Please Join us for the May Photography Walk

Explore Arthingworth with Andrew Rushton 

Sunday 20th May 

1.30 pm - 3.30 pm  

Directions to the meeting point - Approaching from the A14 -Turn off at Junction 2 and head north on the A508 towards Market Harborough, shortly after the entrance to Kelmarsh Hall the road descends and reaches a left hand bend, take the turning right on the apex of this bend signposted "Arthingworth 1 1/2"

Carry on along this road until you reach the first farm on your left alongside the bridge over the road. Immediately after the bridge turn left onto the Car Park/Picnic area.

For those approaching from the north on the A508 the Arthingworth turn is at the end of the long straight after you have passed the left and right lay-by's. 

Andrew Rushton will be your guide on a Photography Walkthrough the brampton valley via ArthingworthThe walks offer good company, food for thought and wonderful countryside for those with an enquiring eye and a desire to improve general fitness. Bring your camera, good walking shoes/boots, you might want to bring a flask& snack.

If you are joining us please add your name to the Doodle link below so we know how many will be taking part and can wait for you at the meeting point!


http://www.doodle.com/ene8zed3s9h297si

April Photography walk - Maidwell

We had the most beautiful day for our walk, warm, bright, with a crisp breeze in places. We came off the Brampton Valley Way and headed across the fields at a leisurely pace. We marvelled at a huge mound of grass cuttings, branches, dog wood, hay, twigs, all sorts of evidence of agricultural industry. We wondered at the work this must have entailed, the hours, the organisation and the skill required to keep the land managed and fertile.

A stream that cut it's slow, trickling way under the wooden bridge

and no one but Carole noticed the tree root that beckoned "This Way"

 

The land rose to give us views of the gently rolling countryside. Trees were breaking into leaf and fields of rape were coming into flower. The acid yellow and the pungent smell remains quite hard to love, even though it can be pressed into an excellent oil. It is a nightmare for hay fever sufferers, the consumption of local honey can ease the effects but it has a strange perfumed flavour which takes some getting used to.

The elegantly faded stone archway set between gently weathered red brick walls, was now part of someone's garden, no great house in sight, no clue to it's original purpose, a mystery.

From Maidwell churchyard we could see the formal gardens, assorted building and curious towers of Maidwell Hall Boarding School. 

through a gap in the a hedge we saw a house which reminded us of cocktail parties and croquet, even though there was not a soul to be seen.

We enjoyed the spring flowers in neatly painted window boxes and the ornamental quince blossom in well loved, carefully tended gardens.

After the sleepy Sunday village it was refreshing to strike out across another field, this time inhabited by a herd of totally relaxed sheep and lambs. We were able to walk very close to them, even with a dog on a lead and they seemed happy to watch us stroll by. 

Photograph by Kate Dyer

Photograph by Kate Dyer

Photograph by Kate Dyer

Houghton Crossing

Back To Books February Photography Walk explored Brampton Valley Way from Houghton Crossing heading north to Lamport Bridle Way, taking in Lamport, Hanging Houghton and returning to the start point at Houghton Crossing. After weeks of dull weather we had the most beautiful day both for walking and taking pictures.

We entered the cool, tree lined cycle track

then followed a well trodden path 

up a hill, past grazing cattle.

Photographers from various parts of the County, 

walked, talked and

 captured the moments.

Eventually our path lead us back to the main road 

and Lamport where we noticed

the detail and the bigger picture,

a leaf caught in a lace curtain,

a curvaceous bench awaiting sitters.

History

Time

Direction

Pattern

Nature

and design.

A sequence of patchwork

and tapestry brickwork.

Words set in stone

and fairytale roof tiles caught in mellow shadows.

To our right the green field beckoned,

 an unplanned pathway called us from the roadside,

inviting us to reconnect with the soft grass,

whilst taking in the stately, dormant trees.

Walkers held hands,

relaxed.

Sonja found a pheasant feather to adorn her hat.

We remarked to each other that we had all 

 driven past these fields and houses in cars. 

The walk through the landscape made us wonder 

why we hadn't taken the time to stop before.

Photograph by Andrew Rushton

It was a lovely way to spend an afternoon,

in company, in the fresh air, enjoying

the tantalising promise of Spring.

You can see the photos from this walk here

Exploring Brixworth

"On The Right Track" January Photography Walk explored the area around and inside All Saints Church Brixworth, part of Brixworth village and views overlooking the Brampton Valley Way. You can find out more about the Church here

All Saints' Church, Brixworth, Northamptonshire is  

"perhaps the most imposing architectural monument  

of the 7th century yet surviving north of the Alps"  

-- Sir Alfred Clapham

photograph by Lorraine Dziarkowska

It was a cold, crisp Sunday afternoon, there had been a hard frost earlier

photograph by Meriel White

The allotments in December during scoping walk

and the afternoon was suffused with a wonderful light, 

frozen droplets, icy gems, glittered on 

vegetable leaves in the fields and on the allotments. 

Andrew Rushton led a group of photographers from various parts of the county,

photograph by Meriel White
who walked, talked and captured moments.

 

photograph by Sonia Hawes

January Walk in Brixworth

Sun, strong for January, with surprising warmth

though foggy breath from chatting mouths 

hangs in the shadows.

Golden sandstone glows in the yellow light,

berries - left by the birds after the bumper harvest - 

bright against the clear blue sky,

a vapour trail shows white against the blue.

frost edges the grass blades in icy spikes,

but the rape growing in the sun,

shows diamond drops containing rainbows in its leaves.

In the hedgerow a  strange sight comes into view,

the twisted trunk of an ancient hawthorn

grown around the old wooden fence rail so completely 

the rail passes through its centre.

A robin sings, a blackbird bounces across the allotment

a blue shed another jewel in the mass of brown and green.

Another shed with peeling paint and a bundle of long, 

bamboos leant against the mottled wood

nestling in the brown earth and tawny foliage 

could be the subject of a Stanley Spencer painting

Inside the church  a musty smell overlaid with incense,

coloured light spilling through the stained glass 

onto the stone floor and exotic patterned carpets.

Sonia Hawes

photograph by Sonia Hawes

Andrew (ex RAF and a man on a mission) 

made everyone laugh with his comment 

"don't look at that now, you can see it on the way back"!

 There was a great sense of stretch and release.

photograph of Carole & Charlie by Meriel White

Peaceful contemplation and relaxation

photograph by Meriel White

photograph by Lorraine Dziarkowska

There was also coffee and a nip of whisky after our explorations, much conversation, laughter and a clinking of mugs in order to to embrace the new year. Smiling faces looking forward to the walks to come. January Flickr set is taking shape!