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26 April 2014

So Nice in the Chalk Pit Today

If the price of getting some fresh air, and a little exercise in this wonderful scenery at Houghton Regis Chalk Pit is to spend it collecting litter, then so be it. What is there not to enjoy about Houghton Regis SSSI former chalk pit site?

Accessed from a public footpath off Lake View, part of a new homes development by Bovis Homes, the chalk pit is becoming quite a nature reserve for rare plants and wildlife. And as a treat, we were able to see the new tree sculptures installed at Tilia Park, on the chalk pit edge.

I hadn't been collecting litter for more than 5 minutes when I espied 4 rabbits scurrying for cover in an area recently cleared of sundry trees by contract labour. It was clearing the trees that had revealed quantities of rubbish that needed removing. Iron and other debris. And even after today's clearance by a dozen volunteers, there'll still be more embedded ironwork to be dug out at another time.

Sculpture

Sculpture Great Crested Newt

Sculpture 

Sculpture

Chalk Pit:


Chalk Pit: 

Chalk Pit:

Marl Lake

Chalk Pit:

Chalk Pit: Reed Beds










17 April 2014

Kings Langley - Part 3

The school gate! Still there! This connected the infant school, which is now a newer housing site,  to the Kings Langley junior school, which is mostly now new houses.


I was two years in these pre-fab buildings, the top two junior classes. The classes of Mr Rolfe and Mrs Bones. Now being used by the Montessori school system. Nice to see something of the old school still standing, even if the fine old building in the middle of the grounds was demolished, and the playground built over.


Waterside, Kings Langley

This was the street to get fish and chips, or if you were on the scrounge, crackling - sometimes they charged you as much as 6d a bag of crackling if you were lucky, you got it for free.







Opposite the Kings Langley railway station area were fields, now they have Home Park Road, and even today there are new buildings going up for places of employment. 


The façade of the Ovaltine factory has been retained in a new housing development construction. I suppose that's progress.



The top end of Kings Langley used to fascinate me for its historic connection to the past, and the presence of a hunting lodge for the King.


Back To: Around Kings Langley, Part 1






Kings Langley, Part 2 - High Street

The lovely spring weather and a spare day made a great combination for having a re-visit to Kings Langley, where 4 of my junior years were spent.


First up, the old doctor's surgery in Vicarage Lane. Dr Anderson was the family doctor.



Living above one of the shops, the High Street was a very familiar place. In those days this was the A41, and all the traffic came through. We had one zebra crossing at the southern end, and crossing the road was very dangerous. When a gentleman was knocked down we had a campaign for another crossing. Waving placards, and marching backwards and forwards across the only crossing, we held the traffic up for ages! We got the second crossing. These days, they have traffic controlled crossings.


Nowadays the traffic is reduced to a trickle since the A41 bypass dual carriageway was constructed to circumnavigate the village. 


Today's shops seem to be catering for a very up market clientèle. 




The shop Dad managed at number 20, was a Wavy Line grocer; today it's a bespoke delicatessen with outdoor café tables.


The picture above is taken in front of what was, when I lived there, a newly built Royal Mail Parcel sorting office. There was a fire one year just before Christmas, and I can recall the fire brigade bringing out charred parcels.








Kings Langley, Part 1

I took advantage of the bright spring weather this week to take a trip down memory lane, back to Kings Langley in Hertfordshire where some of my junior years were spent.

Used to catch sticklebacks here, and put them in a jam jar. Looking very murky now. I don't suppose there are any sticklebacks in that gloop!




Then we'd walk further up the canal, and try our nets here ...



The steps over Tooveys Bridge were always a steep climb for little legs ...



All Saints was the venue for the Sunday service that we attended, followed by Sunday School. It was stories about the miracles of Jesus that I didn't find convincing enough, that lead to me dropping out of Sunday School.




Church Hall, in Church Lane Kings Langley, was the venue for P.E. lessons while I was at Kings Langley JMI. Doing the high jump you could do the scissor jump, or try the Fosbury Flop.




This fine old building stands at the top of Church Lane;






Kings Langley Common, always a favourite playing area.



Nice to see they still have nets up for cricket practice.








15 April 2014

Caldecotte Lake, Buckinghamshire

Around South Bedfordshire. Autumn 2013.


         

Tinkers bridge, Simpson, Milton Keynes


Simpson, Milton Keynes


Near Simpson, Milton Keynes


Cows Near Simpson, Milton Keynes


Cows Near Simpson, Milton Keynes


Cows Near Simpson, Milton Keynes


Meadow Near Simpson, Milton Keynes


This one was very curious!





Caldecotte Rail, Milton Keynes


Studham Common


On Caldecotte Lake. The little girl was actually accompanied by two adults, but since they were cluttering up my shot, I edited them out!


Geese On Caldecotte Lake.


River by Caldecotte Lake.


On Caldecotte Lake.


I couldn't wait for kids to move out of this shot, so they got edited out! Quite a satisfying result.


Dancing kid edited out!