Nature through the eyes of my camera

 Wednesday 30th September Flatford  A dry day after several days of strong winds and rain meant we were able to go out for a few hours.  I had a new lens that I wanted to try on my camera.  Flatford is close by and so we headed for there. Flatford is a small hamlet well known for Flatford Mill, Willie Lott's cottage and Bridge cottage which were made famous from paintings by John Constable. Flatford also has a great little cafe whose flavour of scones changes monthly. During John Constable's boyhood, the family living in Bridge Cottage were tenants of the Constable family. Family members collected tolls from the lighters passing through Flatford Lock and may have provided a rest area, beer house and eating place for the families who operated the commercial barge route along the River Stour between Sudbury and Mistley Warf. They cooked their meals on a large central fireplace which can still be seen inside Bridge Cottage today. Bridge Cottage was constructed as a sin...

  Monday 21st September Snape Snape was once a thriving port. Barley was malted at the maltings and then shipped to London and across Europe on Thames barges. Barges on the river Alde The maltings has now been converted into a music venue where the Aldeburgh music festival is held.  There are also several bespoke shops around the site and a cafe and restaurant. Snape maltings and complex Snape maltings from the other side of the Alde Snape Warren is a reserve owned by the RSPB.  It is an important habitat for birds and these can be spotted while walking through the heathland and woodland. Heathland Puffball seen in the woods Return to Index

Monday 21st September Captain's Wood Captain's Wood is an ancient woodland owed by Suffolk Wildlife Trust. The woodland has many wild plants and a mix of natural habitats for a wide range of wildlife. The wood is an excellent place to find bluebells in the spring. End of summer at Captain's Wood There is a large area of coppiced hazel as well as oak and sweet chestnut in the wood.  These create an abundance of food for wild life such as squirrels, woodpeckers, jays, nuthatches and other small mammals. Coppiced hazel Although fallow deer were spotted I was too slow to get a photo.  There were several dragonflies about and also some butterflies. Common Darter Common Darter Speckled Wood Buff-tipped caterpillar Return to Index

  Tuesday 15th September Walberswick and Westwood Marshes Another beautiful day to follow a Gill Moon walk, this time along the dunes of Walberswick, through to Westwood Marshes. Dunes at Walberswick We crossed one of the old wooden bridges and headed for the dunes. Walking along the dunes we watched people arriving for a day on the beach. We passed many black beach huts and some holiday lets. Black Beach Huts Holiday Let Reaching the end of the dunes we cross a bridge and follow the river through the reeds to the marsh. Bridge across the river Before turning onto the marshes we pass the old tide mill which once would have been used to drain the land.  It was also used to grind corn for animal feed. Tide Mill Reeds ran along side the river and there were several dragonflies darting about and a family on swans were on the river. Reed Beds Exiting the marsh we follow the path which leads through a wooded area (we pass a World War II pillbox on the way) and out onto the road th...

Thursday 10th september Walton Walton became popular as a seaside resort during the Victorian era when people were able to travel by train and boat to the destination. There was a decline in its popularity after the second world war. The Naze Naze Beach Huts The Naze Tower, built in 1720, is a historic 86ft navigational tower built to aid shipping.  It  now houses a tea room, art gallery, museum and a roof viewing platform with amazing panoramic views. The Naze Tower Large parts of the Naze have eroded away over the years at a rate of 1 - 2 metres a year.  The pill-boxes from the second world war have fallen from the cliffs and now lay on the beach. Pill-boxes If erosion continues at the same rate it is likely in 50 years time the Naze Tower will be lost to the sea and the Naze might become an island. Cliff Erosion

Sunday 22nd August Dunwich Heath Having booked a slot at Dunwich Heath National Trust site I was able to stroll around the heather ladened heath with my husband, daughter and granddaughter. The heath was a mass of purple, dotted with the occasional splash of yellow gorse. My aim today was to help my granddaughter with her photography.  She has a good eye for a photo and enjoyed herself.  The image below she called a shady spot. There were beautiful clouds in the sky today. We did a circular walk and stopped at the cafe for refreshments before taking a stroll down to the beach.

Thursday 20th August Ramsholt Today we went to Ramsholt where we followed a walk from Gill Moon's book The Suffolk Coast (25 walks with your camera). It was only a short walk of two miles but as I had been having problems with my back it was far enough. Ramsholt used to be a thriving place with sailing barges arriving to unload coal and other supplies and to take away local produce such as sugar beet. It once had a school with fifty pupils. It is much quieter today with mainly leisure boats and tourists. The Ramsholt Arms (original the Ferry House) is a very popular pub overlooking the River Deben. Our walk followed the shore line of the Deben until we turned right to join a footpath onto the marshes. The marshes are used for grazing and are great for wildlife such as barn owls, marsh harriers and red deer. All Saints Church dates back to Norman times.  It was renovated in the 1950's.  It has a round tower supported by buttresses.  There are wonderful views from the chu...