RHS Bridgewater

Colours of Spring

/ mikeosbornphoto / Leave a comment

It’s safe to say that winter is over, even here in the north of England.

Spring has burst out with tree blossoms, seasonal flowers and green shoots.

I paid a Spring visit to RHS Bridgewater, a public garden on the outskirts of Salford. The sun was shining and the tulip beds were a riot of colour. Dandelions had taken over the meadows.

What’s not to like?!

Tap/click first image to view gallery

Pink blossoms at Castlefield in Manchester.

In my Manchester neighbourhood of Castlefield, there is one tree which gives a sumptuous show of pink blossoms every year – and 2023 is no exception

White tree blossom catching the sunlight at Angel Meadow in Manchester.

The trees are putting on a show around Manchester city centre, including this one at Angel Meadow catching the full force of some Spring sunshine

Click through to mikeosbornphoto's greeting cards shop

7 moments of 2022

/ mikeosbornphoto / 6 Comments

2022 will soon be consigned to history. It was a year when Covid restrictions palpably melted away, although overseas travel remained elusive for me. 

But I visited many places closer to home in Manchester, and the photographs flowed. I’ve picked seven moments that made new memories – and revived old ones. A Happy New Year to you all!

What were your standout moments of 2022? Feel free to comment below.

NORFOLK NOSTALGIA

In August I visited Norfolk in East Anglia, with an emotional stop in the market town of Wymondham, my home for much of the 1990s. The seaside town of Cromer – also with personal connections – was sun-kissed and photogenic.

TAP/CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE

Cromer pier in Norfolk at dusk

SNAP HAPPY IN MANCHESTER

In 2022 I finally dealt with my distaste for smartphone photography, exploring Manchester gathering images for Instagram Stories. This included the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June and her sad passing three months later.

TAP/CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE

Floral tributes for Queen Elizabeth II in St Ann's Square, Manchester

BEYOND THE GOLDEN MILE

In March, I went to the famous Lancashire seaside resort of Blackpool – and kept going. The nearby towns of Cleveleys and Fleetwood served up sea paths, giant seashells and even a touch of Brutalism.

TAP/CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE

Concrete seating on the beach at Cleveleys in Lancashire

SALFORD’S STUNNING GARDEN

The temperatures soared in summer, so what better time to visit RHS Bridgewater in Salford, a sumptuous public garden encompassing both the old and new. A great place to have just half-an-hour from Manchester city centre.

TAP/CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE

A bed of pink alium flowers at RHS Bridgewater in Salford

NORTH-WEST TO NORTH-EAST

My break on the Yorkshire coast was a highlight of the year. Using only public transport, I visited four seaside gems and was largely blessed with glorious weather. Having visitor magnet Whitby to myself at daybreak was very special.

TAP/CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE

A colourful row of huts at Whitby beach in North Yorkshire

TWO SEASONS IN ONE PLACE

I discovered Entwistle Reservoir near Bolton on a fog-bound winter’s day, a place of water, forests and a magnificent railway viaduct. I went back at the height of our hot summer and found it very different – see for yourself.

TAP/CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE

Railway viaduct at Entwistle Reservoir on a foggy winter's day

A BRUSH WITH THE BRONTËS

This was my first trip to the West Yorkshire village of Howarth, made famous by the Brontë sisters and their literary classics including Wuthering Heights. An incredibly atmospheric graveyard and beautiful location made this a day out to remember.

TAP/CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE

A gravestone in the cemetery at Howarth in West Yorkshire

Link to mikeosbornphoto's Instagram account

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