Attenborough Nature Reserve — recollections of childhood 1940's

When we were children life was much simpler as were our pleasures. One place we frequented was the Atten-borough Nature Reserve, only when we were young it was just a gravel pit where nature was busy creating beauty from the torn up ground. With the River Trent close by, water soon filled the growing holes, and banks seeded naturally from the vegetation that must have existed from long, long ago. Birds filled the air with their song and swans glided peacefully on the water. Wild flowers delighted the eye and scented our walks. At Easter our mother would ask us to get her pussy-willows (I can still feel their softness) and bulrushes that grew aplenty between the river and gravel pits. We would also find sweet wild violets growing in the woods. Such delight! I never lost my joy of visiting that place. When we were in our teens, my friend Brenda and I would go there, both to the gravel pits and the river bank. We once carried a wind-up gramophone the entire distance to play the Swan Lake ballet music, while we watched the swans and had a picnic. On one occasion we had a picnic in the pouring rain, just sheltered by one of our macs. Sometimes we were treated to pure delight when a group of swans took off — noisily splashing their feet along the water before lifting into the air in sheer beauty of movement. And, of course, the day would arrive when a whole family of swans glided on the water, fluffy signets carefully protected by mum and dad. Swans mate for life and are a wonderful example of parenthood.
Returning to those gravel pits after so many years, we found it had become the Attenborough Nature Reserve. So many wonderful things going on there and all free to the public. What joy to walk again in an area that brings back so many happy memories of childhood. Wartime years they may have been but those gravel pits are reminders of how nature can bring back beauty to what man can so easily make ugly. Now my sister and I can sit in the Nature Reserve cafe, look outside at the wild life, and recall our childhood memories of Mother and our Easter offerings gathered by the waterside.

Ulverston Canal — a walk on the wild side

A Walk on the Wild Side — of Ulverston Canal










It is a wonderful thing to have a canal on the edge of town. With so many walks to choose from in the area, a footpath on level ground is wonderful for those with joint problems. It is equally great for anyone who is a lover of nature. All the senses are engaged and of beauty there is no end.
At one end is the coast of Morecambe Bay, an interesting place to explore. Looking in the opposite direction is Hoad Hill with the newly renovated monument. Looking to one side are fields of grass with grazing livestock. On the other side oddments of industry ranging from a huge complex of Glaxo-Smith-Kline to old buildings dating from when the canal was in full use. The sea end of the canal is blocked. Sometime in the near future the canal is to be turned in a marina. I guess it will change quite a bit. Even so, there is something appealing about a stretch of water bearing wild life. Let's hope that will continue when animal life shares the canal with boats and far more people than at present.
Flowers there are aplenty. Anglers sit silently. And sounds of animals and birds are heard above the hum of industry — indeed, you don't notice the industry as there are too many things that grab attention. Whole families may pass you by, or friendly walkers with even friendlier dogs. Everyone has a smile for those they meet along the path. Why? Because when out relaxing and communing with nature, humans have time to be just that — human.


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Swan-d-ful — photographs of local swans.

There is something incredibly graceful about swans. They have a perfect simplicity of colour, shape and movement. They inspire peace and tranquility when problems disturb the soul. When I was a child I was forever drawing them — chalk on a blackboard or with pencil. Then I tried using my simple paint box and painted a swan drifting in moonlight. I guess, later on, going to the theatre Royal in Nottingham to see the Swan Lake ballet (sitting up in the gods) a number of times climaxed that fascination. At that time I wanted to be a ballet dancer! But that was long ago. Now I just like to photograph them, not be one of them!

See also
Gladys Hobson — author
Diary Of a Country Lady
Wrinkly Writers - my life is an open book
Yesteryear — any questions?
Gladys Hobson - My Space
Magpies Nest Publishing

USA editions of my books can be found at AGPress bookstore

Swanning along by the Ulverston canal

Industry and nature — side by side.
We drove down to Ulverston's Canal Foot to take a little walk on this sunny afternoon. The canal is a little over a mile long but I was not able to walk that far. We had been for a stroll this morning so this little saunter was to drink in the sea air and photograph the swans on the canal. It is a drab time of the year but the sun on water brought sparkle, and the clear sky reflected shades of blue. In shallow areas of the canal a warm glow framed some signets. Just to look at that photo gives me tremendous pleasure. Shimmering reflections have brought life to the photographs too.
The GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical buildings run alongside the lower end of the canal and there are no leaves on the trees to hide them. Even so, it is good to see that nature can live comfortably alongside industry.
The canal is blocked at the sea end. There is talk of the canal becoming a marina. A boat lift would be needed for sea-going vessels. But that is some time away. At present it is pleasant enough as things are. A 'rough' walk along the coast path takes in splendid views across the bay. (An earlier post talks about this). But the canal path is great for young and old alike. Watch out for youngsters on their little bikes! It is one of the few safe places for them to 'let rip'! Wheelchairs, pushchairs, wrinklies with walking sticks. Wheels and walkers - all can be seen on a sunny day. Everyone smiles, people greet one another and dogs wag their tails! And, of course, there is a hotel at Canal Foot which serves meals. Coffee or afternoon tea overlooking the sea — great!

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