Finding magic by the water. A walk along in the shade with a Reservoir for company.

2022 has been something of a “strange year” in one way it has been a year of contrasts and in the next way it has been a year of changes, changes in the climate and with that the summer has been questionable to say the least - with temperatures in some parts of the country reaching a barmy 40 degrees! I mean when we think of 40 degree heat it tends to be associated with places like The Middle East, Asia, America and of course Australasia; thinking that the UK would see 40 degrees many years ago was unthinkable - now of course though it is sadly reality and whilst the 40 degree heat was around during July, after then the heatwave sort of went away, instead a much more breathable heat stepped into its place and remained - warm but just where was 40 degrees? That of course was nothing more than a distant memory; but perhaps even a glimpse into the future. Of course though July progressed and we said goodbye to it, August turned up at the doorstep and with that a gradual change came yet again, with weather models showing,

“Yet another heatwave is on the way, instead of 40 degrees it will be above 30 degrees and unfortunately for many rather uncomfortable with the added bonus of tropical nights, when the night time temperature remains above the 20 degree mark.”

Of course though 30 degrees is more comfortable than 40 degrees, well yes it is to some degree, but slowly we said goodbye to the breathable temperatures of the mid 20s, and the heatwave came back again, uncomfortable to go out in the day - but what about evening? Dusk time just on the cusp of the sun going down, would that be a good time to go out? Perhaps it would be a good time to go out, I mean people in other countries where they are acclimatized to the heat tend to go out later when the temperature has dropped and using that synopsis I had decided where I wanted to go. “Somewhere with shade” of course is what sprung into my mind and somewhere that I could enjoy the last of the heat without it being too hot. Of course this particular August evening the heat from the day had dropped slightly, instead of 30+ degrees it was a barmy and rather cool 29.5 degrees, a refreshing change in some way yet something of sanctimonious torture in another way. Either way though I knew in the back of my mind that 29.5 degrees here in the UK during the evening is not exactly what you would expect or even call comfortable. But by now I had arrived at Moorgreen Reservoir, a glorious hidden Reservoir located amongst the rolling hills of DH Lawrence Country in Nottinghamshire, and a Reservoir that of course has links to the many novels that DH Lawrence published - yet this stretch of water is not owned by Severn Trent, instead it is owned by The Canal and River Trust; that aside though I have been visiting this stretch of water since I was young, but of course due to Covid the chance to explore it again when we were told “to stay at home and only travel locally” was something that plunged me back into exploring this silent yet beautiful stretch of water and the pathway that runs by the side of it, of course with the added benefit of the shade.

The pathway by the side of the Reservoir though is shaded and to some extent the stretch of woodland here paves the way for Moorgreen Woods, a magical area of woodland that flows towards Felly, and one where pathways can lead you on magical encounters of wildlife that exists in the woodland - not to mention the artwork that the trees and the landscape provide as they co-exist together in perfect harmony. But here I was at the start of the pathway, to the right of me the former lodge house, and to the left of me a dreamy scene overlooking the reservoir with a magical light - dreamlike almost and as I looked across the water a strange peace enveloped me.

Summer dreaming by The Reservoir.

Dreamlike with the greens and the cool of the water in the distance; for was I encountering the first piece of magic that I would encounter? Quite possibly, but for now the track in front of me was leading the way, I continued to walk on, but then ahead of me I could notice the track providing a leading line towards what appeared to be something slightly autumnal, I stopped and paused and took the following photo.

Walking towards Autumn.

“Autumn in the leaves, for this is August.” is what was in my mind at this stage, and lately though I have noticed something of an early Autumn, but is it really Autumn? No it is not, instead it is the effects of a heatwave; thus meaning that a lack of water within the earth has meant that the leaves are not hydrated, lack of hydration and that is the reason as to why in August things have been looking rather “Autumnal” to say the least. But then something to my right caught my eye; and this was shortly after I had noticed the autumnal looking scene that had been in front of me - this time a tree that looked as if it had been plucked straight from October and had travelled back in time.

Autumn Arrival in August.

October tree in August.

The autumnal looking tree was now behind me, the sun to the left of me had now started to glow orange and was seeping through the trees creating something magical, but ahead of me I could see the twists and turns of the track that I was on.

Moorgreen Twists and Turns.

Before long I had reached a point where the track splits, to the left was a pathway and ahead of me the track that I had been walking along continued to private land, the only option now was to turn left, and it was here that things would begin to change even more. Looking ahead of me I noticed a scene like something from Lord of The Rings, perhaps now I was walking along a pathway to middle earth? But no; this footpath that I was on more than likely would be the same one that DH Lawrence would have also walked along; the shades of green now looking vivid, the light obstructed by the trees.

A path to Middle Earth.

Walking along the footpath I noticed that around me I was surrounded by the most magical and magnificent artwork, all affected by the light, by the shade and it was more like being surrounded by sculpture; it really was sculpture but living sculpture and I knew I had to take some photographs of this living art gallery, a natural living art gallery that is something truly unique.

A Living Sculpture.

Mushroom Tree.

Statue in the light.

A sense of magic, on the one hand a living art gallery I was amongst with living sculpture, to the left of me the sunlight doing it’s magical thing and then all of a sudden I had to pause - if only to document something that next year, next august possibly will never occur again, for this was the end result.

Split second Orange of the Tree.

By now it was time to turn around and retrace my steps, I had not made it to the old sight of Felly Mill, but back along the magical pathway I had to walk back on, this time noticing some more interesting and curious things, artwork on the way and again a sense of something ethereal was in the mind, curious shapes and shades now lay ahead of me and on the right hand side of me towards Moorgreen Reservoir, the light had changed, from orange to something that a watercolour artist would paint, or a landscape artist would sketch, a pastel tone had developed and gone was the orange in the sky, I knew that ahead of me something magical would be waiting for me, but ahead of me the mysterious green pathway.

Woodland Harmony.

Heatwave Shade.

Along the alien path.

Into the distance.

Portal to Autumn.

After a short while I had made it back to the track that I had originally walked along, now I was heading back in the direction of where I had started the walk, before long I got to a section of the track that I had walked on, but now to my left, something that I had missed out on, behind the small but perfectly formed purple flowers - majestic pine trees stood, but the purple flower really did stand out to me.

Purple beauty perfection.

Purple, for that was the colour of the skies and I had literally taken a photo of something purple - a “sign of things to come?” Perhaps that was what the purple flower had told me and before long I was at the end of the track that I had set off from. But then I knew that I had to see the glorious purple light, the sun had dipped below the horizon and a little short walk I found myself overlooking Moorgreen Reservoir, what was ahead of me was magic, and I had clearly found this magic, it was right in front of me.

Serenity under a pastel sky.

Purple is the end of the heatwave.

A Purple Postcard.

Floating on purple.

Purple Vista.

For I had walked along a track and a pathway that I had walked on many times before - but on this occasion I had found magic by the water, and that was during a heatwave, all be it when it was slightly cooler; but even if the landscape around me was looking parched, colour was still found and all that with the reservoir for company and that was just something else, something that as a landscape photographer I shall have in the back of my mind for a long time; for next time I do that particular walk, will I see scenes like that? Certainly not, and capturing magical scenes by the water is something that I shall not forget, neither will I forget the heatwave, but even during a heatwave beauty can still be found. All you have to do is find it.

Embracing the best free art in January? A winter afternoon walk like no other.

 Ahead of me I can see the most magical of skies, a gradient of blue and purple with a hint of pastel tones - for that is what was in my mind as I started to walk down the path yesterday afternoon, of course being January, afternoons are quite interesting to say the least and whilst we are past the “winter solstice” extra daylight is quite thankful to have, but regardless of the short burst and energy of a slice of added extra daylight; the nights for they do still begin to draw in.

Still though that did not bother me, for I knew what would happen on my walk would be nothing short of magical, mystical, ethereal and pretty spectacular, ahead of me the pathway behind the cricket club, and whilst I am no big fan of sports, or cricket to that matter, I placed my camera just above the concrete wall and got the following photo.

Under purple is Cricket.

Was it minimalism? The silhouette or the shapes that I liked? I do not know but the glow of purple in the sky just left me wanting more, more art, the kind of artwork that oh so often we ignore.

“The sky is perhaps the best place for artwork, best of all it is free yet society looks forward or down, instead of looking up at what nature can do.”

A little bit further on, I stopped again and looked through a natural frame within a tree, a small tree and I looked across the fields towards the horizon - the light slowly leaving and the skies becoming even more purple in colour, a transition like no other, I was rather speechless and completely taken away at this point, camera came out and I got the following shot.

In a perfect frame.

Amazed I was in this natural theatrical show I continued walking, the loss of light slowly happening and everything felt so still, peaceful and rather eerie in a strange but beautiful way. On the horizon in a field some trees, and the hue of blue and purple, a pastel picture in the skies ahead of me, on what appeared to be nature's greatest easel. For it is rather amazing that in our lives we never appreciate the beauty of the skies as much as we should. I paused and took another photo, needless to say I was impressed with the result that I had captured.

Purple trees dance so calm.

I continued to walk, then I found another perspective, those trees aligned and a glow, crisp and cold it was, yet magical; here I was in a January wonderland, a month that should ideally be renamed or deleted as it is usually dull and vain. But was it? No if anything this January day was giving something back.

In the line.

A bit further on, and I stopped yet again, the purple in the east, yet I had not bothered to look towards the West, and when I did; I was astounded by the view, another natural frame and on the horizon a silent giant, with an orange glow, Brinsley Hill, formed by man out of coal, now a place to walk and explore, yet on the horizon under the orange glow of the sunset it looked surreal, ethereal and so still.

A Brinsley Glow.

I continued to walk along an old pathway and the leading lines heading towards “Engine Lane” had captivated me, the trees and the pathway looking so uniform was something else and it made for a simple composition.

Uniform are the trees.

Turning left at the end of the path, I was now facing north, and here on the right was a clash, the stillness of the purple hue in the east, on the right of me, yet on the left side of me facing west was something of an explosion of colour, now the show just got better, and the light was fading quickly, but a silhouette against the colour and magic of the sky is what I managed to get.

Brinsley Silhouette.

Now I had to face the calm, serene view of the east, I turned around after taking the photo above and looked over towards the industrial estate,, under the faint yet calm glow it looked ever so slightly “science fictionesque” I was amazed, amazed at how landscapes and industry can blend together to create something else. Minimalism screamed out at me after I had taken the photo of the contrast between the fading pastel skies and the industrial estate.

Amongst the Science Fiction.

Then all of a sudden, in the west, I looked and the sky was dancing, yet this was just on the opposite side of the path I was on, I looked at the horizon towards Eastwood, on the hill - faintly like someone had painted or drawn a picture of a silhouette scene for a piece of artwork and I got the following two photos.

A Moon Rise.

January Glow.

Sheer magic all around is what I was experiencing, a strange kind of magic and a sense of calm had been naturally poured all over me, for I had experienced nature on another level, and best of all it had combined itself into the best form of “free artwork” with purple hues in the east, and a stunning golden and blue sunset in the west, a colour explosion? Quite possibly, yet I was now finishing my walk and I had truly embraced the best free art, which just goes to prove that you do not need to visit an art gallery, to see works of art - instead taking a walk can provide you with stunning scenes and a more visual art form that is represented via nature, for that in my opinion is the best artwork. And whilst, January is a month of dullness; you just have to work with the month to get the best out of it.

Sometimes a walk through the woods and a Reservoir is all you need.

The reservoir at Moorgreen is one of those “Blink and you miss it” kind of locations and it is somewhere that I had not been to in many years, I have fond memories of walking at Moorgreen reservoir and it was on the 31st of May 2021 that I decided what better thing to do than revisit it, and take a walk down memory lane. Of course though the recent warm weather had meant that I did not want to do my mad dogs and Englishmen impression, and have a walk in the heat of the day, instead I wanted to escape the heat and the call of Moorgreen reservoir was just tempting me; after all I knew that the path that runs alongside the reservoir would be sheltered by the glorious tall trees that form part of the wider Moorgreen woods, here the woodland gently slopes down to the shores of Moorgreen reservoir and these woods even when I was younger provided many happy memories that I still have inscribed in my memory. Still, despite it being a while since I last walked this glorious pathway, I knew that some things might have changed and the landscape would be much more different.

Yet in some ways I was proven wrong to the changes that might have occurred, instead when I first set foot on the path it seemed as familiar as it had done all those years ago. To the right of me is the old gatehouse which is a clue to what else lies within these woods and is hidden from prying eyes. Yes it really is amazing what secrets woodlands can hold and this was no exception. Either way the path lay ahead, but I paused for a moment and looked over a gate, which at one time you could walk through towards the reservoir, now though it is all closed off, unless you are an angler with a permit; oh how the times change don’t they. But that did not matter. Yes, things have a habit of changing and just lately the world has changed quite drastically - I suppose that is down to the pandemic and it is forcing us to adjust and make changes to our lives and that involves a lot of walking. Still, I digress.

Either way I was on this path, behind me was the gate and the view over the reservoir, along with the gatehouse, but something then caught my eye, a beautiful rhododendron flower, bright pink against a lush background, so I had to stop and take a photograph of it, so simple it was a little pink flower and setting my camera to F 0.95 I captured this stunning pink flower of the rhododendron, the background blurred out and I was amazed at just how atmospheric it was.

Pretty in the pink.

I then continued walking, the sound of an orchestra playing although instead of violins and other orchestral instruments; this orchestra was one of bird songs along with the distant sound of the breeze and the rustling of the trees.

“Sometimes music does not need instruments, sometimes the best music is the one that nature makes - slow down and pause for a moment when walking through woodlands or a forest, by the coast or within an area that is beautiful and listen to the sounds of nature making music, it really is something else, best of all it is free.”

Then in front of me a puddle on the floor, now I have a thing for water on the floor as it can be used as a mirror, if you want to challenge yourself with photography make sure to use a puddle to capture the reflections of the surroundings, I placed my camera close to the puddle and got the following photograph.

Reflections of the woods.

After capturing the glorious reflection of the lush green woodlands in the puddle, I continued to walk, forking off the path that I had been on, and now I was on a path with a gentle incline, it was on this path that things began to change, I paused for a brief moment and looked on at the woodland in front of me, a wooden fence on the left hand side of me meant for an interesting leading line and the trees along with the light felt serene, dreamlike and ethereal, for I was in the moment.

A summer path.

Of course though the reservoir was still on the left of me, and I could just see it in the distance. Creaks of the branches in the breeze, the orchestra of the birdsong accompanying me as I walked deeper into the woods, the sunshine seeping through the trees and things felt radiant. Magical almost and it probably was. Oh how the warmth changes the world and changes people’s minds, gone is the worry of listening to the doom mongering scientists (academics) and their views on what life is more than likely going to be, but here I was creating my own little piece of Utopia within the woodlands next to the shimmering water of Moorgreen reservoir. The sun just shining through the trees making a glorious effect with the light as it shone on the trees was purely magical.

Still this Utopia that I had created started to become even more stunning as I progressed, a little further on the path and to the right of me, is when I set eyes on the most magical of sights, here the woodland changed and the trees became more twisted, abstract like and surreal.

“If you are after an art gallery, then the woodlands provide an art gallery, best of all anyone can enjoy them. Shapes change all the time within woodlands and each one is unique, forests, woodlands etc. Have a certain charm to them that just invites people to explore them. Instead of looking at what is in front of you, look all around you and you will surely come across the most delightful pieces of artwork on the planet, for I as a photographer remain amazed by the artwork in woodlands and the trees are more like a painting that is constantly being worked on.”

I stopped and glanced to the right, the trees looked like sculptures, slightly surreal is what they were - but non the less, incredibly photogenic. Here I was in a woodland that was not affected by industry but one in which nature rules the roost and changes things naturally thus shaping the trees to how they look today. Yet the light against the trees was something so serene that I had to take the following photograph,

Sunshine woodland arts.

Sun-drenched trees do have a certain quality to them and they are just magical, somehow the light shining on the trees adds a certain amount of beauty to an already twisted sculpted scene. I then continued to walk, but again I had to stop, the pathway I was walking along just looked glorious with the trees on each side.

The trodden path.

A little further past the path, the avenue of trees and I had entered another section of the living art gallery, the trees all naturally shaped, with interesting intertwining sections to them, tall and small these were eclectically formed and the growth stages of the trees made for interesting shapes, pausing yet again I had to capture the beauty of them.

The natural museum.

When sculpture lives.

Yet here in this woodland I was aware that the water was getting ever so slightly closer, I carried on walking along the path, the woods at this stage encroaching on the reservoir and I could see the shimmer of the sun on Moorgreen reservoir, it was purely magical almost like being on another planet and still the orchestral sounds of the wildlife rang out around me. Aware of the reservoir on the left hand side of me, I found myself in a location of contrasts, and contemplation, here I paused and looked in awe at the view through the trees towards the shimmer of the reservoir, enigmatic and full of energy, unspoiled it was at this stage but that would soon change.

A waterside proximity.

Down to the shore - (Landscape).

Down to the shore - (Portrait).

I continued to walk and arrived at a location, taking a path to the left of me I had arrived at a location in which a playground had been developed, simple it was with a rope swing over the river, for I had visited here many years ago, but change had happened, where as I used to walk along the river towards Felly Mill, on a path by the river - well that path was no more, erosion/destruction had made that section of the path disappear, but previously unspoiled it was full of litter left over from those who use this location as a natural adventure playground.

“What has happened to society? It has broken and respect gone, is it really that difficult to take your rubbish home with you instead of leaving it in this river or on the banks of this river. Perhaps in the future you should take it home instead of spoiling it.”

Now though I walked away, with thoughts from yesteryear in the back of my mind and of the happy times that I had spent in this location when I was younger, again things change and with the detritus left over at a spot that years ago was a little oasis - sometimes those changes are not for the best. Still, it was time to backtrack along the path that I had walked on, that had brought me to this former oasis, now spoiled by litter.

Ahead of me on the path that I was now backtracking on was another tree, this time providing an arch over the path, naturally forming the arch was and it looked truly beautiful, for this was something else, and it looked like a scene from lord of the rings, the lush dense woodlands and the natural growth of the trees, I paused for a moment and took the following photos.

Woodland Portal - (Landscape).

Woodland Portal - (Black and White/Landscape).

Woodland Portal - (Black and White/Portrait).

Woodland Portal - (Portrait).

Amazing really how trees can be so thought provoking, this growth and the formation of the archway had happened over a number of years and I had not noticed it before, maybe when I was younger I never really paused to think about things or maybe I did not remember it, either way the path beckoned and it was back to the starting point of the walk. But upon the return to the starting point of the walk, the magic still happened.

I walked past the old lodge house that marks the entrance point to these woodlands and the glorious walk that I had, for now the sun was slowly beginning to set but the light was something else, I turned around and took the following photographs of this magical and mysterious old lodge house that, I am sure has plenty of stories to tell.

A woodland life - (Landscape).

A woodland life - (Portrait).

By now a magical light, and across the road, another property, the tall trees blocking out the sun, but somehow the skies seemed so calm and I had to capture the moment. But again the back of my mind was questioning things. Why had I never paused for a moment to take notice of this old house and it’s stunning architecture? I had no idea.

Life in serenity.

Stories to be told.

What stories did that house have to say about the serenity of the location it was in? The architecture was a statement and the beautiful brickwork was something else. But now I walked a little further on to a location on the pavement. In front of me now was Moorgreen reservoir and the skies clear, calm it was and I was here looking at a giant landscape painting in front of me, the trees of the woodland meeting the reservoir in front of me made for one of the most serene scenes that I had ever captured.

Evening calm of Moorgreen.

The reflections of the trees on the water along with the sky and the evening calm, for this was the most magical of ends to any walk that I had been on in a long, long time, but here I was looking at this glorious hidden body of water amongst the landscape, but it really does go without saying that sometimes a walk through the woods and a reservoir is all you need.