So where to? As Dad's never been to Sheffield Park off we went.
There was a nursery within walking distance (not NT) that was SO OC. She'd have loved some of the stuff they were selling!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Sunday - Sheffield Park
I went for a walk around the village last night. The pics weren't edited when I found the wifi this morning!
So where to? As Dad's never been to Sheffield Park off we went.
There was a nursery within walking distance (not NT) that was SO OC. She'd have loved some of the stuff they were selling!
So where to? As Dad's never been to Sheffield Park off we went.
There was a nursery within walking distance (not NT) that was SO OC. She'd have loved some of the stuff they were selling!
Saturday - Batemans
always believe what your father tells you!
dad - i'm sure i sawsomething about an internet connection.
me - loloololol
next morning
dad - what's this about a wifi key?
me - embarrased look
We set off reasonably late for us which means about 7:40!!
easy drive down, found where were staying and then had a few hours at Bateman's the home of Rudyard Kipling which is a mile down the road.
Friday, June 18, 2010
well now there's a shock
Well blow me down with a feather I'm on holiday from tomorrow!! It's such an unusual event I'm sure that you are all in shock.
This is a Dad Holiday. Which means we are self catering and I will not have wifi so you'll have to wait for photos. I'll have a netbook so I'll have the photos ready to load when I return.
We're going to Sussex I've not been there with Dad for YEARS so lots of new places for him. I have been there fairly recently (last year!) but I'll slip in a few places you won't have seen on here before.
I normally just take the travel zoom when I'm with Dad as I don't really like mucking around changing lenses when I'm with him. However now I have the panny I'm leaving the travel zoom at home and taking the lovely little 35 f1.8, Tamron 17-50f2.8 an Nikon 70-300 VR so a bit more flexibility.
Oh check out the twitter feed top right for updates.
This is a Dad Holiday. Which means we are self catering and I will not have wifi so you'll have to wait for photos. I'll have a netbook so I'll have the photos ready to load when I return.
We're going to Sussex I've not been there with Dad for YEARS so lots of new places for him. I have been there fairly recently (last year!) but I'll slip in a few places you won't have seen on here before.
I normally just take the travel zoom when I'm with Dad as I don't really like mucking around changing lenses when I'm with him. However now I have the panny I'm leaving the travel zoom at home and taking the lovely little 35 f1.8, Tamron 17-50f2.8 an Nikon 70-300 VR so a bit more flexibility.
Oh check out the twitter feed top right for updates.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Remains of English Princess "found"
Scientists believe they have discovered the remains of one of the earliest members of the English Royal family.
There is a tomb in Magdeburg Cathedral from the 16th century of Queen Eadgyth (Edith). She was the wife of the Holy Roman Emperor Otto I (who she married in 929) and half sister to Athelstan (considered by many the first King of England) and grand daughter of Alfred the Great.
She died in 946 and buried in the monastry of St Maurice, her bones were moved at least 3 times.
When the tomb was excavated (in 2008) it was thought to be a cenotaph but when it was opened a box was found with the inscription
The bones were wrapped in silk.
A study of the bones confirmed that the remains were those of a woman who died aged between 30 and 40. Scientists found that she was a frequent horse rider and ate a high-protein diet, including a lot of fish, hinting at high status.
However bones were often moved and mixed up. The crucial evidence indicating that this was Edith came from the study of teeth in Eadgyth's upper jaw.
According to Dr Alistair Pike of Bristol University:
The isotopes matched records of Edith's childhood and adolescence in Wessex
Professor Mark Horton said:
Of course this can't prove 100% its Edith but it does all seem indicative.
The bones are to be reinterred later this year. 500 years after they were placed at Madgeburg.
There is a tomb in Magdeburg Cathedral from the 16th century of Queen Eadgyth (Edith). She was the wife of the Holy Roman Emperor Otto I (who she married in 929) and half sister to Athelstan (considered by many the first King of England) and grand daughter of Alfred the Great.
She died in 946 and buried in the monastry of St Maurice, her bones were moved at least 3 times.
When the tomb was excavated (in 2008) it was thought to be a cenotaph but when it was opened a box was found with the inscription
The rescued remains of Queen Eadgyth are in this sarcophagus, after the second renovation of this monument in 1510
The bones were wrapped in silk.
A study of the bones confirmed that the remains were those of a woman who died aged between 30 and 40. Scientists found that she was a frequent horse rider and ate a high-protein diet, including a lot of fish, hinting at high status.
However bones were often moved and mixed up. The crucial evidence indicating that this was Edith came from the study of teeth in Eadgyth's upper jaw.
According to Dr Alistair Pike of Bristol University:
By micro-sampling, using a laser, we can reconstruct the sequence of a person's whereabouts, month by month up to the age of 14.
The isotopes matched records of Edith's childhood and adolescence in Wessex
Professor Mark Horton said:
Eadgyth seems to have spent the first eight years of her life in southern England, but changed her domicile frequently, matching quite variable strontium ratios in her teeth. Only from the age of nine, the isotope values remain constant.
Eadgyth must have moved around the kingdom following her father, King Edward the Elder, during his reign.
When her mother was divorced in 919 - Eadgyth was between nine and 10 at that point - both were banished to a monastery, maybe Winchester or Wilton in Salisbury.
Of course this can't prove 100% its Edith but it does all seem indicative.
The bones are to be reinterred later this year. 500 years after they were placed at Madgeburg.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Red Squirrels to be reintroduced into Cornwall
Plans are afoot to reintroduce the Red Squirrel into Cornwall.
The £120,000 project is planning on reintroducing the Squirrels into 500 hectares of woodland is currently being identified on the Lizard Peninsula and West Penwith.
There are 1000's of greys in Cornwall and already landowners in the area (including the National Trust) are in talks about how to "eradicate" grey squirrels. There will have to be a 10 to 15 mile buffer zone where greys are also "controlled". The greys will be killed by a combination of trapping and poisoning in line with Forestry Commission guidelines.
The project has royal approval with Prince Charles supporting the programme.
Personally I'd think a better way of doing it would be vaccinating against the pox and contraception for the greys. Oh and managing woodlands to favour reds.
Indeed I'd like more money put towards find a Vaccine for the Reds.
As it is I suspect those who want to play space invaders with Greys will have great fun.
The £120,000 project is planning on reintroducing the Squirrels into 500 hectares of woodland is currently being identified on the Lizard Peninsula and West Penwith.
There are 1000's of greys in Cornwall and already landowners in the area (including the National Trust) are in talks about how to "eradicate" grey squirrels. There will have to be a 10 to 15 mile buffer zone where greys are also "controlled". The greys will be killed by a combination of trapping and poisoning in line with Forestry Commission guidelines.
The project has royal approval with Prince Charles supporting the programme.
The importance of preserving Britain’s reds cannot be overstated. They are one of the most charming and irresistible of British native mammals and are under ceaseless, pernicious attack by the relentless march of the imported greys which do such untold damage to newly-planted native hardwood trees all over the country.
Personally I'd think a better way of doing it would be vaccinating against the pox and contraception for the greys. Oh and managing woodlands to favour reds.
Indeed I'd like more money put towards find a Vaccine for the Reds.
As it is I suspect those who want to play space invaders with Greys will have great fun.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Local News
It's very remiss of me not to have mentioned this before.
The second runway that BAA proposed for Stansted is now history! The coalition government announced it would refuse permission for new runways and BAA have withdrawn their proposals.
Under BAA's proposal 6 entire ancient woodlands would have been destroyed and the environmental impact on Hatfield Forest would have been enormous.
Good news!
The second runway that BAA proposed for Stansted is now history! The coalition government announced it would refuse permission for new runways and BAA have withdrawn their proposals.
Under BAA's proposal 6 entire ancient woodlands would have been destroyed and the environmental impact on Hatfield Forest would have been enormous.
Good news!
Monday, June 14, 2010
The CCT's Midsummer Tea Party
The churches conservation trust(CCT) looks after 340 churches in England. These are churches that are of exceptional historic, architectural or archaeological significance but which are no longer required by the Church of England. There are some lovely churches in it care, these include
Hales in Norfolk.
St Mary's, Shrewsbury.
and
Christ the Consoler at Newby in Yorkshire
to name but 3. The later is a twin to the famous church at Studley Royal and in the grounds of the excellent Newby Hall.
CCT churches are usually open or have a keyholder nearby. The website is superb for folk like me.
I note that they are holding there first ever Midsummer Tea Party between 18th-20th June. During the weekend, they are intending to open as many of their churches as possible, and to provide tea and cakes and ask visitors to make a donation for the refreshments they enjoy.
Anyone who likes old churches could do worse than checking out the website and having a nose round if any are nearby.
Hales in Norfolk.
St Mary's, Shrewsbury.
and
Christ the Consoler at Newby in Yorkshire
to name but 3. The later is a twin to the famous church at Studley Royal and in the grounds of the excellent Newby Hall.
CCT churches are usually open or have a keyholder nearby. The website is superb for folk like me.
I note that they are holding there first ever Midsummer Tea Party between 18th-20th June. During the weekend, they are intending to open as many of their churches as possible, and to provide tea and cakes and ask visitors to make a donation for the refreshments they enjoy.
Anyone who likes old churches could do worse than checking out the website and having a nose round if any are nearby.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Rare Fungi found in England
Not been out today - well other than to Dad's for a nice Roast Beef dinner!
We normally read about new species being found in the UK so its not a surprise to find a new species of fungus being discovered in Hampshire. However the fungus Multiclavula vernalis (which forms a tiny orange fruiting body) usually prefers much colder climates and has only previously been recorded in the British Isles in the Outer Hebrides and on the Shetland Isles.
The fungi was found by Keith Blackmore (assistant reserves and grazing project officer for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust) on a site owned and used by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for army training.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust will be monitoring the fungus to see if it continues to inhabit the site in Hampshire or spreads.
We normally read about new species being found in the UK so its not a surprise to find a new species of fungus being discovered in Hampshire. However the fungus Multiclavula vernalis (which forms a tiny orange fruiting body) usually prefers much colder climates and has only previously been recorded in the British Isles in the Outer Hebrides and on the Shetland Isles.
The fungi was found by Keith Blackmore (assistant reserves and grazing project officer for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust) on a site owned and used by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for army training.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust will be monitoring the fungus to see if it continues to inhabit the site in Hampshire or spreads.
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