Herefordshire - Part 2: Bodenham Lake NR

 

Thursday was a lovely mild sunny day so we decided to visit Bodenham Lakes Nature Reserve which is a Herefordshire Wildlife Trust Reserve near Queenswood Arboretum and Country Park.

Bodenham Lakes habitats include meadows, one of the largest lakes in the County, wet woodland and orchards.  In the 1980's when quarrying ceased the pits were linked to form one large lake of about 50 acres.  The lake is designated a Site of Local Importance, and where the reserve borders the River Lugg it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation.  170 species of bird have been recorded and otters are regularly seen.  It is also a good site for butterflies and dragon and damselflies.  

In 2018 Herefordshire Wildlife Trust started to naturalise the steep sides of the lake and created shallows and reedbeds. In 2019 three islands in the lake were improved for birds such as Little Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher. An osprey platform was also installed.

A large area of the lake is closed to the public to protect wildlife and seeing the many dogs there (some off the lead and running into the water!!) I think it is just as well.

Pussy Willow

Cherry Plum as the sepals were reflexed (bent backwards) as opposed to being around the flower as in Blackthorn.

Oontitoomps!

We spent an hour in the hide just enjoying watching the birds.

Species seen included Canada and Greylag Geese, Moorhen, Coot, Great Crested Grebes (in courtship display), Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mandarin, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Teal and Little Egret.

We walked back via the two orchards which have been cultivated since around 1700. They contain cider and dessert apples, some perry pear, cherry, greengage and walnut trees. More trees have been planted in recent years.

More oontitoomps!

Photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one I would be grateful for an email first - thanks).

Reference: Herefordshire Wildlife Trust's Guide to Its Reserves.

Herefordshire - Part 1: St Leonard's church, Hatfield

 E is on holiday and wanted to go to the caravan for a few days.  We arrived last Wednesday - B wanted to do the click and collect on Thursday am instead of rushing off when we arrived so I decided to visit St Leonard's nearby and see what was flowering in the churchyard.

Lesser Celandine on the bank opposite the church,

Ground Ivy

Dog's Mercury

I visit St Leonard's a lot so apologies for repeating what some of you will have heard several times before!

St Leonard's is the third oldest church in Herefordshire and the nave is C11th and may even be pre-Conquest.  It is constructed partly of tufa.  The church was extended to the west in the C14th when the chancel was probably rebuilt. There were restorations to the church in 1878 and 1903. The bell turret may be medieval and the weatherboarding was added in 1903.

There were Primroses and Daisies scattered all over the churchyard.

A lovely display of daffodils at the rear of the church.

The open timber porch is partly C14th.

Although I visit the churchyard regularly I haven't been inside the church for a few years so I decided to have a look round.

Norman tub font which unfortunately has been replaced by this

rather unprepossessing one!

 

Looking along the nave towards the chancel.

This is a display of the old gear of a C13th church bell including elm head stock, nailed sheerbands, stock hoops, wooden chiming gear and pulley.

West Gallery

Memorials

Most fittings are from the restorations including the pulpit.

Chancel

Memorials also include C17th tablets for the Colles family.

Kneeler - I forgot to look in the pews to see if there were any more.

Piscina

East Window by Mayer and Co 1878

Daffodils on the verge by the farm opposite the church.

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks)

Reference: 

Buildings of England Herefordshire, by Alan Brooks and Nikolaus Pevsner Yale University Press.