A Well Kept Secret – Exploring Tennant Canal

Posted on 08/12/201408/12/2014 by Alastair

The Tennant Canal at Jersey Marine is just a few miles from the centre of Swansea. The area is surrounded by works and roads, developments and housing, but before you reach any of those things, you would have to climb over the small hills that surround Pant-y-Sais Fen alongside which the canal flows.

This haven of (relative) peace and nature is like a well kept secret – if you didn’t know it was there, you wouldn’t think to take a look. The M4 motorway twists past at one end and there is currently a major development for Swansea University being carried out on the seaward side. But the sound of this activity is not to be heard such is the noise absorbing effect of the topography along with trees and other vegetation. The wind in the reeds and the more noticeable and pleasurable sound.

Complementary images are posted on Instagram through the week and can also be seen on the sidebar of the StillWalks blog.

Welsh Valley – Review of the Week 4

Posted on 07/12/201407/12/2014 by Alastair

The view looking north up the small welsh valley where Welsh Valleys Alpacas is situated. It is a beautiful spot in the welsh countryside and features not only the alpacas (see the review of the week gallery below), but also this lake and some great woodland.

Clear as a Dew Pond

Posted on 06/12/201406/12/2014 by Alastair

The water in this old dew pond in the woods is beautifully clear but it is most likely filled with rain water rather than dew. Check out more about dew ponds here.

A Flash of Fungi

Posted on 05/12/201405/12/2014 by Alastair

I posted an iPhone photo of these little lamp-like mushrooms on Instagram recently. This is a shot taken on my Canon 550D (using flash). I can take good photos on my iPhone 5c but on this occasion it was definitely easier to get a better shot with the Canon.

Standing in the Sun

Posted on 04/12/201404/12/2014 by Alastair

The moss on this woodland branch seems to be enjoying a glimpse of sun as much as I enjoyed seeing it. I know that this is a pretty common view of moss but that does not make any less pleasing to the eye 🙂

Tangled Woods

Posted on 03/12/201403/12/2014 by Alastair

Looking deep into the damp woods of a welsh valley reveals quite a tangle of mossy branches. When walking through woodland I often get the urge to delve deeply into their interior, no matter how dense that may be. I wonder if the woods would feel this was an invasion or a connection?

Exploration like this is not such a great risk in Britain as it would be in other larger countries. However, that does not mean that the risk is not there, so don’t wander too far from the path folks!