Church Brow Gardens

When I posted a photograph of this valley through which flows the Gower Hey Brook in January 2014 the bottom was flooded to quite a height.

When I walked by a couple of weeks ago the brook was barely a trickle.

Many years ago the bank below St George's Church was lined with allotments and gardens. Now only one allotment remains. Due to a combination of storms, vandalism and some neglect everything is gradually slipping down the valley side.

A contribution to Our World Tuesday and Rubbish Tuesday.

V is for voting

It is that time of the year again.

Hyde Daily Photo is one of more than 400 websites worldwide that post a daily picture of their home town or city. On 1st January 2015 members of the City Daily Photobloggers community will be revealing their Photo of the Year.

I have selected twelve contenders for Best of Hyde 2014 and am asking readers to vote for their favourites.

These thumbnails are only a taster. To vote for your three favourites please visit Best of Hyde Daily 2014 and use the form on the page.

Deadline for voting is 12 noon GMT on Monday 29th December 2014.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Convolvulus / Bindweed / Morning Glory

This noxious weed known to Americans as "Morning glory" finds it way everywhere. I came across this flower, which appears to have popped its seeds out inside the petals, by a path overlooking Gower Hey Brook.

A contribution to Macro Monday.

Shadows across the steps

These are the steps that lead out of Gower Hey Wood to the Trans Pennine Trail at Swain's Valley.

A contribution to Shadow Shot Sunday.

Weekend Reflections: Fallen Tree over the duckboards

A couple of weeks ago I went for a walk in Gower Hey Woods but found that a tree had fallen across the duckboards that cross the swampy area below the access from Swain's Valley and the Trans Pennine Trail.

See how it looked in March.

See more photographs of the fallen tree on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Weekend Reflections.

Pathway to Osborne Road

Yesterdays photograph showing the duckboards in Gower Hey Wood was looking towards the exit to the Trans Pennine Trail.

Another exit from the woods is along a cobbled path that leads to Osborne Road.

See it from the opposite direction on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Shadow Shot Sunday.

Reflections in Gower Hey Wood

A month ago I posted a photograph of flooded duckboards in Gower Hey Woods.

The floods have since subsided and now there is dry passage across the duckboards,

See this from the opposite direction on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Weekend Reflections and Scenic Weekends.

Weekend Reflections in Black & White: Gower Hey Woods

Our part of the UK has suffered nothing in comparison with other areas but we have had some minor flooding.

This is in Gower Hey Woods where the duckboards have been covered over.

See how the whole path looked back in 2009 on Hyde Daily Photo Volume 1.

Check the steps leading out of the woods on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to The Weekend in Black and White and Weekend Reflections.

Flooded Valley Reflections

The deep valley between Gower Road and St George's Church through which flows the Gower Hey Brook is usually a muddy swamp. The last time I passed that way the valley was flooded and the water reflected back the bare wintry trees.

A contribution to Weekend Reflections and Scenic Weekends.

ABC Wednesday: V is for Voting

The time has come to vote for the Best of Hyde Daily 2013.

On 1st January 2014 members of the City Daily Photobloggers community will be revealing their Photo of the Year. I have selected twelve contenders for Best of Hyde 2013 and am asking readers to vote for their favourites. Please visit Best of Hyde Daily Photo 2013 and vote for your top three photographs.

Closing date for voting is 12 noon GMT on December 28th 2013.

Note: these thumbnails are just a taster - you must use the form on the page to cast your votes.

A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

Weekend in Black & White: Entrance to Gower Hey Woods

This is the entrance to Gower Hey Woods from the Trans Pennine Trail at Swains Valley.

At the end of May I showed you the opposite view looking out of the woods.

Now visit other contributors to The Weekend in Black and White.

The beauty of decay

Ferns and moss grow over the fallen trees in the swampy area in Gower Hey Woods.

Can you spot the squirrel?

A contribution to the CDPB theme day The beauty of decay and The Weekend in Black and White.

Steps out of Gower Hey Woods

The steps leading out of Gower Hey Woods to the Trans Pennine Trail at Swain's Valley have recently been filled with fresh sand to make them more stable.

See how it looked in June 2009.

Take a walk into the woods on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Friday Fences.

Friday Fences: Woodend Allotments

When I posted a photograph of the allotments on Woodend Lane in April 2012 it was looking rather derelict in parts.

Since then some new fences have been erected and the area is beginning to look a bit less unkempt.

A contribution to Friday Fences.

Skwatch Friday: Looking down Gower Road

Someone called Alan who now lives in New Zealand asked me if I could photograph the view from outside 42 Gower Road looking towards the allotments, the valley of the Gower Hey Brook and Westend Lane in the far background.

Well here it is.

See the view in the opposite direction on Hyde DP Xtra.

A contribution to Skywatch Friday.

£100 or £1000

At the bottom of Gower Road outside the allotments is an old rather worn out sign which says "Please take your litter home. Maximum Penalty £100". There is a black bin bag tied to the bottom of the post.

Meanwhile a newer sign attached to the telephone pole on the right states that this is a "Poop Scoop Area" and the maximum penalty for not heeding the warning is £1000.

A contribution to signs, signs.

Green Autumn

As the wintry weather rapidly approaches, I thought I'd post today a view taken a few weeks ago looking down into Gower Hey Woods from the top of Swain's Valley.

A contribution for Green Days on Raindrops & Daisies.

ABC Wednesday: F is for Fernbank Court

From the footpath by Gower Hey Woods between Smithy Fold and Clough Gate. Fernbank Court was built on the site of Fernbank Farm which was demolished in 2003.

For ABC Wednesday.

Signs at Clough Gate

Signs at the Clough Gate entrance to Gower Hey Woods.

There is a "No Tipping" sign which doesn't mean you don't have to give gratuities to anyone but is addressed to fly-tippers who dump rubbish (shame is they can't read).

Another sign is "No Firearms and No Motorcycles" - the latter seems sensible as there's certainly been problems with people driving motorbikes where they shouldn't. But surely firearms are illegal anywhere so why the need for a specific prohibition here?

Behind is a "Welcome" signboard with a map of the area and details of the wildlife that can be encountered here.

Also there's a gas-main indicator below another sign that appears to have been covered over (but is in fact a marker - see the comments).

A contribution to signs, signs.

Muddy steps into Gower Hey Woods

These muddy steps lead down from the TransPennine Trail into Gower Hey Woods. Normally duckboards provide a safe passage across the swampy ground at the bottom.

This photograph was taken a few weeks ago after a lot of heavy rain. The brook was obviously flowing too fast for the culvert and a small lake covered the duckboards.

See how it looked in April 2011.

Take a closer view on Hyde DP Xtra.

Since then we've had a great deal more rain and it is still falling so I imagine the water will have crept a lot higher since then but I won't be venturing down to take a look.