Salford

A magnificent northern garden

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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

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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

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Salford skies

/ mikeosbornphoto / 2 Comments

Salford. A city in its own right? A Manchester borough? Manchester’s twin?

It’s a debate that’s never gone away, but Salford is a large area with waterways, sparkling new buildings, gritty urban pockets and even its own village. 

Salford is literally on my Manchester doorstep and an immediate place for me to explore with my camera. This gallery is based on three walks with architecture and light at its heart. 

What do you think of these Salford views? Please leave a comment below.

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Chasing fog

/ mikeosbornphoto / 4 Comments

We’re in the grip of winter in the UK, including thick fog which occasionally shrouds our cities and countryside.

I woke up to this one recent Sunday morning, quickly got dressed, grabbed my camera and went out into the cold.

It was swirling around the modern skyscrapers of my Manchester neighbourhood but seemed to be moving away with unexpected speed. But I could still see it creeping in the distance.

So I chased it over to our twin city of Salford, where it lay very deep by the Irwell river and an area called The Meadow. Wandering back into Manchester, I noticed the mist was having a second wave around the high rises.

Photographing the ghostly pall of fog isn’t always easy – have you tried? Please leave your comments below

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Worsley: Salford’s oasis

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The twin cities of Manchester and Salford are developed, densely populated urban centres.

But on the very edge of Salford you will come across Worsley, a pleasant surprise with English village vibes. It’s just a 30-minute bus ride from the centre of Manchester where I live.

With its Tudor-style houses, caramel-coloured waterways and tranquil, unspoilt woodlands, Worsley feels a world away from the grittier parts of Salford.

The nearby M60 motorway may spoil the illusion, but this is a Greater Manchester village that’s a pleasure to wander around.

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Sunsets: 19 days that ended memorably

/ mikeosbornphoto / 11 Comments

A week of lively weather here in the UK has resulted in a run of spectacular sunsets.

It made me think about the many sundowners I’ve captured over the years, close to home in Manchester and on my travels.

This collection brings together the sunsets I always remember and can almost feel to this day.

Anyone who doesn’t marvel at a sunset is missing a piece of their humanity. Do you agree?

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Dramatic sunset looking towards Salford

And here’s the latest memorable sunset from this week. I was looking across to the growing skyline of Salford with the water of the Bridgewater Canal in the foreground. Very stormy skies for the middle of May.

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