woodland

A magnificent northern garden

/ mikeosbornphoto / 2 Comments

A warm summer’s day is the perfect time to visit the RHS Bridgewater Garden in Salford, just a 30-minute bus ride from central Manchester. CONTINUES BELOW

Tap/click first image to see gallery

The garden, which opened last year, is on the site of stately pile Worsley New Hall.

Some of the old architecture remains, while there’s a sleek new building which houses visitor amenities.

Bridgewater’s focal point is a large walled garden which was bursting with plants and colourful blooms on my visit. It looks like it’s been established for decades, not just a couple of years.

Woodland and meadow trails are also part of the site, full of grasses and wild foxgloves as I wandered around the site.

RHS Bridgewater is already a huge success, with many visitors which I hadn’t expected. It was a challenge to take photographs giving the impression I had the place to myself!

Have you been to Bridgewater or another RHS garden? Share your thoughts below.

A pair of seats in the walled garden at RHS Bridgewater

There are plenty of spots to rest and enjoy the gardens

Link to mikeosbornphoto's Instagram account

Manchester autumn

/ mikeosbornphoto / 23 Comments

Autumn. Seasons of mist and mellow fruitfulness. Beautiful leaves. Some years it’s left me cold. But this year it’s caught my eye here in Manchester. READ MORE BELOW

Tap/click first image to view gallery

My neighbourhood of Castlefield, set by the canal close to central Manchester, was an obvious place to explore. The trees are rich with colour and leaves have scattered into the water.

I contrasted this urban setting with a trip to Fletcher Moss Park, a delightful area of gardens and woodland in Didsbury, south Manchester. They didn’t disappoint.

This year, for whatever reasons, I’ve revitalised a passion for capturing autumn/fall. It might be obvious, but it’s good for the soul and absorbing, don’t you think?

Link to mikeosbornphoto's shop

Into the woods

/ mikeosbornphoto / 21 Comments

Epping Forest is an ancient swathe of woodland just beyond the eastern edge of London, in Essex. It’s accessible by Tube train, but is a haven which seems like a world away from the city.

On a chilly December day, there were just a few hardly dog walkers on the leaf-strewn paths, which reach deep into the tree cover. I passed by water and found pockets ruled by frost, while the sun caught every surface. A beautiful, absorbing – if chilly – walk with my camera.

The Photo Shop

Click first image to view this selection

A country estate

/ mikeosbornphoto / 14 Comments

Osterley House

Osterley Park has it all. Acres of formal gardens and waterways, lush woodlands and an impressive stately pile right at its heart.

You would think it lies in some English shire, but it’s just a handful of Tube stations away from my urban west London manor of Hammersmith. 

As you walk around the grounds, the rural illusion is occasionally shattered by jets thundering over from nearby Heathrow Airport. But even so, this is a wonderful oasis close to the city.

This set of photographs captures just a little of a very enjoyable wander around a slice of National Trust goodness close to the heart of London.

The Photo Shop

 Click first image to launch the gallery

At rest in the sun

/ mikeosbornphoto / 11 Comments

A beautiful autumn day at one of London’s more hidden gems. A cluster of tombstones nestle in the woodland and are bathed by bright sunlight. Coincidentally, it is Remembrance Sunday and the resting places of these long departed souls are captured on film. It is most definitely a place of peace.

Images from my visit to the captivating Abney Park Cemetery in north London will appear here soon.