Water and trees and stuff

[scottwramsay]

I didn't know there was such a thing as the Milngavie Salmon Ladder until I passed it while I was walking to Tesco from Milngavie village centre, looking for a public loo...



It's discoveries like this that make it worthwhile carrying my camera around all day!

[BrigitDoon]

...looking for a public loo...

Surely the last thing you need is the sound of all that running water?

[scottwramsay]

Well, see how that bit on the right is all yellow...

[BrigitDoon]

Pollarded willow trees on Aller Moor, Somerset, January 2004

The locals have long pruned the branches from the willow trees that grow on the Somerset levels. There are good reasons for this: a tree so trimmed will use little water by way of transpiration. The ecology of the area requires that water levels are maintained close to the surface (and sometimes above, as seen here). A large number of untamed trees would dry the area out in short order.

Large willows collapse under their own weight, a branch at a time, and require many man-hours to remove, placing a considerable burden on the agricultural man already stretched by his labour intensive duties as well as the expense of tree-surgery.

Traditionally, the branches culled from these trees have been used in basket weaving and other related crafts. Charcoal used to be another product. These trees are sometimes known as osier willows, but local dialect has them as "withy" trees. Such is the Somerset pronunciation that you will hear this as "widdy".

This photograph was taken in January of 2004, a time of year when the Environment Agency allow the winter rains to raise the water levels in order to provide a sanctuary for many species of wading-birds and water-fowl, some rare and migratory. Aller Moor and neighbouring Tealham Moor together are a site of special scientific interest. During the winter months, flocks of starlings, millions in number commute back and forth across the skies.

The area is home to a large swan population.

[Squigster]

Baleshare Beach North Uist

[Lucky Poet]

The Union Canal, running away from Broxburn as best it can:

[Wee Minx]

Nature has some beautiful colours

[scottwramsay]

Nice use of flash.

[potatojunkie]

Water and trees and heron:

[BrigitDoon]

Water and trees and heron:

Heron stuffed or tame? I've been trying for years to get that close.

[Josef]

If you hit me at 20, there's a 91.7% chance I'll go bust.

Depends on the number of cards comprising your 20, and what those cards are.

[morticia]

no crusty definitely a boat.

[morticia]

theres a mans face right in the middle there

[Lone Groover]

theres a mans face right in the middle there

& he's a cyclops !!!!! Far out !!!!

[morticia]

not much to this scene in Crete but I like it...