racy Alice but thats just a guess. I did not ask her to pose like this someone beat me to it. I should perhaps add this young woman was not a performer at the event but works in one of the stores in the VQ shopping centre.

I am dedicating this post to Steffe from Haninge, we have all seen his quest for pretty girls and powerful bikes. So here's to you Steffe!

Young Dancers at VQ

At the back end of last week there was The Wizard of Oz Shopping Party held at the Victoria Quarter in the city centre.

The Wizard of Oz Shopping Party event was quite good, especially because I got to meet a couple of guys who run the after-market Harley-Davidson specialist and Custom Bike builder right here in Leeds. I plan to go over there and take a look at their motorcycles sometime soon.

As is usual with a VQ event there were some performers, on this night dressed as characters from The Wizard of Oz. Several times during the evening some young performers from a local Yorkshire dance school.

Meet Baby Rae

Walking along Briggate in the heart of the Leeds shopping district late yesterday afternoon I encountered a small but cute dog.

I am not really a fan of small dogs, but this particular one was both friendly and not a little cute. This little dog is called Baby Rae and at 18 months is still a puppy.

Cornflower

I love this time of the year, wildflowers that for much of the year lie unnoticed begin to flower and this cornflower is one of them.

I saw a small patch of cornflowers growing on the verge of a country lane a few days back and got my camera out for a few photos.

The Evacuees

Another picture from the 1940s weekend at the village of Haworth not far from Leeds here in Yorkshire. This picture show a couple of girls who are taking part as evacuees, they are on an old coach travelling down Haworth main street.

The main street of the village was packed and there was little room between the people and the old bus, I just got a few quick snaps as it passed in front of me. This photo was the best of those that I caught before it moved beyond me.

Womens Land Army

Picture of members of the Womens Land Army at the 1940s weekend in the village of Haworth in Yorkshire. 

This is another picture from the 1940s weekend in the village of Haworth, not far from Leeds. Here we have some ladies dressed as members of the Women's Land Army, these were commonly known as Land Girls

The Women's Land Army was re-established a few months before the start of WW2 and by 1944 there were 80,000 members. It was originally formed in WW1 and ceased to exist with the ending of the Great War. Originally the Land Army was made up of volunteers but later conscription was brought in.

The Women's Land Army was finally disbanded in October 1950. It took until 2007 for the government to officially recognise the work that these ladies did for the war effort with the award of a commemorative badge.

He Was Monty's Double

Picture of Field Marshal Montgomery at 1940s weekend in the village of Haworth in Yorkshire.

I was over in the village of Haworth this afternoon for their 1940s weekend. The event is held in the village over a Saturday and Sunday early each summer and attracts thousands of visitors to the village in the Worth valley best known for its lasting association with the Bronte sisters.

Many of the visitors to Haworth over this weekend turn up in 1940s costume perhaps as members of the British army, navy or air force others as members of the forces of our allies and some as members of the German forces. Some prefer no uniform at all but dress in the fashion of that era with stockings, frocks and perhaps fur accessories.

I no longer wear any uniform but have one thing in common with the chap in the above photo, we both served in HM Forces. Just in case you could not guess he was at Haworth as Field Marshal Montgomery whose nickname was Monty.

Sleeping Cat

Passing a house in the village of Clifford, near Leeds a few days back I saw this cat snoozing on a mat by the front door. It was a bright, warm and sunny day not at all like the weather we have had the last few days. 

Outside now here in Leeds it is damp, cold and quite wet having I think rained since last night. Did I mention the murky, grey 10/10ths cloud cover.

Twins

Picture of twin lambs in a field in Yorkshire.

Travelling by bus as I sometimes do recently has one advantage over doing the trip in my car, I get to see over walls.

On my journey this morning I saw a field with some quite young lambs with their mothers in it. On the return journey I hopped off the bus in the middle of the trip and snapped a few shots over the wall of the nearest lambs.

I am not very good at telling the different breeds of sheep that can be found on the farms and fields across Yorkshire but I will ask the next farmer I encounter.

Farm Lawn Mower

I spent a little time in the village of Thorner a couple of days back, mostly to have a look at the church.

As I was walking back along the main street I saw the tractor being used to cut the grass on the village green. Nearby on a tree was a poster promoting the Thorner Gala on Saturday 2nd June on the village green, I think that the two are not unconnected.

Years back I had a good sized lawn and one of my favourite possessions was my old Suffolk Punch lawn mower, I loved that mower but I would have happily swapped it for the grass cutter used in the photo.

Yellow Fields

Its that time of the year when the countryside in some areas becomes a patchwork with some fields filled with a bright yellow flower.

In N America its called Canola, whilst here in the UK it is called field mustard or more commonly rapeseed.

This field is adjacent to the A64 Leeds - York Road out at Whinmoor near the Thorner Rd turn-off. I was up at Killingbeck and went along the road till I got to the first bright yellow field to get the above photo.

Bramham Windmill

The above photo shows the lane leading from the village of Clifford along and up a small hill to Bramham windmill. This lane is actually Windmill Road which leads to Old Mill Lane nearer Clifford.

Bramham windmill itself is in a small field just beyond someone's front garden. I knocked on the front door 

and said that I was interested in the windmill, luckily they were at home and he told me what he knew about the windmill and said I was welcome to have a look. 

The windmill is most likely 18th century with later alterations and long disused and as you can see from the photograph the sails are long gone. 

I have always been interested in early engineering from the days of steam and further back in time. Sadly these days there are very few working windmills here in Yorkshire, the nearest one that I can think of is Skidby Mill out near Beverley in East Yorkshire.

Whilst I was looking up windmills in Yorkshire I discovered that there is one in Leeds much closer to home and I popped over late this afternoon for a quick look but more on that another day.

Bramham Jubliee 2002

Picture of boulder stone seat celebrating to Jubilee of 2002 at Bramham cum Oglethorpe, near Leeds in Yorkshire.

Walking along a country lane from the village of Clifford towards an old windmill on a nearby hill which I wrongly thought was in the village turned out to actually be in Bramham the next village along.

The give away for me was the inscription on this large boulder adjacent to the roadway near the top of the hill and a short distance from the windmill. The inscription carved into the stone reads.. Bramham cum Oglethorpe Royal Jubilee 2002. The stone has carved into it a seat, so it is useful as well as being a way of marking the Jubilee of 2002.

The Bramham windmill can be seen if you look closely through the greenery of the hedge in the top left of the above picture.  I will give the story of the Bramham cum Oglethorpe windmill tomorrow here on the blog tomorrow.

Clifford Through Trees

Picture of the village of Clifford near Leeds seen from a distance

Walking along a lane from the village of Clifford towards a disused windmill that I spotted earlier I could see the village in the distance over this hedge.

This view of Clifford with the tower of St. Edward, King & Confessor Catholic Church in the middle of the photo shows how many trees are in and around the village.  Just before I took this photo I saw a woodpecker on a fence post but it flew off as I got my lens pointed at him.  I remember thinking it has been some time since I have heard quite so many different birds singing.

After I visited the old disused windmill I visited the church of St Edward and spoke with Fr Michael the priest who is I think fortunate to have such of beautiful church. I shall write more of the windmill and also the church over the next couple of days.

Wild at Heart

Yesterday I visited Seacroft public library, never been there before. Walking away towards the green I spotted a small dark brown rabbit happily munching on dandelion heads.

I think this little bunny was perhaps a family pet who saw the chance of freedom and did a runner. The rabbit let me get quite close. By chance I was out in the countryside yesterday and saw some wild rabbits and they disappeared as soon as they saw me.

I spotted these two wild rabbits at the far edge of a field near the village of Clifford yesterday, unlike the little brown rabbit they were very alert and watchful.

Wet Roads

Yesterday here in Leeds it rained off and on and had rained for much of the night. I took this photo from the upstairs of a moving bus out at the top end of the York Road at the edge of Leeds. The road was very wet with stretches of lying water.

Carousel at The Grand

Dancers Carl Pattrick, Jake Bowerman, Paul Smethurst & Simon Jaymes. Photo: Alastair Muir

I was lucky enough to see a small part of the Sitzprobe (term used in opera and musical theatre to describe a seated rehearsal) by the orchestra of Opera North for their current production the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel.

From the opening few notes I was surprised that I recognised the tune but this was entirely different, performed live by a forty piece orchestra right in front of me and not hidden away in the pit. So many different sounds, from the tuba to the girl on a drum kit that would not look out of place in a 4 piece band.

Then the chorus joined in, being in mufti I had not realised that they were not part of the audience. Wow, this was live musical theatre with only the dancers missing.

On Saturday I saw a live performance of Carousel at the Grand Theatre, Leeds and despite my being up in the gods I could not I think have been more transported. Whilst I could remember many of the songs I had long forgotten the story, if I ever knew it. At its most basic it is the story of a man who easily led astray, is led astray and later discovers redemption in true love.

Who could forget "June is Bustin out all Over" and "If I Loved You". The cast is excellent especially Eric Green as bad boy Billy Bigelow and Gillene Herbert as Julie Jordan. I also think the set designer deserves special mention, set and costume design by Olivier-award winner Anthony Ward.

This production of Carousel is for anyone with a beating heart.

Carousel can be seen at Leeds Grand Theatre till 19th May 2012 and then moves to The Lowry 23rd - 26th May 2012.

More Drama at Library

On Friday this last week Theatre of The Dales made a welcome return to The Leeds Library with their production of 'Bottom's Story' their version of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

I am not really a fan of Shakespeare, far too many words for my liking, but each to their own thing.

I thought this little play by Theatre of The Dales was excellent, very funny. With this performance I tried to be less conspicuous and sat on the edge and only took a few shots one of which is the players taking a bow at the end of the performance.

Churchyard Cat

Picture of a cat in a churchyard at Whitkirk in Yorkshire.
I would love to be able to name the cat in the above photo, but sadly his nice silver collar was nameless.

I visited the church at Whitkirk yesterday and just as I was leaving this rather fine cat strolled in and made himself at home, before being escorted back out into the churchyard. St Mary's church is an old Grade I listed building and although I had previously wandered around the outside on my visits to the Temple Newsam estate I had never been inside. The church like many these days is mostly locked, except for services but in the summer months it is open for visitors on Saturdays between 2-4pm.

After the cat left so did I, but only to follow him out into the churchyard to see if I could catch him in a reasonable pose. I like cats and was happy to play with him for a while and eventually he sat on a headstone adjacent to the bluebells and I snapped away.

Published

Today at Elland Rd, home of Leeds United football club a statue is being unveiled to Don Revie. The Barnsley sculptor Graham Ibbeson has made the 8 foot statue, I met Graham at the unveiling of his Freddie Trueman sculpture at Skipton.

All this reminded me that almost a year back I was contacted by a book publisher who wanted one of my photographs to use in a forthcoming book.

Yesterday walked past Waterstones bookshop on Albion St, walked in and sure enough there was the book on the shelf. The book Fred Trueman By Chris Waters was also on the shelves at my local public library, as can be seen in the above picture taken by my Blackberry.  Yes, my photo was used and is in the book.

Local Elections

Yesterday across England it was the local council elections and here in Leeds it was no different. The above photo shows the Swarthmore centre in Woodhouse Square where there was a polling station for the Hyde Park & Woodhouse ward. The following candidates stood for this ward and I would think by the time you read this the count may well be done. Liberal Democrat Lance Ibiador-Moses Independent Ghaffar Karim Conservative Thomas Martin Labour Christine Towler Alliance for Green Socialism Dil Nawaz It was just chance that there was a Labour poster in the photo, there were a couple of the these and several smaller ones for the AGS, of which I had not heard until yesterday when I saw the posters. Maybe its just me but I do think that these party signs that just name the party rather than the name of the candidate shows acertain arrogance, especially in local elections. Personally I do not care which party a person belongs to, I want the best man or woman for the job.

Military Helicopters

Yesterday afternoon I visited All Souls church on Blackman Lane, the church was open as part of Treasures Revealed.

On leaving All Souls there was the sound of a large helicopter nearby and after a short while the were two Merlin HC3 helicopters circling above the Woodhouse Lane area of the city. Because of the buildings and the trees where I was stood I only got a few photos of one of the two.

Whilst we often see the air ambulance and the police helicopter above the city I cannot recall seeing any large military helicopter above the city other than flying high in transit.

Garforth Church

This church is St Mary's at Garforth, which I visited yesterday as part of Treasures Revealed here in Leeds. I had not been to Garforth in several years and never to the church.

The church of St Mary is not a big church, but it does I think have a nice atmosphere and also some rather nice stained glass windows. I am not sure about the East Window, these triple lights were 'the work and gift of Mary Isabella and Elizabeth Oliver Gascoigne' whose family partly paid for the building of the current early Victorian church.

The above photo shows a view of St Mary's from the car park at the back of the building, to the left in the picture is the church hall and on the right a good sized yew tree.