Cheshire

Spring has sprung

/ mikeosbornphoto / 4 Comments

Spring has arrived with bursts of life everywhere and carpets of new flowers. CONTINUES BELOW

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Here in Manchester city centre, little local havens including Parsonage Gardens are a riot of bright yellow daffodils.

A spell of warm sunshine coincided with a relaxation of Covid lockdown restrictions, so I finally travelled beyond the city limits to Dunham Massey in Cheshire. 

Its beautiful grounds boast many varieties of narcissus, the first flush of tulips and Spring shoots.

Then the weather took a cold wintry turn, even with snow flurries. Let’s hope the blooms weren’t too shocked either…

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Autumn sunflowers

/ mikeosbornphoto / 17 Comments

A summer field filled with bright yellow sunflowers is a glorious sight. But what is it like when the colour has faded and the season shifted? READ MORE BELOW

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I visited this Cheshire field beyond the fringes of Greater Manchester on our final summery September day. It belongs to Little Heath Farm who encouraged visitors to come and enjoy the sunflowers and take photographs in the uncertainty of a pandemic.

The field is now maturing and the carpet of yellow has faded. The flower heads are heavy with seeds and drying out. It’s a picture of natural progression and the cycle of life, full of textures and more muted colours.

The sunflowers may have aged but they remain a thing of beauty.

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Walks with my camera

/ mikeosbornphoto / 14 Comments

When winter takes a grip here in Manchester, the temptation is to hibernate with a hot drink and a blanket.

But the need to stretch your legs and brave the fresh air can take over. I find wrapping up warm and picking up my camera bag helps the cause.

My recent camera walks have taken in the city’s Bridgewater Canal towpath, the nearby Cheshire countryside and a festive Manchester city centre after dark in the pouring rain.

Here’s some of my shots. Remember it’s always worth popping a small camera in your pocket when the leave the house – no matter what the conditions are.

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An English village

/ mikeosbornphoto / 9 Comments

Not so far from the urban sprawl of Manchester is a charming little country village called Great Budworth.

It has half-timbered cottages, fragrant front gardens, a pretty church and even a red telephone box that’s been turned into a library.

Chocolate box perfect, this is what an English village should be…

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Lyme Park

/ mikeosbornphoto / 6 Comments

Lyme Park is a stunning stately home and grounds in easy reach of Manchester.

It found television fame in 1995 as the setting for Pride and Prejudice and the heart-fluttering moment when Mr Darcy (Colin Firth) was caught after a dip.

This is a retreat that has it all – hilltop walks, a magnificent folly and gardens to match.

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