A-Z Challenge 2018 - British Rivers: 'S' Severn, Swale

The challenge this year is taking me to rivers and places that I didn't know well. For the Rivers Severn and Swale it's a different story.

The Old Customs House, Gatcombe, Gloucestershire

My younger son and his family once lived here. The lane in front leads to a watery end in the River Severn if you pass under a railway bridge.

Here is how it looks in a later photograph.

Gatcombe near Blakeney, Gloucestershire

Close to the river it's only separated by the railway.

The Severn Line train passing Gatcombe

My grandsons and I used to climb a bank through the trees on the right.

Accompanied by Milly and Cara

From the walk alongside the trees different views of the Severn could be obtained.

Severn at low tide between Gatcombe and Purton

The Severn is considered to be the longest river in the UK, rising in Wales it flows c 220 miles to run into the Bristol Channel and thence into the Irish Sea and the Atlantic.

Severn Map - Course of the River Severn

In terms of water flow it is the greatest river in England and Wales.

It's almost four years now since we visited Richmond in North Yorkshire to visit its magnificent castle. of course when you are there you get some magnificent views,

Looking down on the River Swale from the castle walls.

It's a long way down if you fall

Better to take a riverside walk - 

But keep off the rocks and not get swept away

Photo attributions:

• Gatcombe, near Blakeney, Gloucestershire: 4 March 2007 ex geograph,org,uk by Ruth Sharville - CC BY-SA 2.0 licence
• Severn Line train passing Gatcombe: 20 September 2008 ex geograph.org.uk by Stuart WIlding - CC BY-SA 2.0 licence
• Severn at low tide between Gatcombe and Purton: 28 June 2016 by Forester2009 - CC BY-SA 3.0 licence
• Severn Map: 19 January 2015 by Chris bayley: CC BY 2.5 licence

A-Z Challenge 2013 - 'X' - Xanthoceras

My A-Z posts this year are based on my garden – flowers, animals, the birds and the bees, butterflies - with a bit of poetry thrown in. For some letters I am expecting to cheat somewhat –wishing they were here.

X –.Xanthoceras, Xanthorhiza, Xantus’s Hummingbird.

You have probably guessed already that I have had to cheat or be marked with a rather large X.

Xanthoceras sorbifolium

This beautiful shrub, appropriately photographed in April (2009), was in the Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna and is also known as Yellowhorn. Anyone would want it in their garden not just me.

Xanthorhiza simplicissima (Yellow Root)

Yellow Root which has yellow flowers in Spring is rare in British gardens but I understand it may be seen at Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

For several years I have been trying to photograph hummingbirds at my daughter’s home in Michigan, I haven’t succeeded yet so I was delighted to find one that begins with ‘X’

Xantus's Hummingbird - Baja, Mexico

Xantus’s Hummingbird is predominately green on its upperparts and back; its straight tail is darkly coloured and it has a white eye stripe.

I couldn't find a poem that related to the photos but I did find this, an Alphabet poem for the letter 'X'

X was once a great king Xerxes,
Xerxy
Perxy
Turxy
Xerxy
Linxy Lurxy
Great King Xerxes!

Poem:

• Alphabet Poem; Letter 'X' - Edward Lear.  

Photos:

• Xanthoceras sorbifolium –Athenchen – CC BY-SA 3.0
• Xanthorhiza simplicissima – TheAlphaWolf – CC BY-SA 3.0
• Xantus’s hummingbird – marlin harms – CC BY-SA 2.0

Weathered and Worn - Thematic Photography

Two of these 'weathered and worn shots' are fairly recent, but one was taken some (unknown) years ago.

Overgrown lawn - 2011

This shot was taken to show the height of the grass after a holiday away. With the camera almost at ground level it accentuated the worn appearance of the patio slabs which are 18 inches long - and there is no step in them.

It was the wind and waves that have given this cliff a weathered look at Mawgan Porth in Cornwall.

Mawgan Porth - 2011

In Gloucestershire I came across this old farm shed along the side of the road between Gatcombe and Awre.

Farm shed - 2008

The roof has gone from one side and ivy is beginning to take over, increasing the worn look. You could not see through the window to find out whether the other half is in use.

I'm not sure who took my last picture which is definitely the oldest and possibly the most interesting.

Empty stables - North Yorkshire

The stables have been 'mucked' out; bags have been filled with what looks like horse manure; the back wall is shored up with timber. The place has seen better days.

Today the buildings have gone to be replaced by a modern monstrosity of a housing estate.

A battle is currently in progress to prevent the building of a further 500-700 houses on the adjacent green belt and school playing fields along Green Lane, Kirklevington on the outskirts of Yarm.

For more weathered and worn contributions please visit Carmi who sets the theme each week at Thematic-photographic-211